kənsˈiːvd baɪ ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾɚɹ ˈaɪvən bˈɛtskɔɪ, ðɪ ˈɔːɹfənɪdʒ wʌz lˈeɪd dˌaʊn ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː tə dᵻkɹˈiː ʌv kˈæθɹɪn ðə ɡɹˈeɪt.
Conceived by educator Ivan Betzkoy, the Orphanage was laid down in 1763 to decree of Catherine the Great.