George Boyle
Greek weddings are a joyous occasion, blending ancient rites with Byzantine and
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length of ceremony | 45 minutes to one hour |
| Wedding customs | A mix of ancient and Orthodox Christian rites |
| Ceremony | Betrothal Service and Marriage Service |
| Betrothal Service | The priest blesses the wedding rings and touches the bride and groom's forehead with them |
| Marriage Service | The bride and groom hold a lit candle throughout the service, symbolizing the light of Christ |
| The Dance of Isaiah | The newlywed couple is led around a small table by the priest while the Koumbaros follows behind holding the stephana ribbon. They circle the table three times, taking their first steps as husband and wife |
| The Common Cup | The bride and groom share a common cup of wine, symbolizing the sharing that life brings after marriage |
| The Crowns | The Koumbaros places the stephana (crowns) on the heads of the bride and groom. The crowns are decorated with a long ribbon running between them |
| The Rings | The Koumbaros exchanges the rings three times, placing them on the couple's right hands |
| The Bomboniere | Sugar-coated almonds (koufeta) are wrapped in groups of five and given as party favors. The five almonds represent five wishes: health, wealth, happiness, family, and a long life together |
| The Wedding Bed | Decorated with rose petals, jewels, glitter, money, and rice |
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What You'll Learn
The Betrothal Service
A Greek wedding ceremony is comprised of two main parts: the Betrothal Service and the Marriage Service. The Betrothal Service, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, is a solemnisation of a couple's engagement through a series of rituals, symbolisms, and prayers.
The ceremony begins with the Doxology, a small prayer that asks both the couple and the audience to glorify God. This is followed by the opening petitions, which are similar to prayers, listing requests to God to bless everyone in attendance, the couple with love and peace, and future children. These petitions symbolise the needs of a Christian couple for marital well-being.
Next, the priest asks the bride and groom if they wish to marry each other. The priest then blesses the wedding rings and touches the bride and groom's foreheads with them, making the sign of the cross above their heads. The Koumbaros, or the couple's sponsor, then exchanges the rings on the couple's right hands three times, sealing their commitment.
Following the Betrothal Service is the Crowning Service, which includes reciting psalms, wedding candles, petitions, prayers, crowning, scripture readings, drinking from the common cup, and more. The Crowning Service further emphasises the spiritual and traditional aspects of a Greek wedding ceremony.
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The Marriage Service
During the Marriage Service, the bride and groom each hold a lit candle, symbolising the light of Christ, who will illuminate their path for the rest of their marriage. The couple stands facing the priest and the Holy Altar, with the groom on the right and the bride on the left. The Koumbaros, or sponsor, places the stephana (crowns) on the heads of the bride and groom. The stephana are two decorated crowns with a long ribbon running between them. The priest recites a prayer before placing the crowns on the couple, expressing the most beautiful and significant symbolism of the crown.
The common cup is a cup of wine shared between the bride and groom, symbolising the sharing that life brings after marriage. The newlywed couple is then led around a small table by the priest, while the Koumbaros follows behind, holding the stephana ribbon. They circle the table three times, taking their first steps as husband and wife in "The Dance of Isaiah". The ceremony concludes with a final blessing.
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The Crowning Service
After the crowning, scripture readings are given, summarising the beliefs of the Orthodox Church on marriage. The newlyweds then share a common cup of wine, symbolising the sharing that life brings after marriage. The couple is then led around a small table three times, taking their first steps as husband and wife in 'The Dance of Isaiah'. The crowns are then removed, and the couple kisses before the dismissal.
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The Dance of Isaiah
The length of a Greek wedding mass varies and depends on the type of ceremony the couple chooses. It is packed with symbolism and tradition, and by American standards, the service is likely to be longer than other wedding denominations.
The hymns used during the dance are ancient and emphasise God's blessings. The last hymn celebrates the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy: "Behold, a virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." The Dance of Isaiah is a celebratory ritual dance and an icon of Christian marriage, symbolising the couple's union with Christ and their new life together as one.
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The Koumbaros
During the Betrothal Service, the Koumbaros will exchange the rings on the right hands of the couple three times. The Koumbaros will also place the Stefana on the heads of the newlyweds during the Marriage Service. The Koumbaros follows behind the newlyweds holding the stephana ribbon as they are led around a small table by the priest in a dance known as the 'Dance of Isaiah'. The Koumbaros is also responsible for providing certain items for the ceremony, such as the Stefana, a silver tray, two candles, and gratuities for the priest and chanter.
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Frequently asked questions
A Greek wedding mass can last anywhere between 45 minutes to one hour, which is longer than the average American ceremony.
The Betrothal Service is the first part of a Greek wedding mass. During this time, the priest blesses the wedding rings and touches the bride and groom's foreheads with them.
The second part of a Greek wedding mass is the Marriage Service. The bride and groom hold a lit candle throughout the service, symbolising the light of Christ who is with them for the rest of their marriage.
The newlywed couple is led around a small table by the priest, while the Koumbaros follows behind holding the stephana ribbon. They circle the table three times, taking their first steps as husband and wife in the "Dance of Isaiah".
No, but one of the parties must be of the Greek Orthodox faith and both parties must be Christians, baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity.
