The modern term for adelphopoiesis, a medieval Christian ceremony uniting two men (or less often, two women) in a bond similar to heterosexual matrimony. Although adelphopoiesis vows resembled traditional marriage vows, they did not include a sanction of sexual relations between the couple.
For more information see John Boswell, "Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe", New York, Villard Books, 1994.
The earliest written record of gay marriage is from a ceremony performed by a Catholic priest in the eighth century.
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