Monastery and Hospital of St. Titianus

The 60 or so beds must have pillows and clean sheets, and different sections for those suffering from wounds or fractures, intestinal illnesses, and gynocological conditions. There must be bathing facilities, overflow areas, and special mattresses for incontinent patients. Every visitor has to be fed with bread, vegetables dressed with olive oil

— Foundation charter of the Monastery-Hospital

 

Origins

A small shrine to the goddess Orbaia. dated from the 3rd century AP, existed in that place before the monastery was founded. Princess Cornelia built a private garden there two centuries later but by the early 700s the garden area was in a state of neglect. In 791 the area was purchased by the then prince and future Emperor Xan II and his wife Cecilia of Bovoria for building a new monastery and hospital complex. The city of Blati has multiple charitable establishments dedicated to the caring of the sick and wounded, especially since the imperial capital is so densely populated and it's an important center of pilgrimage, these hospitals were often founded by wealthy and noble families, the Imperial family or by colleges of priests of different gods. But Xan and his wife wanted to create one of the largest religious complexes in the city as well as the most efficient hospital.   Work began that very same year and concluded in 801 AP when the monastery and hospital were opened with a procession carrying the statue of the Prophet as well as that of the goddess Orbaia (whose shrine was transformed into a magnificent temple inside the monastic complex). 250 monks (70 of them with background as doctors) began to live there as well as 10 lay doctors asigned to the hospital . The hospital has state of the art equipment to deal with most known diseases, both natural and magic as well as an impressive library (continuosly expanded by the monks themselves) containing many famous books about medicine and magic from all around the known world. Since then, the hospital at St. Titianus Monastery is one of the most sought after medical institutions in Blati.

Arrangement of the hospital

The hospital is located at the easternmost side of the Monastery, close to one of the main aqueducts that bring fresh water to the city from the nearby mountains to the west. Contrary to other, smaller hospitals around the imperial capital and in other regions of Yeia, it's beds are for one patient each. The hospital is divided into 5 separate wards. In the first section there are 10 beds for people who suffers from wounds or fractures, this place has its own surgical operations area. The next three areas share a central hearth. The first had eight beds and dealt with eye or intestinal or other acute disorders. The other two, of ten beds each, were also for men suffering from chronic diseases.   The last of the five are has twelve beds and its own hearth, and it was reserved for people suffering from magical diseases, such as Frozen Bite. These last two categories of patients must not have contact with the rest of people being cured at the hospital, under risk of spreading diseases.  

Good day Caecilia!, how are you doing today?

Good day, doctor Stylianus, feeling much better

Let me see...oh wonderful! the ice is slowly dissapearing

Will I be alright?

Yes! only one session and I'm sure you can go home!, I swear on St. Titianus relics if needed.

Should I drink that awful drink again?...

I'm affraid yes, ma'am, it's just a precautionary measure

— A Blatian doctor to his patient

The doctor monks, of course, must live in the monastery and the lay doctors have the option of living in their houses or to have a room for them at the monastery, close to the hospital. When on duty the doctors are to make their rounds once a day , the rest of the time, including the night shift, their assistants are in charge.  

Layout of the monastery

The complex is located in the 5th district of the city, in the south-east, near the main Forum and the Merchant's district. The main building of the monastery, the temple to St. Titianus is located in the south of the complex . It is richly decorated with frescoes and mosaics depicting the life of the saint as well as his multiple miracles curing adventurers and poor people. West and east of the temple there are two large buildings, two stories high, where the monks' cells and dining halls are located. To the north is the Library, and below it is a corridor connecting the two buildings where the monks live. In the middle is the ancient sanctuary dedicated to Orbaia, now embellished with a white marble temple and a beautiful fountain.   Everybody is free to enter to both religious buildings, since they are very popular places to pray in by the people living in the surrounding neighbourhoods. For example the Temple of Orbaia is very famous for its holy spring believing to have healing powers. Many pilgrims and faithful with eye or vision problems wash their eyes there in hope that their illness might be cured, and there have been many cases where this has happened, adding more religious importance to the complex.

Organization

The Hospital

Each of the five sections of the hospital has two chief physicians, these people are assisted by three titular assistants these in turn by two servants. In sum, sixty patients enjoy the direct attention of over eighty doctors and subordinates. In alternating month-long shifts, they monitor daily the progress and hear the complaints of each inpatient, and they also oversee the treatment of serious cases.

The Monastery

On the other hand, the monastery is ruled by an abbot, who is elected by the monks.He and his assistants are the ones that ensure that the monastic rules created by the foundation charter are followed. He also appoints other important offices inside the monastery, like the priest who will perform the sacrifices and ceremonies at both temples as well as the chief librarian, a position that, due to the aforementioned fame of the monastery's library, is a very important and respectful one.

Funding

The Hospital and the Monastery are built as a charitable organization, their main source of revenue are donations from the Imperial family, nobility or common people. Many former patients of the hospital often give money to the organization as a sign of gratitude to both monks, the saint and the goddess. And not few, moved by the dedication, kindness and devotion of the monks have taken themselves the habits. Monks cultivate an small garden inside the monastery, close to Orbaia's temple from which they gather all the food they need, and the surplus is either sold or donated to the poor, according to the founding document written by the former Emperor.