Ruthenian Wedding Vows

[Paragon468]

Can the exchange of vows be left out of a Ruthenian wedding service? I ask because my priest insisted they were necessary, and even seemed a bit surprised when I asked about omitting them.

I didn’t want to be disrespectful towards my priest, so I agreed to include them, but from what I understand they are an innovation and do not have to be used.

 

[Isaac14]

Christ is risen!

Being Orthodox, I can’t directly answer your question. I did however think it might be interesting for you to see and compare to the service for a wedding as prescribed in the Orthodox Church in America. Although we have Ruthenian roots, our practice is probably closer to that of the Russian church.

See the PDF linked here

 

[DeniseNY]

THE HOLY MYSTERY OF MATRIMONY according to Byzantine Rite practice | Archeparchy of Pittsburgh

 

[dvdjs]

Thanks for the link. I had heard that the incorporation of vows happened in the US. It is interesting to read that they date back to mid-16 hundreds and the time when the betrothal and crowning ceremonies were combined, and are from an Orthodox Trebnyk.

 

[babochka]

Thanks for the link. I had heard that the incorporation of vows happened in the US. It is interesting to read that they date back to mid-16 hundreds and the time when the betrothal and crowning ceremonies were combined, and are from an Orthodox Trebnyk.

It is also interesting that the addition of vows seems to have occurred in the same year as the Union of Uzhhorod.

It is my understanding that the vows were added in order to comply with Polish law, which required them. I have also read that the Ruthenian Trebnyk published by Rome in the 1940s allowed (but did not mandate) the vows to continue only in places where it was already the custom to use them.

As to the original question - whether a Ruthenian wedding can occur without them - I believe that it can, but I really have nothing but my own opinion/gut feeling to go on.

 

[dvdjs]

It is also interesting that the addition of vows seems to have occurred in the same year as the Union of Uzhhorod.

On that point. The Church of Uzhhorod was not part of the Kyivan Church, Catholic or Orthodox.
Mohilya was Metropolitan of the latter, after Brest. Even as the counter-uniate Metropolitan, so to speak, his work shows considerable Western influence - as might be expected in that place and at that time. If he initiated the use of vows to comply with Polish law, the Ruthenians picked, who were not subject to Polish law, seemed to have picked it up from him.