The Biertan Marriage Prison: An Ancient Romanian Way to Keep a Family Together

Modern couples whose marriage is rapidly moving towards divorce can be divided into two categories. The first are spouses who begin to feel hostility towards each other and see divorce as a salvation. The second are those who try to save their relationship by turning to psychologists and specialists for help. However, history knows a simple, cheap and time-tested way to save a marriage. The marriage prison in the Romanian village of Biertan has made this settlement a model in terms of the strength of family ties.

Biertan is one of many ancient villages in Transylvania where a fortified church has been preserved. Such churches were built between the 13th and 16th centuries, when these lands were part of the Kingdom of Hungary. At that time, much of Europe suffered from the Ottoman Empire's raids. Cities were surrounded by strong walls, and in rural areas, people fortified churches. Transylvanian churches stored weapons and food supplies, and from the outside they looked more like fortresses than religious buildings.

Today, the very same fortified church, located on top of a hill, is located in the center of the village of Biertan. But the main attraction now is considered to be a completely different building. Next to the church there is a modest one-story building with a gable roof. It has only one door and one window. Inside there is a small hallway and a room, slightly larger than an ordinary storeroom. This is the "marriage prison" of Biertan, where the fates of local families were decided.

If the couple decided to divorce, they would turn to the local bishop. Only a cleric of this rank could dissolve a church marriage. But the bishop was in no hurry to release the couple from their mutual obligations. The couple would be placed in a "marital prison" so that they could think over their decision.

People were placed in the "marriage prison" cell for varying periods of time, usually no more than six weeks. The furnishings inside were spartan - a table, a chair, a chest for things and a simple peasant bed. Spouses on the verge of divorce had to literally survive in these conditions, sharing simple dishes and wrapping themselves in one blanket.

In Transylvania, divorce could be granted only in one case - adultery. But even then, the couple could not avoid imprisonment in the village prison. If the husband and wife did not reconcile during the period of isolation, the bishop dissolved the marriage. If the husband broke up the family, he was obliged to pay his wife half of his earnings until she remarried.

It might seem that the main factor in the reconciliation of husband and wife was the forced isolation from each other's company. But the current rector of the Bjertan church, Ulf Ziegler, has a different opinion. He is sure that the economic factor played a key role. The couple, who spent six weeks locked up without doing anything, faced difficulties after their release. During this time, the farm fell into disrepair.

After their release from prison, the couple had to work together for another year to get their affairs in order and not be left without a livelihood. It was this need to join forces that often helped even the most stubborn couples, who were little moved by the confinement in the barn near the church, to reconcile.

How effective was the "marriage prison" of Bjertan? Statistics say very. Over the past 300 years, only one divorce has been recorded in the village. And the prison has not been functioning for almost a hundred years. It is simply that the ancient custom has taught the residents responsibility and prudence. Now the former prison is a museum. Nevertheless, from time to time, couples who want to go into prison to solve their family problems turn to the church.

The marriage prison in Biertan is an unusual, but statistically very effective method of preserving a family. Today, such a practice seems radical, but perhaps some couples really do not have enough time for a conscious dialogue and understanding of each other. Do you think such a method could work in modern realities, or are completely different approaches needed to resolve family crises? Share your opinion in the comments!