Holy Matrimony is one of the Holy Mysteries or Sacraments of the Greek Orthodox
Church. It is the Holy Mystery during which the bride and groom give a solemn
promise before God and the Church to love each other and to be true to each
other. The Marriage Service, as performed in the Orthodox Church, is a very
beautiful service full of symbols. Actually the service consists of two
parts, the Service of the Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning.
The Service of the Betrothal (Aravones)
The Betrothal (Aravones) consists of several beautiful
prayers during which the priest asks God to grant the betrothed perfect and
peaceful love, salvation, and to bless them with fair children.
Exchange of Rings
During the Betrothal, the rings are blessed over the
heads of the bride and groom three times, after which they are placed on
the fourth finger of the right hand. The Koumbaro then exchanges the rings
three times, taking the bride's ring and placing it on the groom's finger
and vice-versa. The rings, of course, are the symbol of betrothal from the
most ancient times. The exchange signifies that in married life the
weakness of the one partner will be compensated for by the strength of the
other, the imperfections of one by the perfections of the other. By
themselves, the newly betrothed are incomplete; together they are made
perfect. Thus the exchange of rings gives expression to the fact that the
spouses in marriage will constantly be complementing each other. Each will
be enriched by the union.
The Betrothal ends with a prayer that the Lord might make
their betrothal strong in faith, truth and love, and make them of one mind;
and that He would grant them His heavenly blessings.
The Service of the Crowning
The Service of the Crowning is the wedding proper. It is highlighted
by seven significant acts.
Lighted Candles
The bride and groom are given white lighted candles to
hold. The lighted candles symbolize the purity of their lives, which should
shine with the light of virtue.
The Joining of Hands
During the Service of the Crowning, three long
prayers are read, asking God to grant the bride and groom a long and
peaceful life, mutual love and help, happiness and health. Then the right
hands of the couple are joined by the priest who calls upon God to join
them into one mind and one flesh. The hands are kept joined throughout the
service to symbolize the oneness of the couple.
The Crowning
The priest takes up the crowns (stefana) and makes the
sign of the cross three times over the heads of the bride and groom,
and then places the crowns on their heads. The crowns are signs of glory
and honor with which God crowns them of their own little kingdom, the home,
which they will rule with wisdom, justice and integrity. The crowns are
joined together with ribbon as another symbol that the two are now one. The
Koumbaro exchanges the crowns over the heads of the bride and groom as a
witness to the sealing of the union.
Bible Readings
Following the crowning, St. Paul's Epistle to the
Ephesians (5:20-33) concerning the mystery and holiness of Christian
Marriage and the duties and responsibilities of the husband and wife to
each other is chanted by the Cantor (Psalti). St. John's Gospel on
Christ's miracle at the Marriage of Cana (2:1-11) is chanted by the priest.
The Common Cup
The Gospel reading describes the marriage at Cana of
Galilee which was attended and blessed by Christ, and for which He reserved
His first miracle. There He converted the water into wine and gave it to
the newlyweds. This is the "common cup" of life denoting the mutual sharing
of joy and sorrow, the taking of a life of harmony. The drinking of wine
from the "common cup" serves to impress upon the couple that from that
moment on they will share everything in life, joys as well as sorrows, and
that they are to "bear one another's burdens".
The Ceremonial Walk
The priest then leads the bride and groom in a circle
around the table on which are placed the Gospel and the Cross, the one
containing the word of God, the other being the symbol of our redemption by
Jesus. The husband and wife are taking their first steps as a married
couple, and the Church, in the person of the priest, leads them in the way
they must walk. The triple circling is in honor of the Holy Trinity. This
walk also symbolizes a dance expressing their joy in this union.
The Blessing
The couple return to their places and the priest blessing
the groom, says "Be thou magnified, O bridegroom, as Abraham, and blessed
as Isaac, and increased as Jacob, walking in peace and working in the
righteousness of the commandments of God." And blessing the bride he says "And
though, O bride, be thou magnified as Sarah, and glad as Rebecca, and do
thou increase like unto Rachel, rejoicing in thine own husband, fulfilling
the conditions of the law; for so it is well pleasing unto God," thus
ending the Marriage ceremony.
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