Ioannis Papafis
Encyclopedia
Ioannis Papafis was a Greek Macedonian
merchant and entrepreneur
, considered a national benefactor of Greece.
Papafis, after venturing shortly in Smyrna and Alexandria, established his fortuitous enterprise working as a broker in Malta
, a place he later considered his second home. His legacy of philanthropic activities include the founding of orphanages and large donations directed to educational and public services and both in Malta and Greece. In Greece
he is commemorated for helping in the funding of the Greek War of Independence
and in financing crucial sectors of the newly formed Greek state. He was among the primary shareholders of the National Bank of Greece
, donated to the University of Athens, and the Greek Orthodox Church through the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
, which he originally named "The Maltese" , now commonly known as Papafeio (Παπάφειο) after him. The male-only orphanage was most active after the Greek Civil War
, when it sheltered orphans that numbered in the thousands.
Designed by the architect Paionidis, the building of the Papafeio took 9 years to complete and is one of the most recent historical monuments of the city of Thessaloniki, representative of the city's architecture. At times of war and other crises it was temporarily utilized by the military, mostly as a hospital, as during the Balkan Wars
and both World Wars.
Excluding the above periods, the orphanage is in continuous operation until now. As per Papafis' request, as stated in his will, the institution also provides training in a number of professions to help its graduates establish themselves professionally. By the same will, the institution is placed under the administration of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop
of Thessaloniki.
Macedonians (Greeks)
Macedonians are a regional population group of ethnic Greeks, inhabiting or originating from the region of Macedonia, in northern Greece. Today, most live in or around the regional capital city of Thessaloniki. Many have spread across the whole of Greece and in the diaspora.-Preface:Greek...
merchant and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, considered a national benefactor of Greece.
Papafis, after venturing shortly in Smyrna and Alexandria, established his fortuitous enterprise working as a broker in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, a place he later considered his second home. His legacy of philanthropic activities include the founding of orphanages and large donations directed to educational and public services and both in Malta and Greece. In Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
he is commemorated for helping in the funding of the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
and in financing crucial sectors of the newly formed Greek state. He was among the primary shareholders of the National Bank of Greece
National Bank of Greece
The National Bank of Greece is the oldest and largest commercial banking group in Greece. The group has a particularly strong presence in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean...
, donated to the University of Athens, and the Greek Orthodox Church through the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Papafeio Orphanage
His most famous contribution was the establishment of an orphanage in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, which he originally named "The Maltese" , now commonly known as Papafeio (Παπάφειο) after him. The male-only orphanage was most active after the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, when it sheltered orphans that numbered in the thousands.
Designed by the architect Paionidis, the building of the Papafeio took 9 years to complete and is one of the most recent historical monuments of the city of Thessaloniki, representative of the city's architecture. At times of war and other crises it was temporarily utilized by the military, mostly as a hospital, as during the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and both World Wars.
Excluding the above periods, the orphanage is in continuous operation until now. As per Papafis' request, as stated in his will, the institution also provides training in a number of professions to help its graduates establish themselves professionally. By the same will, the institution is placed under the administration of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Thessaloniki.