“A home is a… stronghold amid life’s storms and stresses, a refuge… a sanctuary.”

–Letters and Papers from Prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (written 1943-45)

“Sanctuary” has two meanings, a religious edifice, or a safe refuge.

Dating back to pre-Christian Greek and Roman temples, the two often overlap. Famously, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame climax, Quasimodo acrobatically saves Esmeralda from the gallows proclaiming their church “Sanctuary!”

There were always however, exceptions. 1170, archbishop Thomas Beckett was killed in his cathedral by King Henry II’s knights (dramatized by TS Elliott’s Murder in the Cathedral.)

A 14th century lady murdered a priest in his church, then claimed sanctuary there. She was........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)