How where monks possessions and animals be protected in a Viking Raid?

Question

Please provide a source.

Answer 1

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Monks had no possessions, since they were forbidden to own anything. They did not eat meat (this was strictly forbidden by the Rule of St Benedict) so keeping animals was not necessary. The Church as an institution had possessions - much of it extremely valuable, such as silver crosses, pattens and plates, valuable books and other treasures.

Monks were also forbidden to act in an aggressive manner, such as fighting against anybody. They could attempt to bury, hide or disperse Church valuables among their extensive landholdings, but in a small religious community this would not be an option.

So in short - they didn't; they simply prayed during a raid and were usually slaughtered. Whole communities and vast areas of countries such as England had their religious houses completely wiped out by Viking raids.

Source(s):

The Rule of St Benedict (governs the daily routine, conventual life and conduct of all monks and nuns up to the 11th century).