The museum exhibits a photograph of the early 20th century from the wedding of Heinrich Glitch, a member of the Glitch dynasty, an influential and wealthy family of manufacturers from the German settlement at Sarepta.
The wedding ceremony of the Sarepta HerngUters who were representatives of Protestantism was based on a specific system of views covering the relationship between people and God. It was so-called ‘religion of marriage’. The woman was considered as Jesus Christ’s bride who is temporarily married to his representative. That’s why, it should not matter to her whom to marry, as long as her earthly life partner is a true Christian, and a member of the fraternal community.
Therefore, till 1823 (the year eighteen twenty-three), marriages in Sarepta required casting lots. This rite was also based on the belief that divine ruling should destine critical aspects of human life. It was believed that a person could easily make a mistake in choosing a spouse, and therefore they tried to avoid this by drawing lots. The Hernguters believed that the God showed the right decision during the draw.
There was another form of marriage in Sarepta. The leaders could offer to a single brother the choice from unmarried sisters of the community, in line with his rank, age and occupation.
Then a girl chosen as a wife was informed. After that, once everything was thought over, and both parents gave their no objections, the young people got engaged in the church in the presence of several witnesses. The couple engagements were announced at community meetings every Sunday. After some time, such engaged couples got married and modestly celebrated the wedding.
Marriages of Hernguters with representatives of other Christian denominations, as a rule, were not possible. However, if representatives of close confessions, such as Reformed or Evangelical-Lutheran, joined the SarEpta community, the management permitted such marriages after a certain probation period. Many circumstances were taken into account such as the community ability to provide living conditions, sincerity of faith, and consents by the girl, parents and community elders.
The morals in the Hernguters’ community were particularly strict with regard to premarital relations. Boys and girls lived separately in the choir houses. During the day they were busy with the housework or with their studies. It was forbidden to talk when they meet one another, meet in secret, make court to and show attention, or give anything.
The choir managers and settlement leaders watched their morality and behaviour. Those who were guilty of premarital relationship were punished by the church, obliged to get married, or completely expelled from the church community.
After the abolition of the marriage by lot, the SarEpta Hernguters began to marry for love. The wedding was preceded by the engagement of the bride and groom. A girl could deny a young man’s proposal if she did not love him. Her parents could make their advices, but she made the decision on her own.
The wedding in the church was a very solemn and exciting event not only for the spouses, but for the entire community. The Sareptians’ attitude towards marriage was very serious. There were practically no divorces, or illegitimate children in Sarepta.
The wedding ceremony of the Sarepta HerngUters who were representatives of Protestantism was based on a specific system of views covering the relationship between people and God. It was so-called ‘religion of marriage’. The woman was considered as Jesus Christ’s bride who is temporarily married to his representative. That’s why, it should not matter to her whom to marry, as long as her earthly life partner is a true Christian, and a member of the fraternal community.
Therefore, till 1823 (the year eighteen twenty-three), marriages in Sarepta required casting lots. This rite was also based on the belief that divine ruling should destine critical aspects of human life. It was believed that a person could easily make a mistake in choosing a spouse, and therefore they tried to avoid this by drawing lots. The Hernguters believed that the God showed the right decision during the draw.
There was another form of marriage in Sarepta. The leaders could offer to a single brother the choice from unmarried sisters of the community, in line with his rank, age and occupation.
Then a girl chosen as a wife was informed. After that, once everything was thought over, and both parents gave their no objections, the young people got engaged in the church in the presence of several witnesses. The couple engagements were announced at community meetings every Sunday. After some time, such engaged couples got married and modestly celebrated the wedding.
Marriages of Hernguters with representatives of other Christian denominations, as a rule, were not possible. However, if representatives of close confessions, such as Reformed or Evangelical-Lutheran, joined the SarEpta community, the management permitted such marriages after a certain probation period. Many circumstances were taken into account such as the community ability to provide living conditions, sincerity of faith, and consents by the girl, parents and community elders.
The morals in the Hernguters’ community were particularly strict with regard to premarital relations. Boys and girls lived separately in the choir houses. During the day they were busy with the housework or with their studies. It was forbidden to talk when they meet one another, meet in secret, make court to and show attention, or give anything.
The choir managers and settlement leaders watched their morality and behaviour. Those who were guilty of premarital relationship were punished by the church, obliged to get married, or completely expelled from the church community.
After the abolition of the marriage by lot, the SarEpta Hernguters began to marry for love. The wedding was preceded by the engagement of the bride and groom. A girl could deny a young man’s proposal if she did not love him. Her parents could make their advices, but she made the decision on her own.
The wedding in the church was a very solemn and exciting event not only for the spouses, but for the entire community. The Sareptians’ attitude towards marriage was very serious. There were practically no divorces, or illegitimate children in Sarepta.
