Rhiannon Hendricks
Greek Orthodox weddings are rich in tradition and symbolism. The ceremony is typically held in a church and lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. It consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning, with rituals performed three times to represent the Holy Trinity. The couple exchanges rings and crowns, with the priest blessing the rings and placing them on the right hands of the bride and groom. The ceremony is focused on God's blessing and does not include the exchange of vows. The bride and groom are considered king and queen of their household, with the Koumbaro (best man) and Koumbara (maid or matron of honour) as witnesses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length of Ceremony | 40-60 minutes |
| Time for Access to Church | 1 hour |
| Parts of the Ceremony | Betrothal or Service of Promise, Service of the Crowning |
| Participants | Bride, Groom, Koumbaros/Koumbara, Best Man, Maid of Honor, Flower Girl, Ringbearer |
| Requirements | Both members of the couple must be a member in good standing of the church and pledging stewards for the current year, attend services regularly, participate in pre-marital counseling, and receive sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion the week before the wedding |
| Gifts | From registry, gift certificate, or cash |
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What You'll Learn
The ceremony lasts 40-60 minutes
A Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony typically lasts 40 to 60 minutes. It is a sacrament of Holy Matrimony and one of the most ancient Christian wedding rites, rich with symbolism. The ceremony is divided into two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning. The Service of the Crowning consists of five sections: The Prayers, The Crowning, Readings from Scripture, The Common Cup, and the Dance of Isaiah. The rituals in the sacrament are performed three times to signify the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
The wedding ceremony requires a Sponsor (Koumbaros for males and Koumbara for females) who must be a member in good standing of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Sponsor stands as a witness on behalf of the Church and exchanges the rings and crowns during the ceremony. The couple should also appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors who will act as guides throughout their marriage and will likely be the future godparents of their children. The Koumbaro is the male sponsor and is always the best man, while the Koumbara is the female sponsor and will be the maid or matron of honour.
The ceremony takes place at the front of the church, with the bride and groom standing together at the altar. There is no exchange of vows as marriage is considered the mystical union of two individuals resulting in one shared life. The priest will confirm that the couple wishes to marry each other and bless their rings, placing them on the right-hand fingers of the couple. The priest will then bring down the book of the Holy Gospel between the couple's clasped hands as a reminder that only God can separate them. The couple is then allowed to share their first kiss before being introduced as newlyweds to their guests.
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Pre-wedding classes are offered by the church
Greek Orthodox weddings are rich with symbolism and steeped in tradition. The ceremony is one of the seven sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church and is one of the most ancient Christian wedding rites. 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.
Pre-Wedding Classes Offered by the Church
The Greek Orthodox Church considers the sacrament of marriage a privilege granted to those who have properly prepared for such a serious endeavour. The Church, therefore, offers pre-marital counselling classes to help couples prepare for married life. These classes are offered four times a year, and couples are notified in advance of the dates, times, and places. The classes cover a range of topics, including:
- The sacramental nature of marriage as viewed by the Orthodox Church
- Practical issues and problems that may arise in the initial years of marriage, such as romance and intimacy, in-laws, finances, family life, and communication
- The religious expression of marriage
- Guidelines for marriage within the Orthodox Church
In addition to these classes, the Church also offers other programs and seminars to help couples prepare for marriage, such as the Marriage Preparation Seminars offered by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, which include instruction, couples' activities, and group discussions on the nature of marriage and the challenges that may be encountered. The Church also encourages couples to use the engagement period to get to know each other better, discuss their good and bad habits, and prepare mentally and spiritually for married life.
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The couple must appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors
The Greek Orthodox Church requires that the couple appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors, known as the Koumbaro (male) and the Koumbara (female). These individuals must be in good standing with the Church and will act as guides for the couple throughout their marriage, often becoming the godparents of their future children. The Koumbaro and Koumbara are always the best man and maid/matron of honour, respectively, and are responsible for gifting the couple a silver tray that holds the bride and groom's crowns and rings during the ceremony. Non-Orthodox friends are permitted to be part of the wedding party but cannot act as sponsors.
In addition to appointing sponsors, there are several other requirements that must be met for a Greek Orthodox wedding. Firstly, one or both members of the couple must be a member in good standing of their respective Greek Orthodox Church and be a pledging Steward for the current year. This involves regularly attending services and participating in pre-marital counselling. Secondly, the wedding must be performed within the context of the Orthodox Church for the Church to recognise and affirm the validity and authenticity of the marriage. Thirdly, the couple must participate in the sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion the week before the wedding. Finally, the couple must complete a pre-marital preparation program, which typically takes 3-4 months to finish.
It is worth noting that if one partner is a baptised Orthodox Christian, their marriage must be blessed by the Orthodox Church for them to remain in good standing. If the Orthodox partner marries a non-Orthodox Christian, the non-Orthodox spouse does not become a member of the Orthodox Church and cannot receive certain sacraments or participate in specific church activities. Canonical and theological reasons also prevent the Orthodox Church from performing the Sacrament of Marriage for couples where one partner is Orthodox and the other is a non-Christian.
The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony is rich in symbolism and consists of two main parts: the Service of Betrothal (or the "Service of the Promise") and the Service of the Crowning. The latter includes five sections: The Prayers, The Crowning, Readings from Scripture, The Common Cup, and the Dance of Isaiah. The rituals in the sacrament are performed three times to signify the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit). The entire ceremony typically lasts between 40 to 60 minutes, with the wedding party having access to the church for up to an hour before the scheduled time.
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The bride's arrival is a much-anticipated event
The bride's arrival is a highly anticipated event in Greek weddings. The guests gather outside the church to await the bride, who traditionally arrives late. The car driving the bride to the church circles the church, making as much noise as possible, symbolising that the bride may have second thoughts, increasing anxiety and anticipation among the guests and the groom. This ritual also serves the practical purpose of allowing guests to find a parking spot for their cars.
The bride, escorted by her father, meets the groom at the church doors, and together they walk down the aisle. In the United States, the guests are already seated inside the church, and the wedding party, including the flower girl and ring bearer, precede the bride and her father. The groom's mother may also walk him down the aisle.
The wedding ceremony is approximately 40 minutes long, and the entire event, including the ceremony and reception, can last between 45 minutes to an hour. The ceremony 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.
The couple must appoint Orthodox Christian wedding sponsors, who are to be guides for the couple throughout their marriage and will likely be the future godparents of their children. The Koumbaro, the male sponsor, is always the best man, and the female sponsor, the Koumbara, will be the maid or matron of honour.
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The wedding consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning
The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony is steeped in ritual and symbolism, reflecting the theology of the Church. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church and one of the most ancient Christian wedding rites. The wedding consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning.
The Service of Betrothal
The Service of Betrothal, also known as the Rite of Betrothal or the Blessing of the Rings, is the first part of the marriage ceremony. In this service, the couple exchanges rings as a sign of their voluntary pledge to enter into marriage and to live together in faith, harmony, truth, and love. The priest blesses the couple with the rings, saying, "The servant of God (groom) is betrothed to (bride) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." This is repeated three times, alternating between the groom and the bride, and the rings are placed on the ring finger of the right hand. The priest will also mention the Prodigal Son in his prayer and recite Psalm 128, which speaks of family life.
The Service of the Crowning
The Service of the Crowning, also known as the Rite of Crowning, the Mystery of Crowning, or the Sacrament of Crowning, is the second and longer part of the marriage ceremony. It consists of five sections: prayers, the crowning, readings from Scripture, the common cup, and the Dance of Isaiah. The priest will join the right hands of the couple and recite a prayer asking God to join them in marriage and grant them a fruitful union. The couple is then crowned, symbolising their victory in "fighting the good fight" of the Christian life and their glory and honour as part of the "royal family" of God. The crowns are usually made of silver or gold and may be exchanged three times. The priest will then remove the crowns and bless the couple, saying, "Accept their crowns in Your kingdom unsoiled and undefiled, and preserve them without offense to the ages of ages."
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding ceremony is approximately 40 minutes to an hour long.
The priest is the sacramental minister who guides the couple through the rituals and explains each step of the Wedding Sacrament.
The koumbaros/koumbara is the male/female sponsor of the union and must be an Orthodox Christian. They are like the best man/maid of honor and act as guides for the couple throughout their marriage.
Some unique traditions include the Service of Betrothal, the Service of the Crowning, the exchange of crowns and rings, and the distribution of koufeta, which are sugar-coated almonds symbolizing purity, fertility, endurance, and a sweet life.
