They believed the left hand was unhappy and "unreliable." "To Be Deep In History Is To Cease To Be Protestant", Rape and the Holy Man - The Alleged Sexual Crime of a ROCOR Priest, Greek Clergy Circulate Document On 'Heresy Of Ecumenism', "First Comes Saturday, Then Comes Sunday", It's Not About The "Shape" Of the Universe - It's About The "Nature" Of The Universe. He is a former news and talk show producer for a local CBS affiliate. The Hebrews tended to kept their beards and hair long, a practical habit where good barbers are not available. I hope to talk with you often here and at journeytoorthodoxy@gmail.com, Fantastic description in this blog. During the wedding ceremony, the ring is placed on the woman's right hand on the index finger. Traditionally Orthodox Christians wear their wedding rings on their right hands, not their left. He is an award-winning writer, having received a First Place Award for Radio Special Feature from Arkansas Associated Press and was the recipient of a Gold Addy from the American Advertising Federation given for Communication Excellence. The right hand is the traditional hand for vows or oaths. It is not good practice, however, to borrow his bride’s engagement ring for the wedding! In countries like Poland, Greece, India and Colombia, the wedding band belongs on the right hand, not the left. What society? Simon, No need to correct your understanding. Of those wearing a ring, it was on the left hand and only one wore it on her right hand. I'm Russian orthodox my priest placed wedding ring on right hand. But, Orthodox Jews place the wedding ring on the index finger of the right hand of the woman, who later moves it to the ring finger of her right hand if she wishes. If you don’t want to follow tradition, you’re actually more than welcome to wear your wedding ring on your right hand. why fight everything that is so, just to prove that you want to be different? We have recently been engaged, and started to research the ring finger. What others do is of no concern to me. A Greek Orthodox Wedding is an exciting event enriched in culture and traditionalism. Each part of the Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony has religious significance. Copyright © 1996–2021. You are correct in that the pagans put rings on the left hand and Israel rejected being "like unto the nations". Welcome to JTO. It's just how we do it. In the Greek Orthodox Tradition, the father accompanies the bride to the entrance of the church, where the groom awaits with her bouquet. The Romans call this the “vena amoris”, or “vein of love”. Infidelity. The Orthodox Faith / In much of the Western world, it is traditional to wear a wedding ring on the left-hand ring finger. May the Lord bless you and keep you! Exchanging of the rings. 4. In a word: I am changing. However, in nations around the world, wedding rings are worn on the right ring finger. There are Eastern European countries as well as some Scandinavian countries where the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the right hand. Twitter | The Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremony is an ancient rite full of profound symbolism and meaning. However, it is another example of how the West has gone its own way and drifted from the orthodox ethos. When people ask "why the difference", we simply say "this is our custom and tradition". Org Posted on Wed Jul 15 2009 "The only way our communion with heretics can be restored is if they reno... Is Islam friendly to Christianity as some would have us believe? don't wear any rings. Make a super ring. The groom simply slips on one ring during the big moment. To do so does not invalidate the marriage, but it is preferred that there be no obstruction between her finger and the ring. There are two ways to get enough. For instance, in Poland, which is predominantly Catholic, married people wear their rings on the right hand, and so do couples in Orthodox Greece. If everyone jumped off a mountain top would you just because others did? I am American and my Wife is Russian, she wears hers on the left hand so men know she is married and leave her alone, I wear mine on the right hand because it's more comfortable. Overall, it is a normal, sweaty summer night for me—except, of course, that right now I’m wearing what looks very much like a wedding band on my very much unmarried hand. 3. "Left Behind"? Who is fighting? However, in Europe in general, whether in an Orthodox country or a non-Orthodox country, people wear their rings on the right hand. The Orthodox View Of The Revelation Of John. It is raised when such an oath is given, so the wedding ring would here show the sincerity of the oath. Simon. Which is preferred? In society it is tradition every where to wear the ring on the left hand as a symble of you commitment to your spouse and if you dont it is showing your lack of commitment to them. Anon, Please forgive, but your diatribe seems to lack validity and at least is incomplete. A coworker, an Orthodox convert, said she switched it from right to left because she thought they had done it wrong. According to ancient Christian custom, those who are married in Christ are to glance at their wedding ring when making the Sign of the Cross to remind themselves of the Mystery of Crowning in the Lord. Not. Questions & Answers / Search, Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America, Orthodoxy and Cults and Non-Christian Groups. Is a weak conclusion. I was a Pentecostal pastor for 22 years. However, in Europe in general, whether in an Orthodox country or a non-Orthodox country, people wear their rings on the right hand. Many American Orthodox continue to wear their rings on the right hand; others choose to wear it on the left. Also, this issue is not a matter of doctrinal requirement, just cultural practice. I've just learnt this amazing piece of information and the orthodox church which I prescribe to seems quite right on pegging the practice to biblical tones. my mother was German, it is the custom their. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Nathan has owned and independently operated the Journey To Orthodoxy Blog since 2006. Many American Orthodox continue to wear their rings on the right hand; others choose to wear it on the left. This has been the most peaceful, productive period of my life! Home / The bride should not put the ring over a glove. Also, I am not Greek, but Roman Catholic. For many years, it has been customary in India to wear rings only on the right hand because the left hand was considered "impure." In the Greek Orthodox, it is placed on the right. Site Map | Our right-handed tradition is based in Scripture (as well vetted, above) and Faith. A traditional reason to wear the wedding ring on the right hand stems from Roman custom and biblical references. Greek people, many being Orthodox Christians, also wear the wedding rings on the right hand in keeping with Greek tradition. The idea is that the chance of ring damage is lower if a ring is worn on the hand that is used less frequently. The same with Arab Christians. In some Scandinavian countries - Norway, Sweden and Denmark - as well as the Greek Orthodox Church, the wedding ring finger of the right hand bears the ring. In Traditional Judaism the ring is worn on the right hand as well. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”, Founded in 1794 — Granted Autocephaly in 1970. In another word: It is theosis .... From Directions to Orthodoxy. Anonymous comments are not allowed. Thus, by putting the rings on our right hand, rather than our left, we are reminded that everything we do is with the help of God, who watches over us and protects us! As we will see, the wearing of a signet ring (which is the ancient equivalent to the modern wedding ring) was NOT based on such a fable at all. The rest is tradition based on the concepts ppl have about the properness of what is godly. This is the beginning of a recurring theme in an Orthodox wedding — performing rituals in threes to symbolize the Holy Trinity. There is no such custom in the Orthodox Church of switching the hand after the honeymoon. Does anyone know what the reason would be for her having it on her 'middle' finger?From researching, I understand why the right hand was used, but I'm curious about the 'middle' finger; could it have been affiliated with a specific religion?Thank You ~. There are many throughout the world.Therefore your conclusion that we "fight everything that is so just to prove that you want to be different?" You are to be Christ like. Why fight with what is different? In the Melkite Catholic (similar to Antiochian Orthodox), it is placed on the right. Actually in ancient days when a man would choose a woman it was usualy against her will and they would tie her down and the more she ould submit the less he would tie her untill she was fully submitted and he would tye just the ring on her finger as a reminder of his contril over her by bonbage, then it evolved to a sign of commitment but a ring for men and women. Christian, orthodox, or pagan it is the left hand that sends the message. Not " fighting " anything. In a few European countries, the ring is worn on the left hand prior to marriage, then transferred to the right during the ceremony. Many Swedish women wear a third ring on their ring finger, in this case on their right hand, as a symbol of motherhood and fertility. On that journey, he served on the clergy staff of several churches and finally attended Saint Michael's Seminary (ICCEC) and served as music and worship leader at an ICCEC church. YouTube | As our marriage is sealed in Christ, the ring is placed on the right hand. Once you’re married, tradition dictates that your engagement band be moved back to the third finger on your left hand. While the Bishop and the Priest in their vocation raises their right hand to bless us, you raise your right hand in your vocation of marriage to bless yourself in the Name of the Triune God as well when you bless your children and your wife you do so with the (right) hand of blessing. under Metropolitan Hilarion. All rights reserved. I was looking in the Bible in Luke 15, and found in the New King James Version in verse 22, about the Prodigal Son, it only mentions ring finger. I'm really glad that I found your blog! THE GREEK ORTHODOX WEDDING CEREMONY. Instagram | Don't know if you ever saw it but the old 1950's movie 'Martin Luther' shows that when he married, he placed the ring on her right hand. My brother noticed that I wore my wedding ... By Nathan Lee Lewis Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. The Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony is an ancient service full of ritual and symbolism. He and his wife, Xanthia, have. It also may feel more comfortable than wearing it on your dominant hand. Nowadays, it's permitted to wear wedding rings on any hand. And Which same should everyone adopt... My same or Your same? Some brides get both rings soldered together (with the wedding ring on the bottom). Rings in a Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony are exchanged right at the top with the priest blessing both rings before placing them on the third finger of their right hands. Does that make a difference? I have seen a few Orthodox writers brush off the subject of heliocentric vs. geocentric model of the Earth/Universe. The practice in the Orthodox west in pre-schism days was to place the ring on the right hand but the rubric of the marriage service gives as the reason precisely that there is a vein leading directly to the heart - from the right hand.It may well be that this is mediaeval superstition that somehow found its way into the service books of the Church - I do not know - but it is quite clear that the superstition, if such it be, is not linked to the left hand (at least not alone) and that this talk of veins has no bearing on the question on which hand bears the wedding ring. You must have a Google or other appropriate account in order to post a comment. As for … we'll be happy to answer it! The Sacrament of Marriage. The Betrothal Service, with the official Blessings of the Rings. Adding to that list of wedding rings on right hands is Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey, Portugal, Norway, Montenegro and Slovakia. In the midst of my Journey To Orthodoxy, I find my self being redefined. The custom of wearing rings on the left hand, to my knowledge, is a peculiarly American custom. We find in Coptic Orthodox Churches it is placed on the left. The ancient Romans were the first to wear the wedding ring on the right hand. The couple is led through the ceremony by their priest and their koumbaros, a best man who remains an important figure in the couple's life.Most rituals are performed three times to represent the Holy Trinity. a long time ago many asian cultures had women wear on right hand and men on left, so that the man who by nature of yin and yang would rightfully stand to the left side of the woman, can hold her hand, not blocked by any rings. When you do so, your wedding ring should remain closest to your heart (where your spouse placed it on your wedding day) and your engagement ring is placed next to the wedding ring. I choose a life without this sort of fear. in Religion/Pastoral Ministries from Ouachita Baptist University. The first wedding rings are believed to date back to ancient Egypt, when people wove grasses and reeds into circles symbolizing eternity and completeness. The Bible says you're not to be like the sinful world. This practice continues in the Non-Chalcedonian Coptic community.As for it being "tradition everywhere" to use the left - In Indian Christian communities, who lacked cultural influence from the west until 400 years ago, it has always been the right. Our discussions revealed several Protestant errors. We can rejoice in diversity and live in peace with this diversity. An obvious reason for using the right hand is that oaths —both in Jewish and in Roman tradition —were traditionally (and biblically) performed with the right hand. Facebook | You can slide it back in place once the wedding band is on. In England, the 1549 Prayer Book declared "the ring shall be placed on the left hand". Both men and women may opt to wear their wedding rings on the right hand if their left hand is dominant. During the engagement, the band is worn on the left hand - after the marriage it is worn on the right. Great blog...Very useful information..Thank u.. Over time, the materials used for wedding rings evolved to include leather, bone, and eventual… Its goog for me to get solution of my problem.Visit :- Wedding Ring, Thank you Father for your informative blog. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images. I live in Australia and here women wear it on the left. I have heard that it is tradition in the Greek Church to move the band to the left after the honeymoon (after the consecration of the marriage), but have also heard that the band should be kept where the priest put it. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power...", I believe it's the custom in parts of Europe to wear the wedding ring on the right hand. He entered the Orthodox Christian Church in 2005. The custom of wearing rings on the left hand, to my knowledge, is a peculiarly American custom. The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on this digit originated from the belief that this finger has a vein running directly to the heart. They seem to do s... A Response to a Commenter of "Why We Left...Where We Went..." Concerning the question of the "Similarity of Beliefs... JTO Blog Editor, Nathan Lee Lewis, has a B.A. This comment has been removed by the author. Regardless where I live, I will wear mine on the right like the rest of my family. A traditional reason to wear the wedding ring on … One way is to continue to accumulate more and more. For example, a Greek Orthodox bride wears the ring on the left hand prior to the ceremony, then moves it to the right hand after the wedding. It is only in the West that this idea of the left hand had any influence. I have yet to convert (my nearest Orthodox congregations are 100 miles away) but I have begun implementing the Spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and readings. He was also a licensed and ordained Southern Baptist Minister until the mid 90's when he began his interim Journey To Orthodoxy. Now...spelling and syntax...that is another matter... Austria, Bulgaria, Colombia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India (mostly for men), Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Perú, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, and Venezuela wear wedding rings on their right hands.There is a difference between fighting others and following ones own tradition. Some people believe a spouse will switch their band to their right hand as a code that means they are open to cheating on their mate. Eastern Orthodox Christians, like those in Greece, continue the tradition of the Romans in this manner. I gave my brother as brief an answer as possible, but have since found this good explanation for the biblical and cultural origins of the practice: Once again it is the Western practice that is the aberration, not unlike the question of beards on men. The Greeks evolved the fashion of shaving the beard and cutting their hair short centuries before Jesus was born. been married for 39 years and have five daughters and seven grandchildren. The reasons for placement on the index finger vary and include: Read on for ways to avoid ring transfer snafus at your wedding. If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, Western customs for wedding rings can be traced to ancient Rome.. Contact | G.K. Chesterton You kn... Over the recent holidays I spent time with my Protestant siblings, two sisters and a brother. I didn't know that wearing the ring on the left hand had such a profound meaning. On which hand should the wedding band reside on a couple married in the Greek Church? The ring ceremony consists of the groom placing the ring on the bride's right index finger. I had thought the placement of the wedding band on the left finger was for practical reasons, not pagan ones--in Islam the right hand is used to eat with, the left for something else, and both need to be kept separate for health reasons. The aberration is to be clean shaven, as the Pagans. Some Christians such as 7th day or Mennonite etc. What do you mean by "ancient days" and in what culture are you referring? In Belgium it varies according to which region you live in.In many countries wedding rings are not part of that culture.My advice would be to embrace cultural differences without comprimising ones own. My brother noticed that I wore my wedding ring on my right hand and, much to the chagrin of one of my sisters, who is anti-Orthodox, asked why it was so. We still think we have so much to offer, but in reality, God does not need our help. Just a research of history and culture is enough. Our pride, especially as former pastors, does not die too easily. Was looking for information on the differences between wedding rings and engagement rings and chanced upon this blog post. During my service in aninterdenominational ministry, I became acquainted with three Orthodox fathers whose wisdom led me to examine my deepest held beliefs, and particularly why I held them. God’s right hand “makes firm” the foundations of the earth. Why do only women wear engagemwnt rings? But ultimately each person chooses their own path in life and often we fear anything that differs from our own way. Do Orthodox And Baptists Have A "Similarity of Beliefs"? In response to the Anon. Favorite Answer Most people in the Orthodox church wear it on their right hand when they are engaged and on their left hand when they are married. Wear the engagement ring on the right hand. Apperantly however, you are supposed to wear it … And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. I am Macedonian we wear our rings on the right. Once in a Cathedral book store I casually checked the hands of 7-8 women who entered. It was in a Greek Church and no one bothered to explain it to her. I am today where you were some years back: I am discovering the Spiritual truths of the The Orthodox Faith. The groom offers the bouquet to her, and takes her right hand after her father. "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. Today's homily clearly stated was, "God does not want us to bring Him our righteousness, but our broken and contrite spirit." Over the recent holidays I spent time with my Protestant siblings, two sisters and a brother. I'm afraid that the paragraph after the prayer in the quoted explanation is a non-sequitur. This may be a Greek custom, but not an Orthodox … It is common in many parts of the world.Mary. The wedding begins with the betrothal, during which the priest blesses the rings. Afterwards, most women move it to the customary "ring finger" of the left hand. Patrick, Welcome to the Journey. Left-Handedness. My grandmother was from Kaunas, Lithuania and grandfather from Vilna, Lithuania; the family portrait of both, with their 9 children, shows my grandmother wearing her wedding band on the "middle finger of her right hand." If the Bible says it do it. Depending on the culture, a wedding ring is typically worn on the base of the left or right ring finger; if the wearer is left handed often it will go onto the right hand.Many spouses wear their wedding rings day and night, causing an indentation in the skin that is visible even when the ring is removed. Yes the marriage alone should be enouhg for you but wedding rings arent for you they are for every one else and you are telling them you are single and that is slap in the face to your spouse. You found the home of Orthodox Christian rings and wedding bands! The practice in the Orthodox west in pre-schism days was to place the ring on the right hand but the rubric of the marriage service gives as the reason precisely that there is a vein leading directly to the heart - from the right hand. i just got engaged last night and we in australia are used to seeing the rings of engaged or married people wearing there rings on the left, i converted 6mths ago to serbian orthodox so off course my ring is on the right, i don't see anyone in serbia wearing there rings on the left not even the catholics here, personally who cares what finger all i am about is a marriage should always be done in a church not by some celebrant in some park ..... thats just my two cents of the matter... and yes I'm excited hehe. This may be a Greek custom, but not an Orthodox tradition. U are really not aware of various customs. If I hadn't been Orthodox, I would have thought it odd indeed! If you mean you lost your mate to death then you have two options ... not wear the wedding rings or wear the rings on the right hand if it gives you comfort. Since becoming Orthodox, he has served as a Reader in the Eastern Rite and a Cantor in the Western Rite. in Radio, TV, Film from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a B.A. The other is to desire less. Bride and groom then walk together down the aisle, the groom on the right side of the bride. Can you please correct me father my understanding. The Orthodox Christian Church … Finally, wearing a wedding ring on the right hand can simply mean that the wearer is left-handed and doesn’t want his or her ring to be subjected to the wear and tear from their dominant hand. I, and my spouse, steadfastly wear our rings on the right hand, and so do all of the Orthodox couples I know. It initially started from Romans as they wore wedding rings on their right hands considering the left hand unreliable and forbidding. 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Course, I why do greek orthodox wear wedding ring on right hand have thought it odd indeed West that this idea of Romans.