According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, getting married during Lent is prohibited. In fact, few people know why the ban exists, but everyone confidently insists that it is impossible. A wedding during Lent is a sin that cannot be forgiven. If church traditions are violated, the life of the newlyweds will not work out, the marriage will not be happy. Even those who have never been to church try to adhere to generally accepted standards. And only the bravest decide to get married during Lent. Where superstitions come from and whether to adhere to prohibitions is worth understanding.
Wedding in Lent - is it possible?
There is a lot of debate about whether it is possible to get married during Lent. Simple registration of marriage in the registry office is not prohibited, and is not condemned by the church. But a wedding banquet and excessive entertainment can become a problem. During this period, one should eat modest food. Meat products should be excluded from the menu. Mass entertainment is also prohibited. Therefore, a marriage can be concluded during Lent, but the celebration of registration will have to be postponed until its end.
Traditionally, there are no weddings during Lent before Easter. A simple signature at the registry office and a stamp in the passport will not bring any harm to believers
Why you can’t have a wedding during Lent – what the church will say
The question of why you can’t get married during Orthodox Lent has a clear answer. During fasting, a person's spirit and body are cleansed. Even intimate relations between husband and wife are prohibited. Daily prayers should occupy people's thoughts, and a wedding distracts believers from the very meaning of fasting. You can get married during Lent, but you cannot get married on these days.
Is it possible to get married during Lent without a magnificent celebration?
Newlyweds are not prohibited from getting married during this period, but they will not be able to get married in a church. No priest without a good reason will bless the young during Lent before Easter. The period prohibited for weddings is before Christmas, as well as before some major Christian holidays.
If young people have registered a union with secular bodies, they can gather in the evening at the Lenten table with close people. A magnificent celebration during such a period is condemned by the church. Don't forget the true meaning of fasting. This time is intended to save the soul and cleanse the body.
Is it possible to just sign a post without a wedding?
Traditionally, there are no weddings during Lent before Easter. A simple signature at the registry office and a stamp in the passport will not bring any harm to believers, since circumstances are different, and this stamp is simply necessary due to the current situation. But it’s forbidden to have a wedding these days. Church Easter is associated with many Christian rituals that believers are required to perform, and the wedding celebration is not one of them.
Is it possible to get married during Lent?
You cannot get married during Lent, although there are exceptions to this rule. The priest will marry the lovers in the following cases:
- A young man goes to war.
- One of the spouses is terminally ill.
- Other force majeure circumstances.
On a major church holiday, getting married through a wedding is quite problematic. All day, and sometimes night, services are held in the temple. There are a lot of people there, and the priest is busy with his direct duties.
It is important to know! “If it is necessary to get married due to special circumstances during Lent, then a petition for this is submitted. The petition must be addressed to the ruling bishop.”
Today, when leaving for military service, a young man can also count on the fact that an exception will be made for him and his fiancée during this period. It is worth remembering that not all priests consider the above circumstances to be a valid reason. Some refuse to marry newlyweds into Lent under any circumstances.
Church Easter is associated with many Christian rituals that believers are obliged to perform, and a wedding celebration is not one of them
Weddings during fasting are strictly prohibited according to the rules in all churches.
The sacrament of marriage and wedding are a joyful event that is incompatible with fasting, when people spend time in repentance and contrition for sins.
In addition, after this ritual, marital intimacy is expected, which is prohibited during fasting and abstinence is recommended.
Through the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds confirm their love on a spiritual level and become spouses.
During the sacrament, Divine grace descends on the bride and groom, which blesses the marriage and helps them remain faithful to each other.
To organize a wedding ceremony, there is a special Orthodox calendar, which is established by the highest ranks of the church and indicates on which days the event can be held.
124
how many days are suitable for a wedding in 2022
For example, in 2022, out of 365 days, only 124 days are allowed for the Sacrament of Marriage.
The priests consider the most suitable days for organizing the celebration to be the Days of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which in 2022 fall on June 21 and November 4.
And also Krasnaya Gorka - the first Sunday after Easter - May 5th.
The name Red Hill in Rus' came from paganism, when the beginning of spring was celebrated
The bishop of the church may allow the Sacrament of Wedding to be performed during Lent, but only for an exceptional reason, for example, if the groom urgently leaves for the army or war. Such situations have occurred in church practice, but these are isolated cases.
What could be the consequences of getting married during Lent?
If for some reason the newlyweds got married on a day prohibited by the church, then the wedding ceremony will still be considered valid, and the church marriage concluded before God.
There are many popular signs associated with marriage on such days. To be married during Lent means to toil and not find peace all your life. The controversial statement was created by popular rumor only so that people would be more respectful of God's commandments. Otherwise, why is it allowed to get married on these days under special circumstances?
If circumstances do not fit the category of “force majeure,” then there is no point in tempting fate. You can enter into an alliance in the registry office, and wait with the wedding until the permitted dates arrive. You can find out more about these dates on Orthodox websites and directly in the church itself where the ceremony is planned to be held.
During a period of spiritual growth, it is important to take care of your own soul, and not to organize holidays
Wedding attire of the newlyweds and dress code for guests
A winter wedding involves a long stay of the bride, groom and invited guests in the Christmas frost, so it is advisable for all participants in the celebration to properly insulate themselves. Fur will look great in wedding photographs, it will make the bride look more chic, and protect everyone else from the wind and frost. Fur suits any costume and style, so everyone, without exception, is allowed to wear it over festive costumes.
Wedding shoes and dress for the bride
A Christmas wedding is a great opportunity for the bride to appear in front of guests in several outfits: at the ceremony, photo shoot and in the banquet hall. Fur hats, muffs, gloves and boleros are the bride's must-have accessories for a winter wedding. But more attention should be paid to shoes, because the bride’s feet should not only be warm, but also look royal.
There is no need to go on a winter walk in shoes that were worn at the wedding ceremony. It is better to choose a pair of cute winter boots to match the dress. These could be short ankle boots with rhinestones or silver stiletto boots, or white ugg boots if the bride’s wedding dress is extravagant. The main thing is that after the celebration the newlyweds and guests do not get sick, but are healthy and happy.
Christmas dictates its own rules for the bride’s wedding dress. On such a day, many girls prefer to wear an original dress in the style of the Snow Maiden, Snow Queen or other winter character. A snow-white dress with fur or openwork lace will look ideal. Also, decorative elements on the dress such as a belt, sash or frills in gold, red or green will not hurt. A cape in the style of Santa Claus will add coquetry to the image.
Groom suit
The groom at a winter wedding must match the bride, so he should take the choice of a suit very seriously. If the bride chose a classic wedding dress, then the groom is also allowed to wear a classic black or white suit. But if the bride’s image contains original elements, then a men’s suit may contain:
- Bright details to match the color of the bride's dress.
- Original tuxedo belt.
- Green or blue vest.
- Ivy boutonniere.
- Viburnum berries and other original decor.
Are there exceptions?
Exceptions are made more readily on those days of fasting when there are no major church holidays. The ideal time is before Easter week, but with special permission from the clergy you can get married on any date. The main thing is to get permission.
During a period of spiritual growth, it is important to take care of your own soul, and not to organize holidays. War, conscription into the army, the last months of pregnancy, serious illness can become exceptional circumstances if the corresponding church document is received.
Religious rules at the dawn of Christianity were stricter than they are today. Nowadays, parishioners are given many concessions, which some do not appreciate or understand. It is important to follow the rules; they are needed to save the soul and join the faith.
Choosing an outfit
A wedding in December is a time when you need to take care of beauty, comfort and warmth at the same time. The future spouses will walk a lot, pose and be in the cold. Winter frost literally forces you to give up light dresses with large necklines.
The best option would be outfits made of thick fabrics that cover all areas of the body. Thanks to the large number of different dresses, there will be no problems with choosing! Satin ribbons, rhinestones and snow beads can be used as decorations. Small accessories and jewelry will turn the bride into a real queen.
To keep warm, you can throw on a warm and beautiful fur coat, and to keep your hands warm, throw on a fur muff. Street shoes are necessarily warm boots, and for a banquet you can prepare high-heeled shoes.
What's the bottom line: is it worth getting married during Lent?
Whether it is the Feast of the Assumption or Easter, all these days are intended for specific purposes. Getting married or getting married during this period is undesirable and prohibited. The Church believes that everything on earth has its time. If lovers want to live with God and the church in peace and harmony, then they must remember the restrictions that religion imposes on them. All worldly vanity, including a wedding, is not as important as cleansing the spirit or strengthening faith. For getting married, it is better to choose open dates, then the marriage will truly be blessed by the Higher Powers and their earthly representative - the priest.
