Re: Greek Brides??
Posted by May152005
Hi everyone, yesterday was Deby's wedding! I can't wait to hear how it was!! You must be soo excited Marcela, you're next!!
Did anyone do programs explaining the Greek Orthodox ceremony? If so I would love it if you tell me where you found all the information.
Thanks!
I can't wait to hear about Debbie's wedding either - Marcela - what is the countdown? 20 days!!!!!!!!
Betty: This is the program that my cousin used for her programs - I'm probably going to use the same one -
(just double check the spelling - there may be some typos - since I typed it out - one of the girls on here may already have it formated)
HOLY MATRIMONY
Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament of teh Greek Orthodox Church in which a woman and a man solemly vow before Christ, the priest, and the congregation to be true to each other for life. Their union is blessed by Christ through the Church. God's grace is imparted to them top live together in His love, mutually fulfilling and perfecting each other.
THe marriage ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is unique in that nor words are exchanged between bride and groom. It is filled with ritual and symbolism. Each of the acts which you will witness today hold a special meaning and significance.
THE JOINING OF THE RIGHT HANDS
THe right hand of the bride and groom are joined when teh priest reads the prayer that beseeches God to 'join these thy servant, unite them in one mind and one flesh.' The hands are kept joined throughout the service to symbolize the 'oneness' of the couple.
THE CANDLES
The wedding service begins immediately following teh Bethrothal Service. The bride and groom are handed candles with the satin ribbons and addorned with springs of orange blossoms which bring fruitfulness to the marriage. The candles are like the lamps of teh five wise maidens of the Bible, who because they had enough oil in their lamps, were able to receive teh Bride-groom, Christ, when he came in the darkness of the night. THe candles symbolize teh spiritual willingness of the couple to receive Christ, who will belss them through this sacrament.
THE CROWNING
The office of the crowning, which follows, is the climax of teh wedding service. THe crowns are signs of the glory and honor with which God growns the bride and groom during teh sacrament. They are crowned as queen and king of their own little kingdom, their home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity.
When the crowning takes place, the priest, taking the crowns and holding them above the couple, says 'The servants god, (insert couples name), are crowned in teh name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'
Some interprety the crowns used in the Orthodox wedding ceremony to refer to the crowns of martyrdom since every true marriage invovled immesurable self-sacrifice on both sides.
THE CEREMONIAL WALK
WIth crowns in place and linked to each other by a ribbon, the priest then leads the groom, who leads the bride, in a procession around the altar three times. On the altar are placed the Gospel and the Cross. The one containing the word of God, the other being the symbol of our redemption by Christ. THis is the first walk that the couple takes as husband and wife. The Church, in the person of the priest, leads them in the way they must walk. This way is symbolized by the circle, at the center of which are the Gospel and the Cross of our Lord. This expresses the fact that the way of teh Chirstian liviing is a perfect orbit and the center of life, who is Jesus Christ our Lord.
During the ceremonial walk around the table a hymn is sung to teh Holy Martyrs reminding the newly married couple of the sacrificial love tehy are to have for one another in marriage; a love that seeks not its own, but is willing to sacrifice it all for the one loved.
THE COMMON CUP
THe rite of the crowning is followed by teh reading of the Epistle and the Gospel. 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 coverted water to wine and gave of it to teh newlyweds. In remembrance of this blessing, wine is give to the couple. THis is the 'common cup' of life denoting the mutual sharing of joy and shorrow, the token of a life of harmony. THe drinking of the 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.' Through sharing their joys will be doubled and their sorrows halved.
THE RINGS
THe rings are blessed by the priest who takes them in his hand, and making the sign of the corss over thier heads, says, 'The servant of God, (insert grooms name), is betrothed to the maid of God, (Insert brides name), in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'
THe rings, which are the symbol of the betrothal from the most ancient times, are then exchanged by the koumbaro/koumbara, by taking the bride's ring and placing it on the groom's finger and vice versa. This exchange signifies that in married life the weakness of the one parner will be compensated for by the strengths of the other. Alone, the newly-betroithed are incomplete, but together they are made perfect, whole. THus, the exchange of the rings gives the expression to the fact that the spouses, in marriage, will constantly be complimenting each other; each being enriched by the union.
THE BLESSING
THe couple return to their places and teh priest, blessing the groom says, 'Be though magnified, O bridegroom, as Abraham, and blessed as Isaac, and increased as Jacob, walking in peac and working in righteous and 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 Rachael, rejoicing in thine own husband, fulfilling the conditions of the law; for so it is well pleasing to God.'
