Wedding Bands (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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	Wedding Bands (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

On which hand should the wedding band reside on a couple married in the Greek Church?

My wife and I recently married and she kept hers on her right hand, while I moved mine to 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.

Which is preferred? Also, I am not Greek, but Roman Catholic. Does that make a difference?

ANSWER:

Traditionally Orthodox Christians wear their wedding rings on their right hands, not their left. However, in Europe in general, whether in an Orthodox country or a non-Orthodox country, people wear their rings on the right hand. The custom of wearing rings on the left hand, to my knowledge, is a peculiarly American custom.

Many American Orthodox continue to wear their rings on the right hand; others choose to wear it on the left. There is no such custom in the Orthodox Church of switching the hand after the honeymoon. This may be a Greek custom, but not an Orthodox tradition.

Published in January 2011.

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