Romania’s sleepy town Biertan has a unique way of dealing with divorces, thanks to an age-old marital prison housed within the place’s iconic church. By Bayar Jain
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When it comes to travelling to Europe, often the usual spots like United Kingdom, France, Germany, or – thanks to Bollywood – Switzerland tend to pop in our minds. However, crouched in a small corner of Europe – on the south-eastern side to be precise – lies Romania, a country rich in natural beauty, traditions, and cultures. A glimpse of this country’s peculiarity can be seen in Biertan, a slow-paced cobbled village home to a 15th century church – the defining landmark of the city. Perched on a hilltop, towering over the sleepy town, the Biertan fortified church, was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. During this time, traditions played a massive role in resolving issues, especially in matters of divorce. Couples on the brink of divorce were sent to this church to stay locked in with their partners for six weeks under the guidance of a local bishop. This, they believed, would help the couple resolve their differences, and in turn reconcile the relationship.
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Although the practice might sound absurd at first, records suggest that this ‘marital prison’ has proven to be effective. Records suggest that only one divorce has taken place in the 300 years of the prison’s use!
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Earlier, the religion of the Transylvanian Saxons – Lutheranism – governed people’s lives in Biertan. This branch of Protestant Catholicism believed that divorce is contrary to God’s design and intention for marriage, and thus should be avoided. Only in certain circumstances, such as adultery, could couples part ways. This strong belief in the institution meant that people would voluntarily visit the Bishop, who would then send them to the marital prison to reconcile. A divorce could only be obtained if this measure failed. In this unlikely event, the husband would be forced to pay his ex-wife half of his earnings. This was meant to ensure that the women and children affected by the divorce would be protected. If the man remarried, and divorced again, however, the second wife would not receive anything.
Today, the town doesn’t follow this practice and the beliefs of Lutheranism aren’t followed as stringently as they once were. However, the church remains an important cultural centre even today. The Divorce Room has been preserved, and you can still visit it today. The dark prison has now been converted into a museum complete with long-suffering mannequins itching to tell their tale.
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