Folia Canonica 11. (2008)
STUDIES - George Gallardo-Dimitri Salachas: The "ritus sacer" of the Sacrament of Marriage in the Byzantine Churches
THE “RITUS SACER” IN THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES 149 care and provide for the salvation of mankind. Mankind, however, must also be faithful to God, in the personal response and commitment of each believer. Some editions of the Byzantine Orthodox books include this stipulation concerning the spouses’ manifestation of consent, while others do not specifically mention it.62 However, when the couple come to the church to receive the sacramental mystery of marriage, they bring their sincere pledge of love and faithfulness and offer it, like “the bread and the wine” in the Divine Liturgy, to be blessed and transformed into the mystical union of marriage. Before the ceremony begins, the rings are placed upon the Gospel book. On blessing them, the priest recites the following prayer: “O Lord our God, you chose the Church as a pure virgin from among the nations and made her your betrothed: will you bless this betrothal, uniting and preserving these servants in peace and oneness of mind.”63 Then the priest takes each ring and traces the sign of the cross three times on the head of the bride and groom. Slipping the first ring onto the right ring finger of the groom, he then says: “The servant of God (Name) is betrothed to the servant of God (Name), in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”64 He does the same for the bride. In some traditions, the paranymphs (the best man and maid of honor), acting as liturgical witnesses reiterate the exchange of the rings on the couple. The priest concludes: “O Lord our God, look on these your servants and ground their betrothal firmly in faith and oneness of mind, in truth and in love. Now, Lord, bless this giving of rings with a heavenly blessing.”65 In the Latin ceremony of Marriage the priest invites the couple to express their consent: “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.”66 The bride and groom then give each other their right hands and exchange consent in the following terms: 62 See Mikron Euchologion, Athens 1988, 90; Euchologion to Mega, Athens 1986, 238. 65 Sec Aghiasmatarion, 76-81; The Creat Book of Needs, 1: 156-161. 64 Ibid. 65 Ibid. 66 “Rite of Marriage,” in The Rites, Collegeville (Mn) 1990, 1:725-729; also A. Nocent, The Christian Rite of Marriage in the West, in A. Chupungo (ed.) Sacraments and Sacramentals, Collegeville (Mn.) 2000, 275-301.
