Marriage in the Eastern Orthodox Church is aholy mystery (sacrament) in theEastern Orthodox Church in which a priest officiates amarriage between a man and a woman. In theByzantine Rite liturgy for Matrimony, the couple iscrowned.
There are a handful of different steps that come into play for a marriage ceremony in the Eastern Orthodox denomination, although the main two pieces include thebetrothal (engagement) and thecrowning (marriage).[1] Weddings in the Eastern Orthodox tradition have a sponsor present, known as akoumbaro (Greek:κουμπάρος).[2][3]
The couple will exchange rings first, as a voluntary pledge to enter into eventual marriage.[citation needed] The priest will bless the bride and groom three times each. The rings are placed on the ring finger of the right hand. The priest will mention the Prodigal Son in his prayer.[citation needed] The priest will recite Psalm 128.[citation needed]
The second stage, theMystery of Crowning, is the more official part of the wedding. The liturgy of the Mystery of Crowning involves the placement ofcrowns on both heads of the couple in a lengthy ceremony, which is preceded by a betrothal ceremony.[4] The bride and groom are both given candles.[citation needed] After some more prayers by the priest, the priest will join the right hands of both the bride and groom. He will recite "O' Sovereign Lord, stretch forth Your hand from Your holy dwelling place and join together Your servant (Groom) and Your handmaiden (Bride), for by You is a wife joined to her husband. Join them together in oneness of mind; crown them with wedlock into one flesh; grant to them the fruit of the womb and the gain of well-favored children."[citation needed]
After a blessing, the priest will crown the couple. He will say three times, the priest says, “Theservant of God (GROOM) is crowned for thehandmaiden of God (BRIDE) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The brief hymn, “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor” is sung. The couple will exchange the crowns three times. If the bride wears aveil, the crown is simply placed atop her veil.[citation needed] There are two readings from the New Testament. The first is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (5:20-33), where the priest exhorts married couples “to be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The second reading is from the Gospel of John (2:1-11).[citation needed]
After a recitation of the Lord's Prayer, the couple will drink from a common cup, three times each. Traditional practice involves wine, although some may opt to replace it with grape juice.[citation needed] The priest, holding the Book of the Gospels, will lead the couple around the table three times, singing three hymns.[citation needed] The priest removes the crowns, saying “Accept their crowns in Your kingdom unsoiled and undefiled, and preserve them without offense to the ages of ages.” He tells them to “Go forth in peace”.[citation needed]
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