Please RSVP by August 21, 2024
Formal
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before to find your seat before starting. There is parking available at the church.
The marriage service in the Orthodox Church is divided into two parts: The Rite of Betrothal and the Rite of Crowning. Both rites are filled with images and references from the Old and New Testaments. In addition to praying to God for the couple being married for a blessed life together, these references offer role models of married couples, aids in our understanding of the symbols, and teach about the meaning of married life. The Rite of Betrothal In the Rite of Betrothal, the couple exchange rings as a sign of their voluntary pledge to enter into marriage and to live together in faith, harmony, truth, and love. The Rite of Crowning The second part of the marriage ceremony, the Rite of Crowning, is longer and more complex. The ceremony includes the joining of hands, the partaking of blessed wine from a common cup, and a solemn-joyous procession. The most distinct act is that of placing crowns on the heads of the couple. Prayers accompany each action. And there will be readings from the New Testament. Courtesy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America