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Sanctuary - Law Dictionary Search Results

Home Dictionary Name: sanctuary

Sanctuary

Sanctuary, privilege of, existed in England from a period commencing soon after the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity. Its effect was that a person accused of any crime except treason or sacrilege might by flying to any church or churchyard, or even to certain other places in Westminster, Wells, Norwich, or York, or in London to Whitefriars or the Savoy, within forty days, on confession and taking oath of abjuration of the realm (see ABJURATION), escape to a foreign country, under the disability of not being able to return without the royal licence. If arrested during the forty days, he might put in the plea of Sanctuary. The privilege extended to civil as well as criminal process, but was attended by attainder of blood and forfeiture of goods.Sanctuary and abjuration were abolished in 1625 by 21 Jac.1, c. 21, after having been restricted by 26 Hen. 8, c. 13, 27 Hen. 8, c. 19, and 39 Hen. 8, c. 12.Means an area declared as a sanctuary by notification under the provisions of Chap...


Alsatia

Alsatia, formerly a cant name for Whitefriars, a district in London between the Thames and Fleet Street, and adjoining the Temple, which, possessing certain privileges of sanctuary, became for that reason a nest of those mischievous characters who were generally obnoxious to the law; see Scott's Fortunes of Nigel, ch. 17. These privileges were derived from its having been an establishment of the Carmelites, or White Friars, founded in 1241. In the time of the Reformation the place retained its immunities as a sanctuary, and James I. confirmed and added to them by a charter in 1608, but all privileges of sanctuary were shortly afterwards abolished in 1624 by 21 Jac. 1, c. 28....


Savoy

Savoy, one of the old privileged places, or sanctuaries. See SANCTUARY....


Fridstol

A seat in churches near the altar to which offenders formerly fled for sanctuary...


VerbarHaikal

The central chapel of the three forming the sanctuary of a Coptic church It contains the high altar and is usually closed by an embroidered curtain...


Halidom

Holiness sanctity sacred oath sacred things sanctuary used chiefly in oaths...


Pax

The kiss of peace also the embrace in the sanctuary now substituted for it at High Mass in Roman Catholic churches...


Profanation

The act of violating sacred things or of treating them with contempt or irreverence irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred desecration as the profanation of the Sabbath the profanation of a sanctuary the profanation of the name of God...


Sanctuarize

To shelter by means of a sanctuary or sacred privileges...


Sanctuary

A sacred place a consecrated spot a holy and inviolable site...


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