vihkimisen

Vihkimisen is a Finnish term with more than one common meaning. It is derived from the verb vihkiä, meaning to consecrate or to wed. In religious contexts it refers to the ordination or consecration of a person to a sacred office, while in a more general sense it can also denote a wedding ceremony, i.e., the act of marrying someone in a church or religious setting. The intended meaning depends on the context and tradition being discussed.

As an act of ordination, vihkiminen is a formal rite that confers priestly, diaconal, or bishopric duties and authority. The ceremony and its exact form vary by denomination but typically involve prayers, a liturgical proclamation, and the laying on of hands by a bishop or other authorized clergy. In many churches, ordination is regarded as a sacred rite and may be treated as a sacramental act. In Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland uses the term vihkiminen for the ordination of clergy, such as pastors and deacons, and the rite is usually performed by a bishop. Catholic and Orthodox traditions also use analogous rites, though their theological framing and discipline differ.

In the sense of marriage, vihkiminen can refer to the church wedding ceremony—the act by which two people are joined in matrimony before God and the community. In secular or civil practice, marriage can also be performed by civil authorities, and there the term vihkiminen is not typically used. In everyday Finnish, combinations of these meanings are avoided by specifying ordination (vihkiminen) or church wedding (kirkollinen vihkiminen) as appropriate.