Editing Engagement (section)

===Christianity===
[[File:Vanni Lippo. Betrothal of The Virgin.1360 Fresco.jpg|thumb|250px|Christian art depicting the betrothal of [[Saint Joseph|Joseph the Carpenter]] and the [[Virgin Mary]]]]
In most localities, the Rite of Betrothal (also known as "blessing an engaged couple" or "declaration of intention") as a precursor to Holy Matrimony is an optional practice in traditional forms of [[Christianity]] today that blesses and ratifies the intention of two Christians to marry one another.<ref name="ACNA2019" /> Many [[Christian denomination]]s provide liturgies for Christian betrothal, which often feature [[Christian prayer|prayer]], [[Lection|Bible readings]], a blessing of the engagement rings (in cultures in which rings are used), and a blessing of the couple.<ref name="Ac2011" /> A betrothal makes what a couple promises to one another sanctified by God and the Church.<ref name="Aabram2021" /> A Christian engagement (betrothal) ceremony, which may be followed with a party, is normative in certain parts of the world, as with the Christians of India and Pakistan.<ref name="Das2021" /><ref name="O'Brien2006" />

====Catholic Church====
Historically, betrothal in Roman Catholicism is a formal contract considered as binding as marriage, and a divorce is necessary to terminate a betrothal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d870301.htm |title=Marriage, Divorce, Living Together and the Bible |first=Ernest L. |last=Martin}}</ref> Betrothed couples are regarded legally as husband and wife – even before their wedding and [[Consummation|physical union]].
The concept of an official engagement period in Western European culture may have begun in 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council, headed by Pope Innocent III, which decreed that "marriages are to be&nbsp;... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time so that, if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known."<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html Medieval Sourcebook: Twelfth Ecumenical Council: Lateran IV 1215<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.utunumsint.org/lateran%20iv.htm Utunumsint.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712133501/http://www.utunumsint.org/lateran%20iv.htm |date=2006-07-12 }}</ref>  Such a formal church announcement of the intent to marry is known as banns. In some jurisdictions, reading the banns may be part of one type of legal marriage.

====Protestant Churches====
The [[Lutheran]] book of ''Liturgical Forms'' includes the "Form and Manner of Betrothal in Church", which can take place in the church or alternatively, in the house of the bride.<ref name="LochnerCarver2023">{{cite book |last1=Lochner |first1=Friedrich |last2=Carver |first2=Matthew |title=Liturgical Forms |date=2023 |publisher=Emmanuel Press |pages=75–79}}</ref> This rite can be found throughout history, such as in early Lutheran liturgical texts, the Stasbourg C.O. 1604 being an example.<ref name="LochnerCarver2023"/> ''Liturgical Forms'' states that The Rite of Betrothal is seen as an "admirable practice of plighting one's troth in church, so in keeping with the holiness and importance of marital betrothal as the ''incipient marital life''."<ref name="LochnerCarver2023"/>

The 2019 [[Book of Common Prayer]], used by Anglican Christian denominations such as the [[Anglican Church in North America]], includes a Christian rite of betrothal called "A Brief Liturgy for the Signing of the Declaration of Intention" in which a Christian couple ratifies their intention before God and the Church to marry.<ref name="ACNA2019" /> During this liturgy, the following is signed and dated by the engaged couple after the [[sign of peace]]:<ref name="ACNA2019" />
{{blockquote|“We, ''N.N.'' and ''N.N.'', desiring to receive the blessing of Holy Matrimony in the Church, do solemnly declare that we hold marriage to be a lifelong union of husband and wife as it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. We believe it is established by God for the procreation of children, and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord; for mutual joy, and for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; to maintain purity, so that husbands and wives, with all the household of God, might serve as holy and undefiled members of the Body of Christ; and for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom in family, church, and society, to the praise of his holy Name. We do engage ourselves, so far as in us lies, to make our utmost effort to establish this relationship and to seek God’s help thereto.”<ref name="ACNA2019" />}}
Following the signing of the declaration of intention, the couple is blessed by the priest:<ref name="ACNA2019" />
{{blockquote|Now that ''N.'' and ''N.'' have declared their intention for a Holy Marriage, and have begun the process of pre-marital preparation, let us pray for their relationship [and for their families]. <br/> 
Almighty God, we thank you for the love of ''N.'' and ''N.'', and we ask your blessing upon them [and their families] during this time of preparation. Open their minds and hearts to one another, enable them faithfully to receive your Word and Sacrament, and help us to support them, that they may rightly prepare for their marriage. And, we pray, give us wisdom to uphold and encourage all who have been united in Holy Matrimony; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<ref name="ACNA2019" />}}
The Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Methodist Churches and the Presbyterian Churches have questions and responses for family members in its Rite of Betrothal, which is sometimes incorporated into the Service of Holy Matrimony itself.<ref name="Prichard2009" /><ref name="LochnerCarver2023"/>

====Orthodox Churches====
In the [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Oriental Orthodox]] Churches, the Rite of Betrothal is traditionally performed in the [[narthex]] (entranceway) of the church, to indicate the couple's first entrance into the married estate. The priest blesses the couple and gives them lit candles to hold. Then, after a [[ektenia|litany]], and a prayer at which everyone bows, he places the bride's ring on the ring finger of the groom's right hand, and the groom's ring on the bride's finger. The rings are subsequently exchanged three times, either by the priest or by the best man, after which the priest says a final prayer. Traditionally, the betrothal service takes place at the time the engagement is announced, though in certain localities it may performed immediately before the wedding ceremony itself. The exchange of rings is not a part of the wedding service in the Eastern Churches, but only occurs at the betrothal ceremony. Traditionally, the groom's ring is gold and the bride's ring is silver.<ref>{{cite book
 | last =Hapgood
 | first =Isabel F.
 | author-link =Isabel Hapgood
 | year =1922
 | publication-date=1975
 | title =Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
 | pages =291 ff, 604–605
 | place =Englewood, NJ
 | publisher =[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese]]
 }}</ref>

[[File:Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry avril.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The [[Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry]] depicting a betrothal. [[Musée Condé]], [[Chantilly, Oise|Chantilly]].]]