The Medieval Christians Who Were Sealed Alive in Tiny Cells - And Stayed There for Decades

Medieval Anchorites: Choosing to Be Buried Alive for God

Imagine attending your own funeral, then being walled up alive in a tiny cell attached to a church with only a small window for communion and food. You'll never leave. You'll never see the outside world again. You are now "dead to the world" and will live in this tomb-sized room until you actually die - which might be 10, 20, or even 40 years away. This was the life medieval anchorites chose voluntarily, and hundreds of people did it.

Anchorites (male anchorites were called anchorites, females were anchoresses) underwent a literal funeral service before being sealed in. The Bishop would read last rites, sprinkle them with dirt as if burying a corpse, and then masons would brick up the door, leaving only small windows - one facing the church altar for communion, one for food delivery, and sometimes one for spiritual counseling to visitors seeking advice.

Their cells were typically 12 feet by 8 feet - smaller than a modern parking space. They had a bed, a prayer desk, and maybe a cat to kill rats. They ate minimal food, prayed constantly, and lived in near-total isolation. Some cells had no windows at all. The most famous anchoress, Julian of Norwich, lived sealed in her cell for over 40 years and wrote mystical visions that influenced Christian theology. Christina of Markyate hid in a tiny cell for four years to escape a forced marriage before becoming an anchoress for decades more.

But why would anyone choose this? Anchorites believed that complete isolation and deprivation brought them closer to God. They gained spiritual authority - people would travel miles to receive counsel through their tiny window. Some anchorites became celebrities, their advice sought by bishops and kings. They were considered living saints, more holy than monks or nuns because of their extreme sacrifice.

This episode explores the theology behind anchoritism, famous anchorites and their writings, the physical and psychological realities of decades in isolation, the elaborate rules governing their lives, and what happened when anchorites broke down or tried to escape.

Keywords: weird history, medieval anchorites, anchoress, medieval Christianity, Julian of Norwich, religious isolation, medieval monks, Christian mysticism, medieval religion, extreme devotion, religious hermits

Perfect for listeners who love: medieval history, religious extremism, stories of isolation, Christian mysticism, and people who made the most extreme life choices imaginable.

Another extreme episode from Weird History - where being buried alive was considered holy.