Russian Wedding Vows
Words of love that should transcend borders
Here are the traditional зароки венчания (wedding vows) spoken in Russian church ceremonies — and as you’ll see, they’re not very different from the vows shared in many other cultures around the world. We’ve also included an idiomatic English translation, so the meaning shines through for all.
In light of current events, some have suggested we remove this page as a form of protest against the invasion of Ukraine. But we’ve chosen to keep it — not as an endorsement of any regime, but as a quiet reminder of what these vows truly stand for: love, honour, and a lifelong commitment to peace in the home.
This page isn’t often visited by people in Russia, who tend to turn to local sources for this information. But whether read here or elsewhere, we hope the second line of these vows — to love and cherish — speaks louder than politics.
Jesus taught his followers to love their neighbour. That clearly does not mean bombing their homes or stealing their land. When religious leaders bless acts of violence, they do so in direct contradiction to the heart of the Christian faith. (Patriarch Kirill betrayed the Christian faith by describing Putin's actions as "miracle of God”, taking the Russian Orthodox Church back to the darkest of tsarist times.)
We share these vows in the prayerful hope that those who claim to follow Christ will follow His teachings — not Putin's.
Each line spoken by the priest and repeated by the groom:
I promise to love and cherish you,
to be faithful to you and not to leave you in sorrow or in joy,
in sickness or in health,
until the end of our lives.
Each line spoken by the priest and repeated by the bride:
I promise to love and cherish you,
to be faithful to you and not to leave you in sorrow or in joy,
in sickness or in health,
until the end of our lives.
