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Clergy's Wedding Ring: Balancing Ministry & Family

As we embrace the festive spirit, we extend our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the light and hope of the Nativity guide you through life's turbulent seas.
In this edition of the OCC, we delve into a nuanced tradition observed in some Orthodox Churches: the practice of married priests and deacons refraining from wearing wedding rings. Is this tradition rooted in canonical, symbolic, and practical reasoning?
The Current Practice
In both the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches (and please do correct us if our understanding of the Greek practice is mistaken), married candidates traditionally remove their wedding rings before ordination (in the Russian Orthodox Church, typically at the time of taking priestly vows) and do not wear them thereafter.
Up until roughly 15-20 years ago, this was an undisputed norm in the ROC. The ring was either kept at home, worn around the neck along with the cross, or both rings were placed on the spouse's hand. Of late, however, this topic has sparked considerable discussion.
Underlying Motivations
Historically, rings have symbolised the mutual belonging of spouses. For a priest, who is wedded to the Church in a metaphorical sense, his primary allegiance shifts. He is no longer solely devoted to his family or even himself, but primarily to his ecclesiastical duties.
The act of removing the ring serves as a poignant reminder that his responsibilities now encompass not just his immediate family, but the broader spiritual family entrusted to him by God – his parishioners.
It's crucial to acknowledge that a married priest remains duty-bound to care for his 'domestic church'. He is, first and foremost, a servant of God, symbolised by the pectoral cross he dons. This reasoning similarly applies to deacons, though they do not receive a pectoral cross. Some also suggest that this custom emerged as a distinction from Catholic clergy, who wear a ring to signify spiritual authority.
This tradition is deeply ingrained and has stood the test of time. Yet, in recent years, whether due to a spirit of revisionism, a quest for deeper understanding, or the aim to align with practices of clergy from other denominations, this topic has garnered increased attention among the clergy, even prompting discussions at the Patriarchal level.
Historical Context: Tracing the Tradition's Roots
The intersection between the sacraments of Matrimony and Ordination in modern practice reveals overlapping elements. During both ceremonies, participants circle the analogion thrice, singing three troparions: "Rejoice, O Isaiah!", "O Holy Martyrs...", and "Glory to Thee, O Christ God". However, intriguingly, this aspect of the ordination ceremony is absent in ancient liturgical texts.
A notable appearance of a somewhat truncated version of this ritual (omitting "Rejoice, O Isaiah!") is found in the 15th-century writings of St Simeon of Thessalonica, a Byzantine church leader, theologian, and liturgist. Scholars propose that the rite of circumambulating the altar with troparions in the ordination order likely emerged in the 14th century, possibly borrowed from marital rites. Consequently, the tradition of removing wedding rings may have originated around the same time.
Thus, while this tradition could be five to six centuries old, it lacks strong canonical justification. For over fifteen centuries, the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church did not recognise this practice. Moreover, there's a liturgical inconsistency: the act of wearing the ring is integral to the marriage sacrament, sanctified by a specific prayer. Logically, if the ring is donned with prayer during a sacrament, it should also be removed ceremonially with prayer, akin to the removal of wedding crowns on the eighth day. Yet, no such prayer exists in the ordination rite.
❗️ This implies that the decision to wear a ring remains at the discretion of the priest, in consultation with his diocesan bishop.
Addressing this topic, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, during the 2019 Moscow clergy diocesan meeting, highlighted the absence of a canonical ban on wearing wedding rings. He stated, "I see no barrier for those clerics who wish to wear wedding rings, provided it is done outside of divine services and not while in vestments."
The Practical Considerations
The practicality of wearing a ring during divine service might underpin this tradition's origins. A clergyman handling the Holy Communion risks particles lodging beneath the ring, potentially leading to their inadvertent desecration – a serious concern.
Similar issues arise during the proskomedia, where particles might be inadvertently transferred from the discos to the chalice. Additionally, wearing a ring on the hand used to hold the censer could result in scratches from the chains. Technically, it seems imprudent to wear a ring during divine services. Regularly removing and storing the ring increases the likelihood of its loss, a matter not to be taken lightly.
The Advantages of Wearing the Ring
Several priests have highlighted the positive aspects of wearing a wedding ring. In our times, when the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage are ever more crucial to uphold, the wedding ring serves as a testament to conjugal love and fidelity.
It can be a beacon for parishioners and those navigating familial crises, seeking counsel from a priest. Additionally, it dispels any misconceptions or uneasy perceptions from outsiders when they observe a closely-knit couple where only one partner wears a ring. For the priest, the ring is a tangible reminder that his family remains a vital component of his ministry.
Independent of whether one chooses to wear a symbol of marital commitment, our heartfelt prayer is for you to possess empathetic love for your neighbour, coupled with the grace of discernment and moderation.
May these virtues guide you both in your parish responsibilities and within your 'domestic church'. Let your family be a wellspring of strength, joy, and inspiration in your life.
We invite you to share your experiences and views on this topic, particularly how it is addressed within your jurisdiction.
May Almighty God bestow His blessings upon all!