The Greek Orthodox Church requires that the couple appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors in good standing with the Church. They are to be guides for the couple throughout their marriage and will likely be future godparents of the couple's children. The Koumbaro is the male sponsor of the union and is similar to the best man in the eyes of the church. The female is called the Koumbara and is similar to the maid or matron of honor from the church perspective. The crowns, rings and two decorated white candles are required to be on the wedding table and will be used by the Koumbari throughout the ceremony
As one of the seven sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church and one of the most ancient Christian wedding rites, the ceremony is rich with symbolism. The wedding consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning. The latter consists of five sections: The Prayers; The Crowning; Readings from Scripture; The Common Cup; and the Dance of Isaiah. Signifying the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit), rituals in the sacrament are done three times.
The symbol of the Betrothal is the exchanging of rings. The priest blesses the rings three times and announces that the groom is betrothed to the bride in the name of the Holy Trinity. The priest places the rings on the right-hand fingers of the groom and bride. Yes, it's the right hand not the left, as in the Bible, the right hand represents virtue. The Koumbaro then exchanges the rings between the couple three times, signifying that their two lives are intertwined as one by the grace of the Holy Trinity. Now they are officially betrothed to marry before God.
The wedding service begins with the lighting of the candles and the Joining of the Hands. The groom and bride are each given a taper candle called Lambathes. The candles are lit to symbolize the willingness of the couple to receive Christ, who will bless them throughout this sacrament.
The priest joins the right hands of the groom and bride as he calls upon God to unify the bride and groom into one mind and body. Prayers are said, asking to grant them a long and peaceful life of health and happiness. Their hands will remain joined throughout the service to show their union.
The highlight of the sacrament is called “The Crowning." A single ribbon attaches two crowns, called Stefana, together. When the priest places them on the groom and bride's heads, they are crowned by God as king and queen of their home and founders of a new generation. The crowns are exchanged on their heads three times by the Koumbaro or Koumbara.
Holding up the book of the Holy Gospel, the priest leads the couple in a ceremonial walk called the Dance of Isaiah. The Koumbaro shows his support for the couple by following closely behind holding the ribbon that joins the Stefana crowns. This "dance" celebrates their first steps as husband and wife.
The priest removes the crowns and asks God for a long and happy life for them. He then lifts the book of the Holy Gospel, bringing it down between the couple's clasped hands as a reminder that only God can separate them from one another. It is a spiritual reference that through the Gospel, Christ will always be their way back to each other should they begin to drift. A first kiss is not part of the Orthodox ceremony, however, the priest will allow for this expression of love.
Koufeta are white sugar-coated almonds (Jordan Almonds). The white symbolizes purity and the egg shape represents fertility and new life. The hard almond is a symbol of the endurance of marriage and the sugar coating is a promise of a sweet life together. For wedding favors, the bride and her bridesmaids always wrap an odd number of koufeta in netting or bonbonnieres. The odd numbers are indivisible, so it symbolizes that the couple will remain undivided. It is a Greek tradition for an unmarried woman to tuck the koufeta under her pillow so she will dream of her future husband.
The Greek Orthodox Church requires that the couple appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors in good standing with the Church. They are to be guides for the couple throughout their marriage and will likely be future godparents of the couple's children. The Koumbaro is the male sponsor of the union and is similar to the best man in the eyes of the church. The female is called the Koumbara and is similar to the maid or matron of honor from the church perspective. The crowns, rings and two decorated white candles are required to be on the wedding table and will be used by the Koumbari throughout the ceremony.
As one of the seven sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church and one of the most ancient Christian wedding rites, the ceremony is rich with symbolism. The wedding consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning. The latter consists of five sections: The Prayers; The Crowning; Readings from Scripture; The Common Cup; and the Dance of Isaiah. Signifying the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit), rituals in the sacrament are done three times.