The Great Monastery of St. Bishop

The Great Monastery of St. Bishop is one of three Monasteries that trains and teaches young women to become Priestesses in Athenian Temples. Ran by the Nuns of St. Bishop, the monastery is the third and smallest of the three religious schools for training of Priestess in Athenaism.

Entry
According to religious doctrine, the majority of women who enter the Monastery must all be unmarried, virgins and no older than 30 years of age when they arrive. The vast majority are all well into their infancy as many families send their first born daughters out in hope that they can become a Priestess. If a woman presents herself to the Monastery and she is not an infant, she must go through a test of Athenian knowledge as well as countless medical and diagnostic test to make sure she is a virgin. Thus it is not easy to lie your way into the monastery, lying about being a virgin is punisible by Athenian Law by death and eternal misery in the Underworld. The punishment is usually carried out by tossing into Mt. Tellawow in ritual excecution, offering, and sacrifice. To date some 4,567 women have died of this fate. The last execution took place in 678 A.U.K. Although still law, it has not been carried out in over 1,700 years nor has any woman done so since. Men are forbidden from entering any and all 3 Monasteries dedicated to the sole teaching of women.

Education
Young women often arrive in St. Augustine as the daughters of the Elite of the United Kingdom in the hopes that they may soemday serve as Holy Priestesses of Athens. How ever very few get into the elite program. How ever the majority of women who attend the Monastery are orphans whom are cared for by the nuns. 4 of the High Pristesses of Athenaism, have been orphans and not the elite of the U.K. Education is long and rigorous often including some 56 years worth of education.

Temple
The Monastery like all other monasteries runs it's own Temple ran by the Nuns and in accordance are dedicated to the Patron Saint or God of the city in which it is located. The Temple of St. Bishop connects to the monastery through a series of tunnels which are closed off so that men may not intrude on the women at study and work.

Funding
The Monastery is funded mostly by Private donations from the parents and families of the women who attend the school. The Temple system of Athenaism also funds the majority of assets. The Imperial Senate stipulates the rest of the funding through public grants, drives, as well as the Taxes collected.