www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall No Wedding Rings for Married Clergy - Russian Tradition?

I was reading an article about Orthodoxy in Russia, but with a grain of salt. The author seemed only marginally familiar with Orthodoxy.

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/334287-russian-priests-married-wife

"For a priest, marriage is not so much about personal happiness, since in his family life he also must first of all serve God. That is why he does not wear a wedding ring; first of all, the priest is “betrothed to the Church,” and not to his wife. Even if a man was already married before being ordained, when he becomes a priest his wedding ring is removed from his finger. This symbolizes that now he does not fully belong to himself or to his family, because the main mission of an Orthodox priest is to serve God and his flock."

Is this removal of the wedding ring practiced? Do married priests (and deacons) in the Russian tradition in the Americas also practice this?

Hhmm...no one replied yet. Anyway, from what I know, the priest only removes his wedding ring during Liturgy or when he serves on the altar. Since I'm not under Russia, I'm not sure if it is different there, so Russian Orthodox might be able to answer this better...

I used to remove my ring before celebrating liturgy. The reasoning behind this was that a small particle of the Body of Christ might get lodged between the ring and the finger. Sadly, I developed a rash, so some years before my wife's death, I stopped wearing it altogether. Even sadder, I somehow misplaced it. I really haven't paid attention to what other clergy do. I'm supposed to have breakfast with an ACROD priest tomorrow. If I remember, I shall ask him the practice of his diocese.

What other scenario is there? One wife before ordination, or what?

My Priest does not remove his ring.

Thank you for your thoughts and observations.

Yes, this quote (above and below) was part of what led me to doubt the author's depth of understanding:

"Even if a man was already married before being ordained..."
What other scenario is there? One wife before ordination, or what?

We have witness from our Forum members to those who remove it and those who don't. So the practice, if carried out, seems to be on the level of personal piety. Removal of the ring prior to the Liturgy might help the celebrant focus on the prayers and the offering and not to remember the recent argument he had had with the wife over where to plant the carrots in the garden. In the same line, the vested clergyman is not going to lean over and give his wife a kiss on the cheek as he passes her during the Great Entrance.

I could see why a widowed priest might remove it on a permanent basis in that his earthly obligations to the wife are over. That would make sense. He now dedicates all of his efforts to his ministry, much in the same way we expect monastics and bishops to do.

Removing it permanently while still married seems like an insult. His good conduct in a marriage blessed by God is the first qualification of a married man who seeks ordination. Why, upon ordination, if he would completely discard the ring, he would give the impression that the marriage has taken a back seat to the ordained service, or even worse, that the ordained service has obliterated the marriage. It seems appropriate that when out in public with wife & children, family and friends, we would want our priests and deacons to model a God-sanctioned family life and not, in some way, lessen that first and foundational blessing of their ordained service.

Regarding the ring rash and other side-effects of the ring, such as calluses, I find it helpful to switch the ring to the left hand Monday through Thursday. My non-Orthodox neighbors, co-workers, etc. all can quickly see that I'm a married man. Friday through Sunday, when most of my contact with other Orthodox occurs, I have it back on the right hand where it belongs. The alternation helps avoid the adverse effects described and being forced to switch it warns me if I've put on excess weight.