sanctuary
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sanctuary
A place that is considered holy and serves religious worship, for example a temple, church, or shrine.
Tausende Pilger besuchen jedes Jahr das Heiligtum in den Bergen.
Thousands of pilgrims visit the sanctuary in the mountains every year.
sanctuary
In a figurative sense, a place or area that is very important to a person and is considered their personal, untouchable retreat.
Seine Werkstatt im Keller ist sein Heiligtum, da darf niemand unaufgefordert hinein.
His workshop in the basement is his sanctuary; no one is allowed to go in there without being asked.
The word is made up of the adjective 'heilig' (holy) and the ending '-tum'. The ending '-tum' often forms nouns that describe a state, a domain, or a collection, as in 'Reichtum' (wealth) or 'Christentum' (Christianity).
Das alte Heiligtum wurde auf einem Berg errichtet.
The old sanctuary was built on a mountain.
You can usually recognize the figurative meaning by a possessive pronoun (my, his, her). It describes a purely personal and private place, while the literal meaning refers to a religious or public place.
Mein Garten ist mein kleines Heiligtum, dort entspanne ich mich.
My garden is my little sanctuary; I relax there.
In a religious context, 'Heiligtum' is often used with verbs such as 'ein Heiligtum besuchen' (to visit a sanctuary), 'zu einem Heiligtum pilgern' (to make a pilgrimage to a sanctuary), or 'ein Heiligtum errichten' (to build a sanctuary).
Viele Menschen pilgern jedes Jahr zu diesem Heiligtum.
Many people make a pilgrimage to this sanctuary every year.
shrine
A Schrein is usually a specific place of worship or an artistically designed container for revered objects or relics. Heiligtum refers more generally to a place with sacred status. A Schrein can therefore itself be a Heiligtum or be located within a larger Heiligtum.
Die Kapelle mit diesem Schrein gilt den Gläubigen als Heiligtum.
To the faithful, the chapel with this shrine is considered a sanctuary.
Die Reliquie wird in einem kunstvoll verzierten Schrein aufbewahrt.
The relic is kept in an artistically decorated shrine.
