- Judaism. The sanctuary inside the tabernacle in the Temple of Jerusalem, in which the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
- Eastern Orthodox Church. The bema or sanctuary in a church.
- A place of awe.
[Translation of Late Latin sānctum sānctōrum (ultimately translation of Hebrew qōdeš haq-qodāšîm) : sānctum, neuter of sānctus, holy + sānctōrum, neuter genitive pl. of sānctus.]





