Day 8, Saturday, 7/28/07
Today is the BIG DAY. It has finally come. After all of the hopeful relationships that resulted in only friendships. After telling everyone that he was not going on his year of service to find a wife. After telling everyone that she was not going to marry the new (eligible) Baha'i coming to Ljubljana. After nine months separated by two continents and an ocean. The wedding day is here.
According to Slovene tradition, the groom picks the bride up at her home. The family disguises her and two others and then the groom has to figure out which one is his bride. We did go to Maruska's home to pick her up. They did not make Josh pick her out from a line up. Outside of their home, the party began, with family, an accordion player, and wedding cookies.
After being coworkers in service to Baha'u'llah. After finally recognizing her “as a girl”. After getting to know each other's character even over sporadic internet lines (thank goodness for Skype). After their parents attested to their readiness by giving consent for marriage. These “two bright orbs” reflect their love and share its radiance with their family and friends. (see pix)
The wedding is at the Blejski Grad. (see pix)
This is “Slovenia's oldest castle at the top of a steep cliff above Lake Bled.” It “was first mentioned in 1011” (tourist flier). We are escorted by the squire of the castle to the the lower courtyard. There we are greeted by the lord and lady of the castle. They lead us to the upper courtyard where the civil ceremony is performed. In Slovenia the separation of church and state includes marriage ceremonies. Anyone who wishes to have a religious wedding ceremony must first have their civil ceremony with the religious one in a separate place and time. At Blejski Grad, the civil ceremony was performed by the Magistrate over looking the lake. (see pix)
In the civil ceremony the Magistrate spoke about the meaning of partnership and the commitment of a life time marriage. He spoke of the value each member of the partnership brings and the responsibility they each hold. The dignity and frankness of the ceremony carried with it a sense of establishing a firm covenant with the care-givers of the populas (the government) and the community. Then, they said it. “Do you Eric Joshua Lynch, take Maruska Levstek to be your lawfully wedded wife?” “I do.” Yeah! (Wait a minute, who did he say?) “And do you, Maurska Levstek, take Eric Joshua Lynch, to be your lawfully wedded husband?” “I do.” YEAH! (But wait, he did say the wrong name. Don't worry, the license was right.)
Yes, it was real. They exchanged their rings. They received the certificate of their civil ceremony. They received a certificate in memory of holding the ceremony at Beljski Grad. They made a procession from the gazebo under a shower of bubbles. They are one step closer to being married. It is now an intermission. For as beautiful as that ceremony was. For exciting as it was to hear them both say “I do” with no hesitation. Even with the romance of the first kiss. I knew, they weren't married yet. I was still waiting to hear their pledge of marriage. I was still waiting for the Baha'i ceremony.
The Baha'i ceremony was in a separate room, behind the gazebo of where the civil ceremony was. Where the civil ceremony was clearly designed and arranged by the coordinators of the castle, the Baha'i ceremony was the one that presented Josh and Maruska and their “desire to enter the sacred union of marriage” ('Abdu'l-Baha). They provided booklets for everyone with quotations on love and marriage from the Baha'i Writings that were read in both Slovene and English. It was simply them with their witnesses before their community and family. Then, they said it: “Resnicno se bomo vsi ravnali po Bozji volji.” “We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God.” Now they are married.
As a bystander, watching the growth “in the light of the Sun of Truth and reflecting this luminous love” it is impossible to not be touched by the “Divine power of love” (Baha'u'llah). I am moved beyond words in the wonder and joy that “this Thy servant and this Thy maidservant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity” ('Abdu'l-Baha). The joy our family feels at this time when we get to begin a new life with a new family is indescribable. (see pix)
The joy must be expressed and shared. It is now time for the party. The reception is across the lake. As if God designed even the weather for them, the dark clouds of the summer rain storm came just as the picture taking needed to come to an end. Everyone gathered for a four course meal, dancing, and fun.
It is a tradition in Slovenia that the bride and groom are not considered fully married until midnight. This leaves time during the reception for the village “boys” to steal the bride back and hold her ransom from the groom. It is the responsibility of the groom and his witness to assure that she is not taken and that the deal is made successfully with the kidnappers, if she is. This responsibility was ever present on Bob's mind, as he was Josh's witness.
After the second course of the meal, the dancing begins. Josh and Maruska open with the first dance, of course. Joined by them are their parents dancing together. (Yes, Bob danced with me.) This was then followed with Maruska dancing with her father (Fonza), and Josh dancing with me. Believe it or not (I have evidence), that left Bob to dance with Vida, Maruska's mother.
For us, the reception was cut short, so that we could take care of Damian's escalated twitching. (This will be described more in Sunday's report.) But, from what we heard, there were two attempts on kidnapping Maruska, with one being successful. The successful attempt was resolved by Josh having to follow a series of clues that lead him to nearly every person at the reception, asking for their help in some way, to find his new bride. Gratefully, he found her and the reception party proceeded with great joy, laughter, dancing, and of course, cake.
There is so much detail that I can not share in this brief format. You can see all our pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/karen.tucker.lynch/. If you would like to have some personal time with us sharing stories, pictures, and more, give us a call and we would love to have you over for dinner some time.
Of course the trip isn't over yet. We still have to get home. Those stories are to follow.
According to Slovene tradition, the groom picks the bride up at her home. The family disguises her and two others and then the groom has to figure out which one is his bride. We did go to Maruska's home to pick her up. They did not make Josh pick her out from a line up. Outside of their home, the party began, with family, an accordion player, and wedding cookies.
After being coworkers in service to Baha'u'llah. After finally recognizing her “as a girl”. After getting to know each other's character even over sporadic internet lines (thank goodness for Skype). After their parents attested to their readiness by giving consent for marriage. These “two bright orbs” reflect their love and share its radiance with their family and friends. (see pix)
The wedding is at the Blejski Grad. (see pix)
This is “Slovenia's oldest castle at the top of a steep cliff above Lake Bled.” It “was first mentioned in 1011” (tourist flier). We are escorted by the squire of the castle to the the lower courtyard. There we are greeted by the lord and lady of the castle. They lead us to the upper courtyard where the civil ceremony is performed. In Slovenia the separation of church and state includes marriage ceremonies. Anyone who wishes to have a religious wedding ceremony must first have their civil ceremony with the religious one in a separate place and time. At Blejski Grad, the civil ceremony was performed by the Magistrate over looking the lake. (see pix)
In the civil ceremony the Magistrate spoke about the meaning of partnership and the commitment of a life time marriage. He spoke of the value each member of the partnership brings and the responsibility they each hold. The dignity and frankness of the ceremony carried with it a sense of establishing a firm covenant with the care-givers of the populas (the government) and the community. Then, they said it. “Do you Eric Joshua Lynch, take Maruska Levstek to be your lawfully wedded wife?” “I do.” Yeah! (Wait a minute, who did he say?) “And do you, Maurska Levstek, take Eric Joshua Lynch, to be your lawfully wedded husband?” “I do.” YEAH! (But wait, he did say the wrong name. Don't worry, the license was right.)
Yes, it was real. They exchanged their rings. They received the certificate of their civil ceremony. They received a certificate in memory of holding the ceremony at Beljski Grad. They made a procession from the gazebo under a shower of bubbles. They are one step closer to being married. It is now an intermission. For as beautiful as that ceremony was. For exciting as it was to hear them both say “I do” with no hesitation. Even with the romance of the first kiss. I knew, they weren't married yet. I was still waiting to hear their pledge of marriage. I was still waiting for the Baha'i ceremony.
The Baha'i ceremony was in a separate room, behind the gazebo of where the civil ceremony was. Where the civil ceremony was clearly designed and arranged by the coordinators of the castle, the Baha'i ceremony was the one that presented Josh and Maruska and their “desire to enter the sacred union of marriage” ('Abdu'l-Baha). They provided booklets for everyone with quotations on love and marriage from the Baha'i Writings that were read in both Slovene and English. It was simply them with their witnesses before their community and family. Then, they said it: “Resnicno se bomo vsi ravnali po Bozji volji.” “We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God.” Now they are married.
As a bystander, watching the growth “in the light of the Sun of Truth and reflecting this luminous love” it is impossible to not be touched by the “Divine power of love” (Baha'u'llah). I am moved beyond words in the wonder and joy that “this Thy servant and this Thy maidservant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity” ('Abdu'l-Baha). The joy our family feels at this time when we get to begin a new life with a new family is indescribable. (see pix)
The joy must be expressed and shared. It is now time for the party. The reception is across the lake. As if God designed even the weather for them, the dark clouds of the summer rain storm came just as the picture taking needed to come to an end. Everyone gathered for a four course meal, dancing, and fun.
It is a tradition in Slovenia that the bride and groom are not considered fully married until midnight. This leaves time during the reception for the village “boys” to steal the bride back and hold her ransom from the groom. It is the responsibility of the groom and his witness to assure that she is not taken and that the deal is made successfully with the kidnappers, if she is. This responsibility was ever present on Bob's mind, as he was Josh's witness.
After the second course of the meal, the dancing begins. Josh and Maruska open with the first dance, of course. Joined by them are their parents dancing together. (Yes, Bob danced with me.) This was then followed with Maruska dancing with her father (Fonza), and Josh dancing with me. Believe it or not (I have evidence), that left Bob to dance with Vida, Maruska's mother.
For us, the reception was cut short, so that we could take care of Damian's escalated twitching. (This will be described more in Sunday's report.) But, from what we heard, there were two attempts on kidnapping Maruska, with one being successful. The successful attempt was resolved by Josh having to follow a series of clues that lead him to nearly every person at the reception, asking for their help in some way, to find his new bride. Gratefully, he found her and the reception party proceeded with great joy, laughter, dancing, and of course, cake.
There is so much detail that I can not share in this brief format. You can see all our pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/karen.tucker.lynch/. If you would like to have some personal time with us sharing stories, pictures, and more, give us a call and we would love to have you over for dinner some time.
Of course the trip isn't over yet. We still have to get home. Those stories are to follow.