The wedding ceremony is optional for couples who want to connect their lives with each other for life. However, an ordinary wedding ceremony cannot completely fill a marriage with purity and strength, like a wedding ceremony.
Instructions
Step 1
The ceremony begins with the betrothal. The priest leads the bride and groom into the church. The betrothal is preceded by the Divine Liturgy.
Step 2
As soon as the spouses entered the temple, the priest blesses the bride and groom, saying three times: “In the name of the father and son and the holy spirit,” and gives them lighted candles. At the end, the priest gives the bride and groom lighted candles. After the blessing, the bride and groom are baptized and receive candles from the priest. Candles serve as a symbol of love for future spouses, characterizing it as fiery and pure.
Step 3
Praise to God begins. Prayers are recited, prayers for the spouses on behalf of all those present in the temple. The purpose of the prayers is to envelop the new family in a halo of peace from God, who will bless the birth of children and fulfill the wishes of the bride and groom for their salvation.
Step 4
After the end of the doxology, the priest takes the rings from the holy throne and puts the ring on to the groom, covering it with the banner of the cross three times and pronouncing the words of engagement three times, and then to the bride, observing the same ceremony. Rings do not act as a gift to the bride and groom, but as a sign of love and sacrifice for the wife to everyone and help in everything. The bride puts on the ring to the groom, thus symbolizing her boundless love and devotion to him.
Step 5
As soon as the priest blessed the spouses, they exchange rings. First, the groom puts his ring on the bride's ring finger, then the bride. This is repeated three times.
Step 6
The future spouses with lighted candles in their hands go to the center of the temple. The bride and groom need to stand on the board, which is spread on the floor. The unconstrained desire of the bride and groom to enter into a church marriage and receive the titles of husband and wife is confirmed.
Step 7
The wedding ceremony begins. The priest reads three prayers.
Step 8
After the prayers, the priest cross-shaped with a crown marks the groom, who kisses the image of the Savior. The bride goes through the same ceremony.
Step 9
Prayers and instructions for the wife and husband are read, after which the priest gives three times to drink wine, offering first to the husband, and then to his wife. He connects the wife's right hand with the husband's right hand, covering it with a stole and with his own hand, runs it around the lectern three times.
Step 10
At the end of the wedding ceremony, the priest removes the wreaths from the spouses and greets them with solemn words, congratulating them on their marriage.
