Leprosery of Tichilești

The Leprosery of Tichilești, officially known as Tichilești Hospital (Spitalul Tichilești), is a dermatological hospital in Romania specializing in the treatment and care of leprosy patients. It is located within the administrative area of Isaccea Commune, Tulcea County, in the Northern Dobruja region, about 1.5 km from the Tulcea–Isaccea–Măcin–Brăila–Galați European road, 12 km from Isaccea towards Măcin, near the Danube, nestled among hills covered with linden and acacia forests. The hospital is unique in Romania, but as the hospital itself points out, it is not the only such institution in Europe. The site was originally a monastery and became a leper colony in 1875. Legend has it that the monastery was founded by a leprous Cantacuzino princess; another account says that a group of Russian refugees (Lipovans) settled here and founded the monastery. In 1918, for unknown reasons, some lepers moved to Lărganca near the Bessarabian town of Ismail, while the rest were allegedly killed, their bodies burned or thrown into lime pits. After journalist F. Brunea-Fox published articles in 1926 (he lived with the lepers for three weeks), a hospital was built on the monastery site in 1928. The houses and central courtyard were built in the 1930s. Initially, lepers were not allowed to leave the colony. This rule changed in 1991, but many residents who had spent most of their lives there continued to live there. In the decade after 2000, EU funds became available, allowing the installation of bathrooms, refrigerators, and satellite television, as well as air conditioning in the dining hall. In recent years, the hospital has supported media campaigns to properly inform the public and has published works about the lives of patients and staff at Tichilești. Through public-private partnerships, the hospital, together with the Tulcea County Council, the Isaccea Local Council, and the Saint Anna Foundation in Tulcea, initiated and completed two modernization projects: the first called "Improving the Living Conditions of Patients at Tichilești Hospital"; the second called "Tichilești Nursing Home", which included the major renovation of a building unused since 1990 and its equipping with modern facilities to care for 30 elderly people. Currently, both Tichilești Hospital and Tichilești Nursing Home operate here. As of December 2023, Tichilești has 9 residents. Although officially a hospital, it is more like a small village and is officially administered as a village by Isaccea. The last case of leprosy in Romania was diagnosed in 1981; in 2002, patients ranged in age from 37 to 90, most over 60. There are two churches, an Orthodox church and a Baptist church. The cure for leprosy has long been known, but these patients' conditions were too advanced to be cured, though they are no longer contagious. As of 2023, nine people still live in the colony, most of them elderly.

Tichilești was founded as a monastery. In 1875 it became a leper colony. A legend says the monastery was founded by one of the Cantacuzino princesses who was affected by leprosy. Another theory is that a group of Russian refugees (see Lipovans) settled there and founded the monastery, but soon became outlaws who were eventually caught. In 1918, for unknown reasons, a part of the lepers moved to Largeanca, near the Bessarabian town of Ismail, while the rest of them were allegedly killed and their bodies being burned or thrown in a lime pit. Following a 1926 newspaper article by F. Brunea-Fox, a journalist who lived with the lepers for three weeks, a hospital was built in 1928 at the monastery. The houses and the central courtyard were built in the 1930s. In July 1932, a group of 25 starving lepers from Tichilești threatened to march to Bucharest and entered the town of Isaccea demanding food. Local grocers and farmers had stopped supplying them food because the government had not been providing funding. The Isacceans barred their houses until the military escorted the lepers back to their colony. Initially, the lepers were not allowed to leave the colony. This changed in 1991, but many residents, who had lived most of their lives in the colony, continued living there. European Union funds came to Tichilești in the decade following the year 2000, and they were able to install bathrooms, refrigerators, and satellite television, and to put air-conditioners in the canteen. In recent years, press campaigns have been supported for the correct information of the general public, and works about the life of the patients and employees in Tichilești have been published. Using the public-private partnership formula, two modernisation projects were initiated and completed together with the Tulcea County Council, the Isaccea Local Council and the Sfânta Ana foundation from Tulcea: the first project was called "Improving living conditions for the patients of Tichilești Hospital"; the second was entitled "Tichilești Old People's Home" and consisted of the capital repair of a pavilion unused since 1990 and its modern equipping with everything necessary for the care of 30 elderly people. Currently, Spitalul Tichilești and Căminul Tichilești operate at Tichilești. The last case of leprosy in Romania was diagnosed in 1981 and the age of the patients in Tichilești in 2002 ranged between 37 and 90, most of them having an age of more than 60 years. In Tichilești there are two churches, an Orthodox one and a Baptist one. A cure for leprosy has been known for a long time, however the disease was too advanced for these people who live in Tichilești. As a result they were not cured but it made it no longer contagious. As of 2023, there are still nine people living at the colony, most of whom are very elderly.

• 2023

  Population: 9 as of December.

• 2019

  Population: 9.

• 2017

  Population: 10.

• 2011

  Population: 19.

• 2002

  Population: 22; patient ages range from 37 to 90.

• 1998

  Population: 39.

• 1991

  Lepers are allowed to leave the colony.

• 1932

  25 starving lepers threaten to march to Bucharest and enter Isaccea demanding food.

• 1930

  Population: 200.

• 1928

  A hospital is built at the monastery.

• 1926

  Journalist F. Brunea-Fox publishes a newspaper article after living with the lepers for three weeks.

• 1918

  Part of the lepers moved to Largeanca near Ismail; the rest were allegedly killed.

• 1875

  Tichilești becomes a leper colony.

Romania's only specialised leprosy hospital, operating as a state institution and a small residential community.

• Leprosy treatment and care

  Specialised dermatology hospital services for leprosy patients.

• Căminul Tichilești

  Old people's home for 30 elderly people, created through public-private partnership.

1. 1SPITALUL TICHILESTI - TULCEAspitalultichilesti.ro
2. 2Leprosery of Tichileștiwikidata.org
3. 3Tichilești, Tulceaen.wikipedia.org