wedding rings
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church. This is a church rite that carries a special meaning and significance. After all, two loving people become husband and wife not only in the eyes of society, but also before God.
In the times of Ancient Russia, marriage was carried out exclusively before God. However, after many years, the attitude of people to church rituals has changed. Today, not every couple who registers their marriage in the registry office enters into an alliance before God.
Atheists are alien to everything that has to do with God and the church. Believers and people of mature age understand the true meaning of this rite, so they try to follow all the recommendations and canons. But young couples consider this ceremony a kind of tribute to fashion. Therefore, not every young couple knows the rules, traditions and examples associated with wedding rings.
What exactly are wedding rings? What should they be? How to choose them correctly? What signs and traditions do people honor and remember?
The role of the rings in the rite
During the wedding, the rings are on the right side of the throne. This placement is not accidental. Wedding rings are in front of the face of the Lord. There is a belief that, touching the throne, the rings are filled with a special power of consecration, the blessing of God passes to them.It is also important that both products are located near each other, which is considered a symbol of mutual faith and love of lovers.
After the priest passes the rings to the future spouses, the newlyweds exchange rings three times. This is the wedding ceremony. As a result, the bride's ring remains with the groom, and the groom's ring goes to the bride. This exchange has a special meaning, it is symbolic. With his ring, the groom speaks of the desire to help and sacrifice everything for the sake of his beloved, and also to be her reliable support in life. The decoration of the bride, in turn, is a symbol of fidelity, love and readiness to be always a reliable companion.
The wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. As you know, the ring finger and the heart are connected by the shortest path. It is also not without reason that the choice fell on the right hand, because it is with this hand that people with the Orthodox faith are baptized.
Orthodox customs
The Sacrament of the Wedding carries a special sacred meaning. Now, before God and society, a man and a woman are considered as one. Like every church ceremony, the wedding is based on certain customs and traditions. For example, a lot of attention is paid to wedding rings. If a couple tries to observe all the canons and traditions, then two rings of the same design should be purchased, but from different precious metals. A silver ring for the bride and a gold ring for the groom. This custom has a certain connotation. Gold represents the Sun, the light of which will illuminate the path of a married couple throughout their lives. Silver symbolizes the Moon, which is considered a reflection of light from the Sun.
There is also a slightly different interpretation of the significance of the two metals.The apostle Paul compared the union of two loving people with the relationship of the Church and Jesus Christ. According to legend, the groom is considered the personification of Christ, and the bride symbolizes the Church. Accordingly, gold will act as God's grace and glory, and silver will represent purity and spiritual light.
Differences for wedding and wedding
The main rule to follow is that wedding rings used when registering a marriage in the registry office cannot be wedding rings at the same time. These two types of rings have different purposes. Therefore, the same ring cannot be both wedding and engagement (wedding) at the same time.
Today, wedding rings or engagement rings can be of different styles: with or without gemstones, engraved on the outside and / or inside, paired or completely different, combine several precious metals, be made of gold (yellow, white or red), silver or platinum, have complex patterns, wide or narrow, flat or convex and other options.
It is enough to go to a jewelry store and get acquainted with the assortment of the department for wedding ceremonies to understand how large the choice of such rings is. In addition, young couples can order rings from a jeweler who will make unique pieces of their kind.
Wedding rings, in turn, should be as simple as possible. Two rings - gold and silver - do not serve as some kind of elaborate decorations, they have a different purpose.
They wear wedding rings on the right hand - on the left ring finger they are worn only by divorced people or abroad.
Which one to choose
For a wedding, it is better to choose simple rings that do not have ornate patterns, inscriptions, or precious stones. It is allowed to have engraving on the inside of the products. Engraving can be done in the form of some kind of inscription of a religious nature, prayer, oath of the spouses, as well as the names of the newlyweds.
If the ring is too pretentious or something is written on it that is unacceptable according to church canons, the clergyman may refuse to carry out the wedding process. The church does not recognize products with precious stones. The wedding ring should be as simple as possible. The ideal option is a simple smooth silver ring for the bride and gold for the groom.
Signs
Most of the wedding rituals have their own signs. The wedding was no exception. There are many different signs and myths that are associated with the wedding. And many such myths are closely connected with wedding rings.
For example, the following are among the most common:
- In order for life to develop well and there are fewer obstacles on the way, it is necessary to choose smooth rings, without inlay.
- Rings need to be bought by the bride and groom together. Moreover, the purchase must be made at the same time and in the same place, which, according to legend, is considered a symbol of a long and happy married life.
- In order for the newlyweds to walk along the same road all their lives, you should choose even rings, without stones and any complex patterns.
- You can’t let anyone try on your wedding ring, even the closest people and relatives.
- On the day of the wedding, it is not advised to wear any other rings.
- If during the ceremony the wedding ring fell, then nothing good will come of such a union.
- In the event of a divorce, the wedding ring must be removed and not worn as jewelry.
- Wedding rings should be new, and not be inherited or made from jewelry that was inherited from relatives.
- Having bought wedding rings, a young couple should say the phrase “To a faithful family, to a good life. Amen".