Basil of Caesarea

Orphanage that had its origins in the monastic rules of Basil of Caesarea. As we saw in Chapter Five, Basil made use of the best among the older students as monitors of the younger children. Subsequent episcopal and monastic schools followed Basil s example and instituted the same practices. One would expect a similar system at the Or-phanotropheion. 

Despite their far greater responsibilities both in local and in imperial affairs, conscientious bishops of the fourth century continued to support the care of orphans. The famous bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Basil the Great, gained renown for his program to benefit or-... 

The examples of orphan schools in other provincial towns, the wide influence of Basil s rules at Caesarea, and this law of Leo I provide strong evidence that the Orphanotropheion maintained some sort of educational program as early as the fifth century. A closer inspection of the sources, however, will not only demonstrate beyond any doubt that a school had existed at the Orphanage of Constantinople since the 400s, but also will provide some information on what subjects the children were expected to study while residing at the institution. 

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