Since the founding of the first Bergonian cities, and probably before, there have been temples.  A temple complex stood at the center of every city and town.  Individual temples were built in splendid isolation in the countryside, and monasteries grew in tandem with them.

every school of Bergonian religion has included a large, active proportion of priestesses.  it is true that in administration of church and temple business women did ot often hold powerful positions, but they did have their own orders of priestesses, and women did perform many important services within the church.  A great many of them were librarians, scribes, arists, agriculturists and physicians.

 Notes to self:  Japanese short story.

  Hermits in present time.