PARANYMPHUS. This Word, according to the Force of the Greek Paranymphos, signifies, he that is near the Bridegroom, the Friend of the Bridegroom, he that performs the Solemnities of the Wedding, and conducts the Bride to the Bridegroom. The Rabbins say1, that the principal Office of the Paranymphus was, to observe that the Bridegroom and Bride committed no Fraud in relation to the Blood, which was the Mark of the Bride’s Virginity, of which Moses speaks, Deut. xxii. 14. for fear the Bridegroom should conceal the Linnen whereon the Blood appeared, or that the Bride should foist a false one upon him. John the Baptist says, that there is a great Difference between the Bridegroom and the Paranymphus. The Bridegroom is he that has the Bride, and for whom the Marriage is made; the Paranymphus, or the Friend of the Bridegroom, is contented to perform the Orders of the Bridegroom, and rejoyces to obey him. Qui habet sponsam sponsus est; amicus autem sponsi, qui stat & audit eum, gaudio gaudet propter vocem sponsi. Among the Grecians2 the Paranymphus kept the Door of the Nuptial Bed, and had the Care and Management of the Feast, and all the other Rejoycings. There are some that think the Architriclinus mentioned in the Gospel at the Solemnity of John ii. 8.the Marriage of Cana was the same as the Paranymphus. Gaudentius Brixiensis assures us3, from the Tradition of the Ancients, that commonly the President of the nuptial Feast was chosen from among the Priests, that he might take care nothing was transacted contrary to the Law, or against the Rules of Decency. ‘Twas he that regulated the Order of the Officers, and the whole Disposition of the Feast. See the Article of MARRIAGE.
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