We comprehend the eternal: what is the meaning of a wedding in the Orthodox Church. The meaning of the wedding ceremony for a couple - is it necessary to get married in a church, and can the sacrament of wedding strengthen relationships

Question: Who faced a similar situation, please help me figure it out. The husband's parents insist on getting married in the church, but why it is necessary to do it, they do not explain, stubbornly insisting that "it will be better this way." What does a wedding give?

The wedding ceremony from a cultural point of view

Slavic chronicles brought to us in detail the life of the Russian people, their habits, beliefs, focusing on significant milestones in life. Birth, marriage, death were outlined by religious ideas, which changed over time, but their essence remained unchanged.

The wedding ceremony among the Slavs was endowed with a magical meaning- to protect newlyweds from damage, evil eye and evil spirits. The wedding was preparing for a long time, clothes were specially sewn for it, headdresses, rings, protective dishes were chosen - all actions were aimed at ensuring that young people live in abundance and have healthy children.

With the introduction of Christianity in Russia, the wedding did not cease to be a sacrament; on the contrary, it was believed that couples married by God would be happy and bring many offspring. The wedding became a milestone when two people take care not only of each other, but also participate in the birth and upbringing of children, according to Christian canons. The dissolution of a marriage contracted in the church was unacceptable, was regarded as a sin.

What does a church wedding give?

In Soviet times, little was known about weddings, but despite the oppression of religion, concepts such as baptism, liturgy, and wedding remained and revived with renewed vigor at the end of the last century.

The sacrament of the wedding began to take place more often, and even people who were married decided to hold a church ceremony in order to become closer to God. Why do young people choose a wedding along with a secular wedding?

  • Young people receive divine blessings.
  • The family, held together by the rite, is protected from troubles, troubles bypass it.
  • Spouses receive a protector - God, who does not leave the family in joy and sorrow.

Divine blessing- these are not just words spoken to the young by the priest conducting the ceremony. These are wishes for good and happiness, health and longevity, uttered by the mediator - the priest, reinforced by a religious ceremony. Marriage in the church is considered a sacrament, marriage becomes sacred and cannot be divorced.

It must be understood that the wedding ceremony does not make people absolutely happy a priori. Despite the fact that such a marriage is “in heaven,” it requires daily work in everyday life.

Church wedding- enhances assistance to newlyweds on a spiritual level, gives inner strength to create a friendly family, helps to realize the responsibility for offspring. Young people understand that they have taken a responsible step by getting married. They ask and accept Divine help through the wedding and try to live according to the spiritual canons.


"Pitfalls" of the wedding

Real life is always different from theory, so the ideal wedding, as a deliberate step taken by young people on a spiritual level, is not common. Many are attracted by the surroundings of the ritual, its solemnity, singularity, attention, gifts.

Young people do not give an account of the main thing - a wedding is not a "fashionable trend". This is a serious decision that is made on earth and is blessed by God. The wedding connects the young, helping to live life happily, raise children, meet after death and stay together forever.

Many people ask the question, is a church wedding a guarantee of a happy life? No, responsibility for actions lies with each person, God only helps to realize how bad or good the action is. The choice remains with the person, and this is the complexity of being. It is difficult not to swear, forgive, find a compromise, give in, understand another person. But you can always ask God for help, hear him, make the right decision.

The married young receive the patronage and support of divine powers. But it happens that discord comes into the house, the spouses begin to swear, humiliate each other, change. They forget the vows that they pronounced at the wedding, do not hear the prompts of the Almighty, and as a result, their spiritual channels are closed, people become “deaf”.

Anyone who has thought about life at least sometimes will be amazed at the thought of how far from perfect it is. Decency, morality, behavior in society and in private life - everything has changed dramatically. People stopped taking responsibility on themselves, stopped working spiritually, trying to shift the decision onto God, covering up any actions for them.


Many are convinced that a wedding will guarantee them grace. Not at all. Happy are those families where love is mature, unselfish, and responsible. Love is work, and God is the helper, guide, protector, teacher. When you get married in a church at the behest of your soul, you accept the help of the Almighty and at the same time make efforts for a happy union.

No one will do anything for people: the husband and wife will have to independently learn to live on the same wavelength, improve themselves, put up with weaknesses, try to minimize them. God is always on the side of people, he directs, and takes care of everyone, for him there are no "bad" and "good"!

Does this mean that only people who are crowned in the church can lead a worthy life? Of course not. If young people decide to get married in the registry office, their thoughts are pure, they are faithful to each other, and their relationship is based on love and trust, then they can turn to God at the behest of their souls.

There is no need for a certain place and time for gratitude, any bright, sincere impulse of thoughts will reach the Almighty and return by grace.

Church wedding- this is an external ritual, and without real feelings, love and understanding of what is happening, it will not have true meaning.

Before agreeing to a wedding, you need to stop and answer simple questions: do I love, am I ready to share joy, sorrow, material difficulties, everyday inconveniences with a person. A church wedding is a responsible step, it will give an opportunity to open the soul to God, fill it with kindness, give it to your spouse and future children.

In order for this church sacrament to bring you maximum benefit, you need to work on yourself: reconsider your values ​​and beliefs, spend

After the newlyweds put their signatures at the registry office, many of them go to church to bless their union before God. But what does this sacrament mean, why do people get married and how does it help them in family matters?

Why do people get married in a church?

A wedding in the Orthodox religion is a rite of church blessing of marriage. He came to us from pre-Christian Greece, where it was customary to decorate the heads of the spouses with wreaths of flowers as a sign of blessing. The Orthodox Church took this action as a basis and introduced Christian elements into it.

But the wedding did not immediately become part of the wedding for everyone. At first, only the emperors and their relatives were honored with this honor. Today, any couple can undergo this ceremony.

During the ritual, the Priest reads prayers over the newlyweds, calling on God to help the new family and become part of it. Besides:

  • The Trinity is called to help the family, she will protect the couple and help her;
  • Children born to married people are blessed at birth;
  • It is believed that the spouses who have undergone the ceremony are under the protection of God, he himself leads them through life.

Therefore, many couples come to the Priest, they want strengthen your union, sanctify it and get support.

But divorce in this case, although admissible, is considered a great sin. We recommend that you consider this step, decide whether to ask the Lord for blessings, or wait and test your feelings.

How to prepare for the ritual?

Some conditions, before going to the Priest for a blessing:

  1. It is advisable to start fasting 3 days before the event, more can be done, but three days are required. You should refuse food of animal origin, alcohol, intimacy is also undesirable these days;
  2. From clothes, a man can choose an ordinary suit - trousers and a shirt. But the girl will have to choose the right dress. It should not expose the knees, chest, light colors are preferred. Many girls wear wedding dresses, but this is not necessary, it is possible to choose others, but modest ones;
  3. A woman's face should not be hidden behind a veil. This symbolizes her openness to God.

This sacrament is performed not any day... At the church, you will be assigned a specific date. But this will definitely not happen on the eve of the great holidays, during fasting, Baptism and Exaltation, Easter or Bright Week.

In addition, the day of the week is also important. Not suitable for weddings:

  • Tuesday;
  • Thursday;
  • Saturday.

However, if the situation so requires, the Priest has the right to conduct the ceremony on prohibited days, and it will be recognized as legal.

How is the wedding going?

Young at first need to get engaged... The betrothal begins after the Liturgy, during which the couple is taught the importance of what is happening. After the Priest blesses the bride and groom three times, the young are baptized three times and receive candles from the minister.

Then the beloved stand in front of the analogue on a pink or white board and confirm to the Holy Father their consent to what is happening. As a sign of acceptance of their consent, three prayers are said to Jesus Christ and the Trinity.

The right hands of the newlyweds are joined by the hand of the minister, and he says prayers for the glory of the newlyweds, for their happiness and health. At this time, the whole procession goes around the lectern three times, which means the eternal joint path, which began today for the couple.

In the end, young people kiss easily on the lips, go to God's gates and kiss the icons. Everything, the sacrament is complete. Then the married couple can go with the guests to the festive table.

In what cases can a debunking be issued?

Orthodoxy is extremely has a negative attitude towards divorce... But there are times when you can't do without it, and in 1918 a list of possible reasons was created. Later, it was somewhat expanded and today it looks like this:

  • Treason;
  • Re-marriage;
  • Rejection of the Orthodox faith;
  • The disappearance of one of the spouses for a period of 3 years or more;
  • Assault;
  • Incurable mental or sexually transmitted diseases;
  • Alcohol or drug addiction;
  • Imprisonment;
  • Abortion without the consent of the husband.

Anyone can petition for debunking from a pair. You need to come to the temple with the following documents:

  • Passport;
  • Wedding certificate;
  • Divorce certificate;
  • All kinds of certificates confirming the disease or other reasons for debunking.

No rituals are performed on this occasion, the Bishop considers the petition and, if deems it reasonable, bless the termination.

We answered the question why people get married, told how the process goes and how to prepare for it. But I would like to note that, first of all, mutual respect and understanding should live in the family. If two of these important qualities are missing in a couple, no amount of blessing will help them.

Video: what is a wedding for?

In this video, Archpriest Yevgeny Larionov will tell you why to seal the marriage union before God, how important the sacrament of the Wedding is for the couple and for the church:

In modern times, an increasing number of couples are limited to marrying only in the registry office, bypassing the church. Some do not recognize this ritual, others refuse it for religious reasons, while others simply do not understand why it is necessary to get married. If you belong to the third type of future newlyweds, then our article will be of interest to you.

Even less than a century ago, church and state marriage were inseparable. Couples underwent a wedding ceremony, after which they were officially considered husband and wife. In modern America, this practice still exists: by submitting an application to a certain authority (in some states this is a court), in return you receive a referral for the ceremony. The referral can be addressed to the municipality or to the church. Thus, after the wedding, Americans can automatically become spouses.

In Ukraine, the procedure is more complicated: you cannot get married if you are not registered at the registry office. When can you get married - immediately after registration. At the church, you must first present a government-issued marriage certificate. But we'll talk about the specifics of the event later.

Read also:

What is the meaning of a wedding? What does it mean to be a married couple? And why are religious people so eager to get married before God? The Church claims that wedding is the sanctification of Christian marriage. It is believed that after the ritual, the spouses will be united not just by love, but by the Holy Spirit itself. The meaning of the wedding is that no one can separate the souls of lovers anymore - even after death they will remain together.

Preparing for a wedding is much more complicated than simply filing an application at the registry office. After you choose a suitable church, ask the priest for help - he will tell you what is needed for the ritual and write it down on the desired date. Next, we will talk about the main stages of preparing for the wedding and the rules that should be considered by future spouses.

Choosing the right day

Choosing a wedding day should not only be guided by the time of year. It is best to open the church calendar and see on which days a particular fast falls. Getting married during these periods is strictly prohibited. In addition, you cannot enter into a church marriage on major holidays - Christmas, Easter, etc.

Confession

According to church canons, the couple is obliged to confess before the wedding. For many people, this process is incomprehensible, awkward and even intimidating. In fact, there is nothing wrong with it. You don't even need to speak out loud, as it happens in foreign films, because you are confessing to God.

In the Orthodox Church, confession takes place as follows: the priest stands in front of the analogue and reads a prayer. Then he invites those present to confess. At this time, each parishioner can mentally ask the Lord for forgiveness for their sins. The purpose of this rite is repentance. Upon completion, the priest will read another prayer, you put your lips to the cross - and the confession is over.

Wedding Attributes

To conduct a religious ceremony, you will need to buy some things in advance. What do you need for a wedding? In addition to wedding rings, these are: paired icons for the wedding (the Savior and the Mother of God), candles, a bottle of Cahors wine and a wedding towel. In most cases, you can buy icons and candles right at the church. If he is engaged in your holiday - he will take care of everything himself.

Fast

Before entering into a church marriage, fasting must be observed for at least 3 days. This means giving up food of animal origin and various entertainment.

Witnesses

The choice of witnesses for the wedding should also be approached with all responsibility. They must belong to the same religion, be baptized, and wear crosses to confirm. It is believed that the witnesses should not be a couple, since after the ceremony they will become a spiritual brother and sister. In relation to the spouses, they can be blood relatives, there are no prohibitions on this score. The roles of witnesses at a wedding are compared to godparents - only they are responsible for the well-being of the new family.

It is believed that from the moment the bride and groom cross the threshold of the temple, they appear before God himself. From that moment on, they should be silent and listen to everything said by the priest. They hold icons in their hands (the groom is the Savior, the bride is the Mother of God). The bride must be wearing a veil. Witnesses hold crowns over the heads of the spouses. Warn them in advance so that the crown does not touch the head.

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The ceremony is divided into two parts: the engagement and the wedding itself.

Betrothal begins with prayer. The priest blesses the groom three times, and then the bride. In response, young spouses should cross themselves. Afterwards, they are presented with lighted candles as a symbol of their love.

After reading all the prayers, the priest takes the rings and hands them to the bride and groom. Unlike the ceremony in the registry office, where the spouses exchange rings, in the church they are first helped by the priest. After that, the young should exchange them as a sign that they are ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their husband / wife.

In some variations, the priest does not put on the rings, but takes them out on a tray and offers to exchange rings three times - the bride and groom move the rings three times on the tray, and then put on each other. In religion, wedding rings are not just jewelry. It is a symbol of eternal family unity.

Next is the wedding. The priest takes the groom's crown, commemorates it three times, then gives a kiss to the icon of the Savior. After the same ritual is performed with the bride - she is allowed to kiss the icon of the Mother of God. In conclusion, crowns are placed on the heads of the spouses. They are now husband and wife before God.

In general, the entire ceremony can last from 40 minutes to an hour.

Who is not allowed to get married?

There are certain conditions for holding a wedding. If you fall into one of the following categories of people, the church will refuse you to perform the ritual:

  • those who have not registered their marriage at the registry office
  • unbaptized or bride and groom belonging to different religions
  • married for the 4th time
  • perpetrators of divorce
  • those who were not given their blessing by their parents

In addition, there is an age range for the ceremony. The lower threshold is majority, i.e. the minimum age from which you will be signed at the registry office. There is also a maximum limit. For women it is 60 years, and for men a little more - 70.

Finally, I would like to remind you that it is never too late to get married. Even people who have been married for many years often come to the desire to become families before God. Perhaps our article helped you to realize this need.

A church wedding is a sacred ceremony that gives a husband and wife a church blessing for a happy family life, the birth of children. Many couples decide to host this beautiful and touching event. But in order for the ceremony to be not just a tribute to fashion, but to become a serious deliberate step, it is worth finding out its features.

Important conditions for a wedding

It is allowed to get married on the wedding day or after a time: a week, a month, years. The main thing is that all the conditions stipulated by the church are observed.

Who can get married

An important condition for the ceremony is the presence of a marriage certificate. In addition, the spouses must be baptized Orthodox Christians. However, in some cases, a wedding may be allowed if the spouse is a non-Orthodox Christian, provided that the children born in marriage will be baptized in Orthodoxy. It is also important to match the age of marriage: the bride must be 16 years old, the groom - 18. You should not be afraid of refusal if the wife is pregnant, because, according to the church, children should be born in a married marriage. The wedding can be carried out even if the spouses have not received the parental blessing, since it can be replaced by the blessing of the confessor.

There are not many restrictions for the sacrament of a wedding. The Church will not approve of the ceremony between unbaptized, atheists, blood relatives, as well as spiritual relatives, for example, between the godparents of a child, between a godfather and a godson. This ceremony is allowed to be performed no more than three times. It is also forbidden to get married if this is already your fourth officially registered marriage.

When is the ceremony permitted?

Often, newlyweds decide to get married on the day with the official registration of marriage. But, given that such a sacrament of Orthodoxy is a rather serious step, there is no need to rush into the ceremony: it can be postponed until the birth of a child or carried out after several years of official marriage.

This ceremony is not performed every day. The newlyweds are crowned 4 days a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. However, it should be borne in mind that there are 4 fasts throughout the year, during which church marriages are not concluded:
- Rozhdestvensky - lasts November 28 - January 6;
- Great - seven weeks before Orthodox Easter;
- Petrov - depends on the date of Easter, lasts from 8 to 42 days;
- Uspensky - lasts from 14 to 27 August.

Also, the church will refuse to hold a wedding on significant days:
- September 11 - Beheading of the head of John the Baptist;
- September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord;
- from 7 to 19 January - Christmastide;
- on Shrovetide;
- for the Bright week (the week after Easter).

Even if the day you have chosen does not fall on the listed dates, it is still better to go to church to clarify everything with the priest. In addition, the bride must calculate that there are no “critical days” on the chosen date, since it is impossible to appear in the church at this time.

What should precede the wedding ceremony

It is necessary to prepare spiritually for this rite. This means that before the wedding, the bride and groom need to pray, confess, take communion, maintain a three-day fast (you must refrain from food of animal origin). Before marriage, newlyweds should not enter into a carnal relationship, and this condition also applies to a couple who decided to get married after several years of marriage. They need to refrain from close relationships for several days before the ceremony.

Preparation for the sacrament of the wedding

Choosing a church, communicating with a priest

To decide where to get married, you can walk through different temples and choose the church where you feel most comfortable. For a magnificent, solemn ceremony, a large cathedral is suitable, for a quiet, secluded ceremony - a small church. Since the priest is an important actor in the rite, it is worthwhile to take a responsible approach to his choice.

You must sign up for the wedding ceremony in advance (several weeks in advance). It is also worth discussing all questions with the priest in advance: the duration of the wedding, what you need to bring with you, whether it is possible to take photographs, etc. It is worth considering that this is a paid ceremony, but in some churches its exact cost is established, in others voluntary donations are provided. This issue is also worth discussing with the priest. Moreover, "additional services" are often provided, for example, bell ringing, a church choir.


Selection of guarantors

As a rule, two guarantors (witnesses) are chosen from relatives. It is worth considering that they must be baptized. It is not allowed to take divorced spouses, a couple living in an illegal, "civil" marriage as guarantors. Their spiritual responsibilities are similar to those of godparents: they must spiritually lead the family that is being created. Therefore, it is not customary to invite young people who are not familiar with married life as guarantors. If difficulties arose in the search for witnesses, it is allowed to conduct the sacrament of the wedding without them.

Choosing an outfit

  • Bride

    The bride's wedding dress should be no higher than the knees, should cover the shoulders and preferably hands, should not have a deep neckline (you can use long gloves, a cape, a bolero, an openwork shawl, a stole, etc.). It is advisable to give preference alongside light tones; dark and bright (purple, blue, black) should be discarded. Sundresses and trouser suits are not suitable for the ceremony. The bride's head must be covered. Considering that during the ceremony, church crowns (crowns) are worn on the young, you should not cover the bride's head with a large hat, as it will look out of place.

    Any footwear can be worn, however, when choosing it, it should be borne in mind that you will have to stand in it for a long time, so it is better to refuse uncomfortable heels. To decide on a hairstyle, it is advisable to check with the priest in advance, the crowns will be worn on the head or they will be held by guarantors. The bride's makeup should not be too noticeable, it is also worth remembering that it is forbidden to kiss the crown, cross, icon with painted lips.

    It is believed that a wedding dress cannot be given or sold. It must be kept together with christening gowns, wedding candles, icons.

  • Groom

    A formal suit will suit the groom for a wedding. There are no special prohibitions regarding the color of the costume. You should not come to church in casual, denim, sportswear. The groom should not have a headdress.

  • Guests

    Visitors entering the temple must comply with the requirements for all parishioners: for women - closed-type clothing, hats, trousers are undesirable, for men - strict clothes, without a headdress.

    In addition, all participants and those present at the wedding ceremony: the bride, groom, guarantors and guests, must wear crosses.

What to prepare for the ceremony

For the wedding you will need:
- rings that must be given to the priest before the ceremony for consecration;
- wedding candles;
- wedding icons (images of Christ and the Mother of God);
- a white towel-towel (the young will stand on it during the ceremony);
- two handkerchiefs (hold candles).

The towel, on which the bride and groom stood during the wedding in the church, symbolizes the road in life, so it must be kept and not given to anyone. You should also store wedding candles, which can be lit during difficult childbirth, illness of children.

Photographer's choice

It is important to take into account that not all churches are allowed to make videos or photographs of the wedding ceremony. Therefore, it is worth discussing this issue with the priest in advance. Considering that the lighting in churches is specific, it is advisable to choose a professional photographer who will take into account the nuances of shooting, will be able to choose the right angles, take high-quality pictures that convey the atmosphere of the temple and the grandeur of the wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremony

This rite includes engagement and wedding... It is worth considering that during the ceremony, the priest must call the newlyweds by the names that were given to them at baptism (sometimes they differ from the names "in the world"). Betrothal takes place at the entrance to the church. The bride should be on the left of the groom. The priest blesses the young people and hands them lighted wedding candles, which must be kept until the end of the service. After the prayer, he changes the wedding rings three times from the man's hand to the woman's hand. After that, they become bride and groom.

Wedding is held in the center of the temple, where the bride and groom will stand on a white towel. During the ceremony, the priest reads prayers, the guarantors hold crowns over the heads of the newlyweds. After answering the questions of the priest, "Is the wedding done of free will?" "Are there any obstacles?" and reading prayers, the newlyweds become spouses before God. Now they can kiss the crowns and drink wine from the cup in three doses, which symbolizes family life with joys and sorrows. After the priest leads them around the lectern, brings them to the Royal Doors, the husband kisses the icon of Christ, and the wife - the Mother of God. Now guests can congratulate the married.

Remember that a wedding is not just a memorable, bright holiday, but also a very responsible step, which is worth taking once in a lifetime. Churchly divorce (debunk) spouses is possible only for serious reasons, with the permission of the diocese. Therefore, the unification of your life before God and the very sacrament of the wedding should be approached seriously, with understanding and taking into account all traditions and rules.

The connection of two lives is a solemn and responsible moment. Today, many decide to formalize their marriage not only in the registry office, but also in the face of the Lord. What is needed for a church wedding, besides the desire of the young? Learn from our material.


Two unite in unity

Before deciding to get married, you need to understand:

  • Church marriage cannot be dissolved! There is no “debunking” in principle. The fact that some bishops go to meet people who have already divorced and live in other families is due to the weakness of modern “Christians”. This is done so that people do not fall into great sins. Therefore, we must realize that the wedding is forever!

Basic requirements for those who wish to get married in the church:

  • newlyweds must be baptized in the Orthodox Church (this can be done before the wedding);
  • people must enter into a civil marriage (in the registry office) - a certificate is required in many churches (if people are not permanent parishioners);
  • before the wedding, it is necessary to confess and receive communion.

This is the spiritual side. Also, in parishes where the parishioners are responsibly treated, the priest necessarily conducts a preliminary conversation with the young. He explains to them the whole meaning of this ceremony, which is not only a tribute to tradition. You should not get married just for the sake of beautiful photographs or because it is "so accepted." This is a profanation of the Sacrament.


What is needed for the ceremony

A wedding in the Orthodox Church is carried out according to certain rules. The procedure and the necessary prayers are recorded in a special book - the Trebnik, which the priest has. There is no need to worry about this, although it is necessary to understand which stage of the Sacrament is carried out.

Usually a donation is provided for such requests. Everything can be negotiated directly in the church. The "price" can vary greatly depending on the temple. Other costs will also be required.

  • The icons of the Savior and the Mother of God are needed so that parents bless their children with them.
  • Towel - according to the rules, in the church the young stand on a white towel.
  • Special candles for the bride and groom are usually sold in the shop.
  • Rings - used in the Orthodox wedding ceremony.

These are the highlights, everything else is prepared in the temple. It is important to decide on a date, to prepare spiritually for this event. You also need to decide how many singers there will be, they usually have to pay separately. Singers, as a rule, are not part of the staff of the church, but only come to services or services (weddings, funerals, baptisms).


Rite rules

A church wedding is held in accordance with the established procedure. It usually follows the Liturgy, where the young are to receive the Holy Communion. Before that, one should fast (fast), read certain prayers - there is about this. Such spiritual preparation is necessary in order to receive the sacrament of marriage with a pure soul.

Witnesses used to play more than just the role of crown-bearers. They vouched for the newlyweds, usually those who had known them for a long time. The guarantors took it upon themselves to look after the spiritual situation in the new union. After all, this is a small church, which was created with the aim of giving birth and raising children in piety. Therefore, the witnesses were people of considerable age with their own families. Today it is, rather, a tribute to tradition - the wedding will be held without witnesses.

According to the rules, the wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church begins with the betrothal. Previously, it was held separately, but now it is very rare to find such a thing. Young people stand in front of the doors of the temple, as in front of the Lord Himself. The priest introduces them to the church, as if the first people - to paradise, where they should lead a pure life.

  • The priest censes, sanctifying the young. He blesses the bride and groom, then gives them candles. After the blessing, one should be baptized. This is done three times.
  • The fire of candles is a symbol of love, pure and hot, which the spouses must nourish.
  • The deacon reads special litanies, which can be prayed for by all who come to the temple.
  • The priest reads a secret prayer for the newlyweds.

Then they bring the rings, which are put on with prayer first to the groom, then to the bride. Three times they will change them - as a sign that they now have everything in common. The ring is a sign of eternal union, readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of a loved one (beloved). After the prayer, the betrothal ends and the wedding ceremony begins.

Continuing to hold candles, the young go to the center of the temple, a special psalm is sung. A couple stands on a towel, in front of them on a lectern (special stand) are crowns, the Gospel, a cross. Crowns in Orthodoxy mean not so much a triumph as a martyrdom. After all, it is not so easy to endure all the shortcomings of your spouse throughout your life, to be a support for your family, to support your “half”. Therefore, in the sacrament, special help from God is requested.

The priest will ask each in turn whether they have a voluntary desire to marry, you must answer in the affirmative. There is also the question of whether the heart was promised to someone else. In some churches, it is allowed to answer in Russian, and not in Church Slavonic. This is followed by three special prayers - one to Christ, two to the Triune God.

Only after this are the crowns taken (hence the name of the sacrament - wedding), with prayer they are laid on the young, the Holy Scriptures are read.

Then, after short prayers, both are given wine from the same cup. Also as a sign that a common life awaits the young now. Then the hands of the husband and wife are tied, they walk three times after the priest around the analogion.

The ceremony ends with the presentation of icons, instructions from the confessor. The meal, if she continues the service, should be decent, befitting a Christian title, without drunkenness, dancing, and wild merriment.

How to behave in the temple

There are unspoken rules of conduct in the church that should not be broken. The wedding ceremony is carried out "by order", but this does not mean that in front of you is a mummed toastmaster with a censer. One should not, imitating the "stars" of television, behave provocatively.

  • Witnesses and other participants in the ceremony should not forget that they are in the house of God. Laughter, conversations are inappropriate, if there is no desire to pray at all, it is better to leave the church altogether until the Liturgy is over. So at least you will not distract the parishioners who have come to pay their debt to the Lord.
  • The bride and groom must learn in advance the words that should be said during the ceremony. This is a simple respect not only for the priest, but also for God.
  • You should not shock others with your appearance - the bride's dress should be closed. Or you need to purchase a cape that would cover the shoulders, back and neckline. The lipstick must be wiped off before the start of the service.
  • Women should enter church with their heads covered, skirts should be below the knee. Too bright makeup is also inappropriate.

The beauty of the wedding ceremony should be forever remembered by the young, but also remind of the deep meaning of Christian marriage - love, patience, sacrifice. Such a test can be adequately endured only by being in the bosom of the Church, attending services, participating in the Sacraments. God bless you!

Wedding rules

A wedding in a church - the rules that are needed for the ceremony was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub