The Sacred Covenant: Exploring The Christian Meaning Of Marriage

A Christian wedding is more than a contract; it is a covenant relationship. The ceremony itself is a picture of the blood covenant between God and humans, with the couple at the centre.

The word 'covenant' comes from the Hebrew word 'berith', which means 'to cut'. In ancient times, a blood covenant was a solemn and binding agreement made by cutting animals in two and arranging the halves opposite each other, leaving a pathway in between. The two parties would walk from either end of the path and meet in the middle, where they would cut their palms and join hands, pledging a vow to give all their rights, possessions and benefits to each other.

In a Christian wedding, the families of the couple sit on opposite sides of the aisle, symbolising the cutting of the blood covenant. The white runner down the aisle represents the holy ground where two lives are joined as one by God.

The wedding ceremony as a blood covenant

The wedding ceremony is a sacred covenant between two people united in marriage. In Christianity, this covenant is not just between the couple but also involves God. The roots of the Christian wedding ceremony can be traced back to the covenant God made with Abraham.

The Hebrew word for covenant is "berith", which comes from the root meaning "to cut". A blood covenant was a solemn and binding agreement or vow between two parties, sealed by the cutting or sacrifice of animals. The wedding ceremony reflects this ritual, with the centre aisle representing the path between the animal halves, and the white runner symbolising the sacred ground where two lives are joined as one by God.

The seating arrangement in a Christian wedding also holds symbolic value, with family and friends of the couple seated on opposite sides of the church, symbolising the cutting of the blood covenant. They are not just witnesses but participants in the wedding covenant, having often made sacrifices to help prepare the couple for marriage.

The groom entering the church auditorium first is another reference to the blood covenant. In biblical times, the first person to walk down the path between the animal halves was the covenant instigator, who held more responsibility for fulfilling the terms of the agreement. This tradition also represents God's first move to reach out and choose His Bride, with Christ, the Groom, paving the way to have his bride presented to himself.

The bridal veil is another important symbol in Christian weddings. In ancient times, a veil was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits and convey her purity. The veil also represents the temple veil that was torn in two when Christ died on the cross, symbolising that the church (the bride) now had access to God (the groom) through Christ.

The wedding ring is another outward symbol of the couple's bond, illustrating the eternal quality of their love. It also signifies their submission to God's authority over their marriage, recognising that God brought them together and is intricately involved in their covenant relationship.

The pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife officially declares the beginning of their covenant in the eyes of God. This moment gives them a new identity and name, just as in the blood covenant, where the two parties exchanged part of their names.

The wedding reception that follows is reminiscent of the ceremonial meal often associated with the blood covenant. The guests share in the blessings of the covenant, and the cutting and feeding of the cake symbolises the cutting of the covenant, with the couple giving of themselves fully to each other.

While the specifics of wedding traditions may vary, the underlying meaning of the Christian wedding ceremony as a blood covenant remains. It is a solemn vow between two people, witnessed and blessed by God, symbolising their lifelong commitment to each other.

The seating of family on opposite sides of the church

In a Christian wedding ceremony, the family and friends of the bride and groom sit on opposite sides of the church aisle, symbolising the cutting of the blood covenant. This seating arrangement is also meant to provide a good view of the couple for their loved ones, allowing them to see their faces and reactions during the ceremony.

The centre aisle of the church, which represents the meeting ground or pathway between the animal pieces, is sometimes adorned with a white runner. The white colour symbolises the holiness of the ground where two lives are joined as one by God.

While the tradition of seating family on opposite sides is not universally followed, it is a way to incorporate symbolic meaning into the wedding ceremony and honour the sacred nature of the covenant being made.

The white wedding dress

The tradition of the white wedding dress is often credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. However, Anne of Brittany wore a white wedding dress even earlier, in 1499, when she married Louis XII of France.

Prior to the 19th century, white was associated with mourning, and brides typically wore richly coloured fabrics such as silk, muslin, velvet, and fur. These gowns were often layered with jewels and other signs of wealth.

The bridal veil

In ancient Mesopotamia and Persian cultures, grooms were required to cover their brides' faces with a veil to declare that she was now his wife. The veil was also used in arranged marriages during the Middle Ages to obscure the bride's features until after the ceremony when the groom would lift it up.

In Christian weddings, the veil symbolises modesty, purity, and obedience. It also represents the temple veil that was torn in two when Christ died on the cross, removing the separation between God and humans.

The groom arriving first

In Christian weddings, the groom typically arrives at the church before the bride. This is a reference to the biblical concept of a "blood covenant", a solemn vow or pledge between two parties. In the Bible, the first person to move between the two halves of the sacrificed animal was the covenant instigator, who had more responsibility to ensure the terms were fulfilled. Similarly, Christ, the Groom, took the initiative to pave the way to have his bride, the church, presented to himself.

In a Christian wedding ceremony, the groom, best man, and groomsmen are led to the altar by the officiant, often from the side instead of down the aisle. The groom's entrance is followed by the seating of the grandparents, with the bride's family on the left and the groom's on the right. The groom's parents are seated next, and then the bride's mother. The bridesmaids, maid of honour, ring bearer, and flower girls then enter, and everyone stands as the bride arrives with her escort, usually her father.

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