Within the grounds of a small church in the Romanian village of Biertan lies a tiny room, barely larger than a pantry, where couples seeking divorce were once locked in together for two to six weeks.
It’s known as the Matrimonial Prison.
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Credits: Draculina & Kids | Flickr |
While such an approach may seem unsuitable by modern standards, people in the region believed that couples should make every effort to salvage their marriage.
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Ulf Ziegler, the local priest, explained,
“The reason to remain together was probably not love. The reason was to work and to survive. If a couple was locked inside for six weeks, it was very hard for them to grow enough food the following year, so there was pressure to get out and continue working together.”
Though the room is small, dark, and far from ideal for living, the priest still receives requests from couples, even today, who wish to use the Matrimonial Prison to work through their marital struggles.
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