St. Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople

Sampson was born in Rome into a wealthy, noble family, studied medicine and treated the poor without payment. After his parents' death he gave away his property, freed his slaves and moved to Constantinople, where he took in the sick and strangers. According to his Life, the emperor Justinian, ill and healed by his touch, offered him gold, and Sampson asked instead for a hospice and hospital. They were built beside his house and endowed. He was made a priest and died around 530. His Life tells that his hostel was spared in a great fire of the city.