JORENIC RITE OF MATRIMONY

[Xarkly 12959]

 

A SACRAMENT OF THE

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

Amongst all the sacraments across the Canonist Realms, the rite of matrimony stands at the forefront. From lowborn serfs to high houses, marriage forms a cornerstone of human society, even among those of weak faith. It is through the sacrament of marriage that mankind rear families and children, and it is through these lineages that they defy the Archdaemon’s curse of transience and nurture humanity’s unrivalled strength.

 

 

It was Exalted Horen - first of the heavenly prophets, and first Lord of Man - from whom the sacrament derives. For it was Exalted Horen, he whose bloodline and tribe were the first branded by the Archdaemon’s curse, who took Saint Juliya as his wife in a sacred union in which they swore their undying love. In doing so, his tribe - those who would become humanity - followed his lead; they pledged to each other in body and soul, their spirits nurtured by the hearth of love, and so it was that Iblees’ curse was cast in vain.

 

 

Over the past two-thousand years, the sacrament of marriage has remained largely the same from the first wedding of Exalted Horen and Saint Juliya - before the Holy Light, a groom and bride declare their love and intention to be bound, and swear that never shall they desecrate their vow. Since these primordial days, it is merely the ceremony surrounding the sacrament has changed; the main Danielian Rite of the Canonist Church is largely recognisable for the ceremony of exchanging rings.

 

 

The Jorenic Rite of the north, in contrast, has some notable differences. Drawing particular inspiration from the ancient scriptures of Edel - the homeland of the Highlander humans - and the wayward tales of Saint Joren, lastborn son of Exalted Horen, and after whom the northern Rite is dubbed. In a land rife with battle and tempered with classical ideals of honour, the Jorenic Rite of marriage places focus on the vow of a man and woman to defend each other, in both body, and soul.

 

 

 

 

 

In a temple of the Light, the congregation gathers.

 

 

The groom stands before the chancel, where the Jorenic priest stands facing the flock, observed by the friends and families of the couple. Together with the groom is his chosen groomsman, who carries the matrimonial cloak to be bestowed upon the bride later in the ceremony. With the chime of a bell or gong, the ceremony will begin as the bride approaches the chancel through the aisle. She is accompanied by her chosen bridesmaid, who carries the matrimonial blade to be bestowed upon the groom later in the ceremony.

 

 

When the bride has reached the chancel, the priest will hail the Light’s attention with an opening prayer:

 

 

Light Everlasting; bear witness to your faithful gathered beneath your grace.

Illumine [bride] and [groom], for on this day they profess unto you and your flock.

Grant them your audience; grant them your blessing.

Amin.

 

 

Thereafter, the priest explains colloquially to the flock why they have gathered today in ceremony, and who the couple to be wed are. The priest calls upon the would-be spouses themselves, and asks them in turn to profess the reasons for which they wish to be wed, whether that be for the glory of their House, or the true love between them. Once their cause is stated, the priest addresses the congregation:

 

 

So it is spoken unto ye why these two would be wed.

Beneath the vigil of the Light Everlasting, blood of the bride, speak true -

Is this man worthy, in body, blood, and soul?

 

 

The blood relatives of the bride are compelled to stand before the congregation, and profess their approval or disapproval of the union. If anyone stands in opposition, they must state their challenge before the Light; depending on those reasons and the station of the family member in question, it befalls the priest to determine whether the union is tainted. Alternatively, the groom may challenge the opponent to a duel to quell their objection. Once settled, the same question is posed inversely:

 

 

So it is spoken unto ye why these two would be wed.

Beneath the vigil of the Light Everlasting, blood of the groom, speak true -

Is this woman worthy, in body, blood, and soul?

 

 

The same ritual repeats wherein the family of the groom must voice their approval or disapproval, and any challenges are dealt with in the same manner. Therefore, once the priest is satisfied there is no bona fide opposition or the celebrants have defended their union by way of duel, the priest then outlines the gravity of the impending sacrament so as to ensure the celebrants enter into it with full intent:

 

 

By the writ of Exalted Horen in the most Holy Scroll of Virtue,

The Light bid unto mankind the treasure of love,

Foremost among the pleasures of spirit, and the merriment of soul.

There exists no greater vow, no greater promise.

 

For indeed, when the Shadow beset the camp of Exalted Horen,

It was his blessed wife Saint Juliya that unveiled his guise.

And when the halls of Joren son of Horen were cold and grey,

It was the spirit and love of his wife Tara that brought warmth.

 

Do ye [bride] accept and acknowledge this most holy covenant,

To be broken and desecrated only at the invitation of damnation?

 

Following the bride’s answer, the same question is posed to the groom:

 

Do ye [groom] accept and acknowledge this most holy covenant,

To be broken and desecrated only at the invitation of damnation?

 

Their love and understanding affirmed, the sacrament reaches its zenith. The priest calls upon the celebrants to exchange not wedding rings, but a blade and a woven cloak, as physical marks of their bond. The blade is bestowed by the bride to the groom, or vice versa in the event of a matrilineal marriage. The priest sounds the bell or gong, and proclaims:

 

 

[Bride]; as the Light and its faithful bear witness,

Bestow upon [groom] your blade as a vow made flesh;

For, as Joren and Tara were bound in the conquests of Edel,

So too shall ye fight against your ordained struggles.

 

Thereafter, it is the counterpart’s turn to bestow the cloak. Once more, the bell or gong is sounded to mark the apex of the ceremony.

 

 

[Groom]; as the Light and its faithful bear witness,

Bestow upon [bride] your cloak as a vow made flesh;

For, as the Shadow’s touch has chilled the world,

So too shall ye endure it with the warmth of your love.

 

The exchange of the blade and the cloak marks the formal entry by the celebrants into a union of man and wife. Before the sacrament is concluded, however, the priest is compelled to ‘test’ its durability; before the congregation, they brandish their weapon and proclaim:

 

 

As is proclaimed and avowed, [celebrants] shall stand as husband and wife.

Bear witness now, ye faithful of Jorenus, as the Light renders its blessing.

 

 

The priest strikes their blade at the wife, which the groom shall block with the ceremonial blade. The groom passes the blade to the bride, who then strikes back at the priest. That the husband blocks the blow head-on is a sign of particular favour by the Light, as is if the wife manages to pierce the priest’s guard. The sacrament thereafter reaches its final prayer:

 

 

So it is that [celebrants] are bound by that most ancient covenant,

First sworn between Exalted Horen and Saint Julia on the fields of Paradisus,

And held thereafter by the Lightsworn for time immemorial.

May your blades go unbroken; may your hearts blaze eternal.

Amin.

 

The celebrants bring the sacrament to an end by kissing before the congregation, after which the faithful are dismissed by the priest.