Re: Greek Brides??

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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!

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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.'

Re: Greek Brides??

YAY 20 days!! I can't wait to hear about Debbie's wedding either. I was going to go to the ceremony but couldn't make it On Saturday, I had to go to the dentist on an emergency appointment to get a cavity fixed and I was in a lot of pain on Sunday. It was awful. I hope they're having a good time in Aruba!

Re: Greek Brides??

I hope you feel better Marcela! I am so thoroughly pissed off at school - i was supposed to go to Christine's ceremony but i was stuck at work till really late friday night and I have a take home final which i've been doing since thursday - (the professor could not have made it any harder!! I wish it was an inclass - at least it would be easier). So i've been stuck in the library for too long. I also wanted to see Debbie - i live a block from St. D's - but of course - once i was in school i didnt want to go back home because i was having panic attacks over the darn final -

I am sure she and her DH!! (she will love saying that) are enjoying Aruba weather and sun!

you are going to be enjoying greek sun so so soon!! Are you guys flying out the next day?

Re: Greek Brides??

Georgia - Thanks for all the information!! It's really helpful, are you using a vendor for the programs or putting them together yourself?
By the way - 'Happy belated nameday'!

Marcela - I can't wait to see pictures from your wedding. I absolutely love Floral Terrace, the ceiling is going to look so beautiful in all your pictures!

Re: Greek Brides??

Thanks Georgia! I couldn't make it to Christine's ceremony either b/c of the cavity This was just NOT a good weekend for me.

Georgia, try not to panic (I know easier said than done). I'm sure you will do fine on the paper. I really HATED papers while in law school. I obsessed over them way too much Good Luck

Betty: THANKS! I will post pics, I promise. We went to FT for our menu meeting and now I'm all excited. We're so close now

ETA: Georgia, yes we're leaving for Greece the next day. I cannot wait! We're going to stay in Athens first, then Crete and finally Santorini

Re: Greek Brides??

Hi everyone,

I can't wait to hear about the weddings. I'm sure everything was beautiful.

I might have to go to the Olympics for work this year. I hope so....I get a free vacation to greece.

Re: Greek Brides??

Marcela-U have FM.

Re: Greek Brides??

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Posted by junebride04

Marcela-U have FM.

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I replied Angela

Re: Greek Brides??

repost from 2004

girls i need your advice,
I can't decide whether to have the church at three or four!
The church is in Astoria, and the hall is in Woodbury. The cocktail hour is at seven. I am worried that if it is at 3 there will be too much time in between, If I have it at four we might miss cocktail hour. What are you girls doing with time? It is a Saturday in Sept. and we are taking pictures at the hall. Thanks

You girls know greek cereomonies!

Re: Greek Brides??

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Posted by alejay

repost from 2004

girls i need your advice,
I can't decide whether to have the church at three or four!
The church is in Astoria, and the hall is in Woodbury. The cocktail hour is at seven. I am worried that if it is at 3 there will be too much time in between, If I have it at four we might miss cocktail hour. What are you girls doing with time? It is a Saturday in Sept. and we are taking pictures at the hall. Thanks

You girls know greek cereomonies!

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I would keep it at 3. Fh's brother got married at Cresthollow a couple of years ago. The ceremony was sat 3 - church was st. catherine's - and i beleive the cocktail hour started at 6:30 - they made it to the last half of their cocktail hour. Their wedding was in october and there was a lot of traffic on the LIE - also - cresthollow is huge and they had such a big bridal party that it was hard finding everyone and getting them together - i think you should give yourself more time - I really dont think there willbe too much time in between.l My ceremony is at 3 (st. D's) and our coctail is at 6:30 - and i want to ask Fr. John if he will move it to 2pm so we have more time. If we dont move it to 2 we might not have the receiving line.

Re: Greek Brides??

I would also have the church at 3pm. I think it's better to have enough time than to be running around last minute rushing.

My church is at 2:00 and the cocktail hour is at 6:00. People will find something to do.

Re: Greek Brides??

I would keep it at 3pm so you don't have to rush through photos or lose sunlight time.

Re: Greek Brides??

I agree with the girls above..keep it at 3pm.

Re: Greek Brides??

Xristos Anesti Girls. Been MIA for a bit. I second or third that about the 3pm start time. It's Labor day weekend too -- NO?

My start time was a 3pm and a solid 45 min b/w venues. We got started on Greek time 30 min late and with a large wedding party, people get lost. Its crazy how Adults have such limited attention spans! We missed half our cocktail hour finishing pictures.

Speaking of, ... where would I post them?

Here or another thread?

Programs

May152005 with the above program, what I did to make more personal was to substitude Bride & Groom with our actual names. I thought it came out well.

Re: Greek Brides??

please post them here...I would love to see them.

Congrats!

Re: Greek Brides??

Congrats!!! I can't wait to see pics

Re: Greek Brides??

WOAH! I just realized that this thread is 68 pages

Re: Greek Brides??

Hi Lenitsa!! Yes please post pics!! We cant wait to see!!


Irene: Free trip to greece - AWESOME!!

Re: Greek Brides??

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Posted by Marcela1654

WOAH! I just realized that this thread is 68 pages

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Yeah - isnt that insane??