www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Wedding Ring on right hand

Dear Doctor John the Deacon,

Yes, you raise an issue that is also very big with me too!

I've been in Ukrainian parishes where the saints venerated range from St Therese of Lisieux and St Francis of Assisi to St Paissy Velichkovsky and the Siberian Orthodox missionary Saints.

I remember reading an article by Fr Ireneaus Nazarko OSBM in the Basilian LIGHT where he discusses the Orthodox Saint Dmitri of Rostov and quotes at length from him regarding the "Holy Wounded Side of Christ."

Fr. Nazarko then exclaims admiringly that "truly that Ukrainian person was a great saint of God who knew how to write so beautifully!"

But even in Orthodoxy the cult of St John Maximovitch is now universal, no matter which jurisdiction.

I must admit, however, that having our feet in both East and West with the ability to honour the saints of each is one of the most attractive things to being an Eastern Catholic!

Alex

I liked your post, Deacon Elmer!

I prefer to wear mine on the right, partly, I admit, because I broke a couple fingers on my left hand awhile back, and although they healed, it doesn't feel comfortable to wear rings there. But it is moreso out of tradition that I wear mine on the right, I think.

About half my friends wear their rings on the right. My husband wears his ring on the left.

As long as people wear their wedding rings and reflect upon what they mean, I'm cool with them on either hand.

Dear Alex et al,

For those of you who wish to pursue this question of "trans-jurisdictional sanctity," so to speak, the next edition of LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies will be carrying a fascinating article on this by an Orthodox deacon currently resident in Japan. It puts together an enormous amount of material from Roman and Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, and secular sources on this question. At present rates, I should myself be dead and canonized by the time the next issue appears, so perhaps you will read my name in there as well!

Dear Annie,

And what was wrong with MY posts?

Have you been talking to Neil?

Alex

Dear Adam,

I didn't know we were pursuing the issue of "trans-jurisdictional sanctity."

Do you mean cultural variants of religious practices?

Are you people at LOGOS creating a new theological language over there?

How much is a subscription and where do I sign up?

If you are wondering why I'm asking so many questions, well why shouldn't I?

Alex

Dear Alex,

Regarding Saints Irene, Raphael and Nicholas, you made one teensy weensy mistake ...

The island in Greece you referred to was not Chios, (where my maternal grandmother and my husband's two parents hail from), but Mytilene (or 'Lesbos'), which is just one island north...so you weren't too far off!

Never the less, I am in admiration of you.. your brain is like a computer filled with much interesting information, detail, and trivia...
since we are but one year apart in age, I have to ask, how do you retain so much, and keep your memory so keen?

Your friend in Christ,
Alice

Whoever posted that the Germans wear the wedding ring on the right hand is absolutely correct. Also Austrians, maybe others. Irregardless if Catholics or Protestants. Every GI noticed this right away.

Dear Alice,

You are right - I stand corrected!

I happened to be reading the life of St Nicephoros of Chios at the time . . .

How was your thanksgiving down in Chios . . . I mean the U.S.?

Actually, my memory is suffering from old age at the present . . .

God bless,

Alex

Alex,

My name is spelled in the French fashion, and my last name is of Basque origin (de Ybarrondo), but down here in Texas I'm just plain Henri (said: Henry).

Actually, wearing the ring on my right hand has given me multiple opportunities to discuss Eastern Christianity. But you have to say it quick, because their eyes do tend to glaze over two sentences into an explanation.

That certainly curtails their interest in me - but hopefully they benefit from the discussion!

I can understand that if someone has worn their ring on the left hand for 'x' time, it just wouldn't seem 'right' to switch. It doesn't seem 'right' to me either sometimes, having been raised in this culture and always associating marriage with the left hand. My priest placed the ring on my right hand, and there I try to keep it - but as I said before it can cause both confusion - and opportunity.

As someone interested in helping to restore our Eastern traditions, how important is this actually? I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill. Is it better to say here in the West clearly: "Hey - I'm married" (left hand) or "Hey, I might be married/widowed/gay - but let me tell you about why we wear our ring on our right hand."?

This topic may sound nit-picky or silly, but I've appreciated all of y'alls comments.

Grace and Peace to you all!

- Henri, the newly married (6 months) Byzantine Texan.

Dear Henri,

I once heard that the grammatical structure of the Basque language is similar to that of Ukrainian . . .

Be that as it may, I think that there are Easterners who can be VERY nit-picky about certain things.

I once wore a Jerusalem Cross lapel pin to church and was lambasted for wearing not only a "Latin" Cross, but also a Cross of the crusaders who persecuted the East etc.!

I think one should follow the general custom in this respect. My wife insists I wear my ring on the left hand and no "if's, and's or but's."

So there, the discussion has been closed, for me at least.

How is the weather where you are, by the way?

Alex

Wearing the wedding ring on the right hand is also a Scandinavian traditon, perhaps a total European custom so where did it come from in America that we wear it on the left?
Stephanos I

US , of course - it has always been on the left hand here

Though of course Alex will doubltess prove me wrong - as usual

Dear Anhelyna,

After being told off by the Administrator, I think I'll keep my big mouth shut for the rest of the week, if you don't mind

Alex

I, too, wear my ring on the right hand, for all the reasons abov, and for one additional: it is customary for string instrumentalists (particularly men) to wear the ring on the right hand. I am a 'cellist, and would have to take my ring off every time i played (it is very dangerous for us to wear anything on the left hand and wrist; the risk of tendonitis and carpal tunnel increases due to tightness produced). My wife wears hers on the left, but regrets not following my advise and having it sized for her right.

Ah now that had not struck me - and it should have done - my daughters - violists - always removed their watches before playing.

Interesting - mmmmmmm