FAQs

Question

What is the Sacrament of Marriage? What are the parts of the service?

Answer

The sacrament of marriage in the Eastern Orthodox Church joins two believers into one. Sacrament of Marriage consists of · The Exchange of Rings · The lighting of the Candles · The Crowning · The Readings from the Bible · The Drinking of the Common Cup · The Ceremonial Walk · Lastly, the Proclamation of Husband & Wife.

Question

Why do Greek Orthodox weddings run so long?

Answer

The Orthodox ceremony is steeped in ritual and symbolism. It is a Sacrament - and unlike other religions, has not been truncated or altered throughout the history of time.

Question

What are Stéfana?

Answer

Stéfana are used for The Crowning of the couple. The wedding crowns (Stéfana) are the signs of glory and honor with which God crowns the Bride and Groom during the sacrament. The Bride and Groom are crowned as king and queen of their home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity. They represent the couple’s giving of one life totally to the other and through the other to Christ. At the end of the wedding service, the crowns are removed from the couple and the priest prays that God will receive these crowns into His Kingdom. After the priest places the Stéfana on the heads of the Bride and Groom, the Koumbaro exchanges the crowns three times as witness to the sealing of the union. The crown swapping begins with the koumbaro behind the bride and groom - and the koumbaro places the crowns three times on the head before the procession around the altar. The bride is at left, the groom at right.

Question

What is a Koumbaro?

Answer

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the Koumbaro or Koumbara is the official sponsor for the wedding and is charged with many responsibilities for the ceremony.