Historical Facts about Sanctuaries

Did you know that historically a sanctuary was any religious space such as a church or monastery? And that the condemned who attained this space could plead sanctuary, and then they couldn’t be touched? They could live there years and years, and no one could touch them. In fact, the priests or monks or what have you would have to bring them food. And if any executioners came knocking, the priests would send him away, and they’d have to go. In fact, the executioners would have to go and fetch a lavish five course Last Dinner for the condemned because that was their job. And the condemned criminals would live night after night in the sanctuary enjoying fine food and wine and women. Yes, women too. Because the executioners would have to fetch the condemned men prostitutes. It was their Last Request. In fact, the executioners had to complete all Last Requests. They pursued vendettas. They tracked down buried treasure. They delivered single gold coins and tear-soaked handkerchiefs to long-suffering grayhaired mothers. Often fulfilling the Last Requests landed the executioners in hot water and then in the sanctuary themselves, living it up with the priests and the other condemned. In fact, 39 percent of those claiming sanctuary were former executioners. It got to the point where the local parishioners couldn’t attend religious services without tripping over a robber and prostitute enjoying a nice glass of wine. Sometimes the parishioners joined in. If anyone tried to stop them, they just had to plead sanctuary.

I hope that you have enjoyed this fact gift from history to you.

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This post is an installment in a continuing series of content coordinated by theme or motif with posts from Enoch Allred of Chiltingham, John Allred of clol Town, Jon Fairbanks of Funkadelic Freestylings of Another Sort, Eli Z. McCormick and Miriam Allred of Modern Revelation!, John D. Moore of Whatnot Studios, Joseph Schlegel of Sour Mayonnaise, Sven Patrick Svensson of Sadness? Euphoria?, William C. Stewart of Chide, Chode, Chidden, and WiL Whitlark of The Real McJesus. This week's theme: 'Sanctuary'.