When you get married in a Greek Orthodox Church, the Priest will put the wedding band on your right hand and then you change it to your left hand… right?
Almost every young Greek-Australian bride that I know has swapped hands to be like other Australians. I think that if the Priest puts it on your right hand then there would be a justified reason for it. When I get married, I think I will leave it on the right.
Do/Will you wear your wedding band on your left, or on your right?
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February 1, 2008 at 12:18 am
siamavris
By Tammy Stinson from Ten Greek Wedding Traditions:
“The engagement rings, which also serve as the wedding rings, are traditionally blessed twice. When the couple becomes officially engaged, the priest blesses the rings and the couple will wear the rings on their left hand until the wedding. At the wedding ceremony, the priest once again blesses the rings at which time the bride and groom switches the rings to the right hand.”
February 16, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Christos
The priest officially puts the rings on the right hand of the bride and groom during the mistiry. But for some reason my wife and I moved it to our left hand, don’t ask why I have no idea.
February 16, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Λύσιππος
In the Greek Orthodox tradition, the ring goes to the right hand as it’s the hand one uses to cross themselves with. In the Western culture, the placement of the ring on the left hand represents “the hand of the heart”.
Fantastic blog!
February 28, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Laura
Hi,
I am an English bride marrying into the Greek Orthodox tradition… so i’m reading all the time in order to be knowledgable in all things Orthodox!
The rings are placed on the right hand at the ceremony and should stay there as : “the right hand is significant as it is the right hand of God that blesses and it was the right side of God that Christ ascended to”
So i will be leaving mine on the right! where my priest places and blesses it!
January 24, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Aussie who married a Greek
Laura is 100% correct. The right hand is the “blessed” hand, Jesus ascended to sit on Gods right hand side and you are blessed by the right hand of the priest.
Wearing your wedding ring on your right hand is an old Roman tradition (the vein from the ring finger of your left hand goes straight to your heart) and has no religious connection at all
October 29, 2009 at 10:46 am
Anonymous
http://www.antiochian.org/1286
November 7, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Dina
I find this strange because its not fair for them to think that the left hand is sinister.. what about those who write with their left.. does that make them sinister? i mean i am a lefty and i am greek but i prefer to have the ring on my left hand rather than my right.
November 11, 2011 at 6:34 pm
melanie
hi im a filipina,my wedding ring is in the right hand.coz the priest was bless my wedding ring in my right hand,,,the question is,why the wedding ring is in right hand.?
answer,when your wedding ring is in the right hand,it means you are belong to the catholic relegion,
second when where sign of the krus is in the right hand,am i right..!
cuz right hand is the sign of god.
so like laura’s said im agree her,i will be leaving my wedding ring in my right hand to..as the priest said..thanks….! and god bless our family..^_^