Sanctuary

:This article is about the sanctuaries, for the band, see Sanctuary (band).

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Sanctuary has multiple meanings. A sanctuary is the consecrated (or sacred) area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar. In medieval law, a sanctuary was a place of religious right of asylum for felons on the run from the law. An animal sanctuary is a place where animals live and are protected.

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In Europe, Christian churches were usually built on a holy spot, generally where a miracle or martyrdom had taken place or where a holy person was buried. Examples are St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Albans Cathedral in England, which commemorate the martyrdom of Saint Peter (the first Pope) and Saint Alban (the first Christian martyr in Britain), respectively. The place, and therefore the church built there, was considered to have been sanctified (made holy) by what happened there. In modern times, the Roman Catholic Church has continued this practice by placing in the altar of each church, when it is consecrated for use, a box (the sepulcrum) containing relics of a saint. The relics box is removed when the church is taken out of use as a church. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the antimension on the altar serves a similar function. It is a cloth icon of Christ's body taken down from the cross, and typically has the relics of a saint sewn into it. In addition, it is signed by the parish's bishop, and represents his authorization and blessing for the Eucharist to be celebrated on that altar.

St. Peter's Basilica: The Basilica of Saint Peter, officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and colloquially called Saint Peter's Basilica, ranks second among the five major basilicas of Rome and its Vatican City enclave. The largest church in Christianity, it covers an area of 23,000 m²...

St. Albans Cathedral: What is usually called "St Albans Cathedral" is actually The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban. It has the longest nave, at 106 metres, of any cathedral in England....

Saint Peter: Pope Saint Peter, also known as Peter, Simon ben Jonah/BarJonah, Simon Peter, Cephas and Kepha?original name Simon or Simeon (Acts 15:14)?was one of the twelve original disciples or apostles of Jesus whose life was prominently featured in the New Testament Gospels. A Galilean fisherman, he was call...

Sanctuary related Images and Photos (experimental)

Sanctuary Season 1 DVD	Secluded Sanctuary	Sanctuary: The Complete Third Season DVD	Sanctuary for Birds
Pond Sanctuary Central Park	The Sanctuary Westminster London	Miyajima Sanctuary: Rain and a Forgotten Sandal	Secret Sanctuary Large Format 300 Piece Puzzle
Key Largo Marine Sanctuary Florida	Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso Locarno and Lago Maggiore Locarno Ticino Switzerland	Treasury Neuvy in Sullias Sanctuary Carnutes; Dancer	Gates from the Sanctuary Screen St.Paul's Cathedral 1710