The Rite of Betrothal and Crowning

Of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Order of Betrothal

After the Divine Liturgy, while the Priest is in the Sanctuary, the Bride and Groom enter and stand at the doors of the Narthex (vestibule); the Groom on the right and the Bride to his left. In the center of the Nave, before the Royal Doors, have been placed on a table the Holy Gospel, the Holy Cross, the rings, candles, the Crowns, and the Common Cup containing wine. The priest, together with the Deacon, goes to the entrance of the Narthex. He blesses the Bride and Groom and leads them into the Narthex.

Deacon. Bless, Master.

Priest. Blessed be our God always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. [This response is sung after each petition of the Litany of Peace.]

Deacon. For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord:

For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord:

For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord:

For the Holy Orthodox Patriarchs, for our Metropolitan N., for our Bishop N., for the honorable Priesthood, for the Deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord:

For the President of these United States, for those in authority, and for all god loving people, let us pray to the Lord:

For the servant of God, N., and for the handmaid of God, N., who are now being betrothed to one another, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

That they may be granted children for the continuation of their generation, and all their petitions which may be for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will send down upon them perfect and peaceful love, and help, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will preserve them in oneness of mind and in steadfastness of faith, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will bless them with a blameless life, let us pray to the Lord:

That the Lord our God will grant them an honorable and pure marriage let us pray to the Lord:

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity let us pray to the Lord:

Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God by Thy Grace:

Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages,

Choir. Amen.

Priest. O Eternal God, who brought into unity those who were separated, ordaining for them an unbreakable bond of love, who blessed Isaac and Rebecca making them heirs of Thy Promise; Do Thou Thyself bless these Thy servants, N. and N., guiding them in every good work.

For Thou are a merciful God, who loves mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Choir. And with thy spirit

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Priest. O Lord our God, who espoused the Church as a pure Virgin from among the nations: bless this betrothal, and unite and keep these Thy servants in peace and oneness of mind.

For to Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen

[The Priest takes the Groom’s ring and making the Sign of the Cross with it, places it on the ring finger of his right hand.]

Priest. The servant of God, N., is betrothed to the handmaid of God, N., in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

[The Priest takes the Bride's ring and making the Sign of the Cross with it, places it on the ring finger of her right hand.]

Priest. The handmaid of God, N., is betrothed to the servant of God, N., in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

[After the Bride and Groom are blessed, their rings are exchanged three times.]

Priest. O Lord our God, who went with the servant of the Patriarch Abraham into Mesopotamia when he was sent to seek a wife for his master Isaac and, by the means of drawing of water at the well, revealed to him that he should betroth Rebecca; Do Thou Thyself bless the betrothal of these Thy servants, N. and N., and confirm the word they have spoken. Strengthen them in the holy union which is from Thee. For Thou, in the beginning, made them male and female, and by Thee is the woman joined to the man as a helpmate and for the continuation of the human race.

Therefore, O Lord our God, who has sent forth Thy truth to Thine inheritance, and Thy covenant unto Thy servants our fathers, even Thine elect from generation to generation. Look Thou upon Thy servant, N., and upon Thy handmaid, N., and establish and confirm their betrothal in faith, in oneness of mind, in truth and in love.

Thou, O Lord, declared that a pledge should be given and confirmed in all things. By a ring was power given unto Joseph in Egypt; by a ring was Daniel exalted in the land of Babylon; by a ring was Tamar's integrity revealed; by a ring did our heavenly Father show compassion upon His son, for He said, put a ring on his right hand, and kill the fatted calf, and let us cat and rejoice. Thine own right hand, O Lord, armed Moses in the Red Sea. By Thy true word the heavens were established, and the foundations of the earth were made firm. By Thy mighty word and Thine uplifted arm, the right hands of Thy servants shall be blessed. Therefore, O Master, do Thou now Thyself bless this putting on of rings with Thy heavenly benediction: and let Thine Angel go before them all the days of their life.

For Thou are He who blesses and sanctifies all things, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Order of Marriage is composed of two parts; the Betrothal and the Sacrament of Crowning. The Betrothal, being a rite, is usually celebrated in the Narthex at the Church. The exchange of rings is its distinctive act. After the Litany of Peace with added petitions for the blessing of the Betrothal, the Priest prays that they will receive perfect and peaceful love and that God will bless the Betrothal and unite them in peace and oneness of mind. The Priest then puts on the rings and they are exchanged thrice in the Name of the Holy Trinity; as a sign of their mutual pledge of integrity in love. The ring is placed on the right hand as the hand of power and of blessing. With the words of the final prayer, "let Thine Angel go before them all the days of their life," the Betrothal ends and the next movement is anticipated. The Priest now leads the Bride and Groom into the Nave of the Church during the singing of Psalm 128.

In some churches the Priest, having given the end of his stole to be held by the Bride and Groom, leads the bridal procession into the Nave. He then asks the Bride and Groom to indicate that they are entering marriage freely without coercion, and that they are not committed to marry any one else.

The Sacrament of Crowning

Or of Marriage

Priest and Choir. Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee. [This response is sung after each verse.]

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!

You shall eat of the fruit of the labor of your hands; and

You shall be happy and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

The Lord bless you from Zion

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! (Psalm 128)

[The Priest leads the Groom and Bride to the table in the center o f the Nave before the Royal Doors. The Priest then asks these questions.]

Priest. [To the Groom] Do you, N., of a good free and uncoerced will and with good intention take to yourself as wife this woman, N., whom you see here before you?

Groom. I do, reverend Father.

Priest. You have not committed yourself to another woman?

Groom. I have not, reverend Father.

Priest. [To the Bride] Do you, N., of a good, free and uncoerced will and with good intention take to yourself as husband this man, N., whom you see here before you?

Bride. I do, reverend Father.

Priest. You have not committed yourself to any other man.

Bride. I have not, reverend Father.

The Sacrament of Crowning takes place before a table on which is placed the Gospel, the Word of God, and the Cross on which Christ redeemed and saved man by His sacrificial Death.

After the traditional sacramental blessing, "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," the Litany of Peace with added petitions for the Bride and Groom is chanted, the three prayers after the Litany set the theme of Christian marriage.

Marriage is the unique instrument by which God establishes His Kingdom. God blessed the first marriage, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it." (Gen. 1:28) After Man's fall in the Garden, God continues to work out His Divine plan. Now He utilizes marriage as an instrument of the redemption of man. His plan culminates in the birth of the Virgin Mary who conceives of the Holy Spirit, and of her is born a Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. One of the first acts of His earthly ministry is to bless the marriage at Cana of Galilee by His presence and the miracle of changing water into wine. We pray that Christ, the Priest of mystical and pure marriage, by His presence will bless this marriage; "for by Thee is the husband united to the wife, unite them in one mind. Wed them into one flesh. . . ."

Deacon. Bless, master.

Priest. Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. [This response is repeated for every petition of the Litany.

Deacon. For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord:

For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord:

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord:

For the Holy Orthodox Patriarchs, for our Metropolitan N., for our Bishop N., for the honorable Priesthood, for the Deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord:

For the President of these United States, for those in authority, and for all god loving people, let us pray to the Lord:

For the servants of God, N. and N., now being united to each other in the Community of Marriage, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will bless this marriage, as He blessed the marriage in Cana of Galilee, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will grant them chastity. and fruit of the womb for their benefit, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will make them glad in the beholding of sons and daughters, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will grant them the acquisition of virtuous children and of a blameless life, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will grant them and us all our petitions which are for salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

That He will deliver them and us from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord:

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy Grace:

Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. O God most pure, the Creator of every living thing who transformed the rib of Adam our forefather into a woman and blessing them Thou said, "Be fruitful and multiply, and subdue the earth," making of two one flesh. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, so that they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

Thou opened the womb of Sarah, and blessed Thy servant Abraham, making him the father of many nations. Thou gave Isaac to Rebecca, blessing her in childbearing. Thou joined Jacob and Rachel and from them generated the twelve patriarchs. Thou united Joseph and Asenath, and as the fruit of their generation bestowed on them Ephraim and Manasses. Thou accepted Zacharias and Elizabeth, and proclaimed their child the Forerunner. From the root of Jesse in the flesh Thou caused to blossom forth the ever-Virgin, for Thou was incarnate of her; born for the redemption of the human race.

Thou through Thine unspeakable gift and great goodness came to Cana of Galilee, and blessed that marriage, making it clear it is Thy will that there should be lawful marriage and from it the begetting of children. Do Thou, O Master, accept the prayers of Thy servants. As Thou were present at Cana of Galilee, be Thou also present here with Thine invisible presence.

Bless this marriage, and grant these Thy servants, N. and N., a peaceful life, a long life, chastity, love for one another in the bond of peace, gratitude from their posterity, Grace upon their children, a crown of glory which never fades. Make them worthy to see their children's children; preserve their marriage in purity, granting them of the dew of heaven above, and of the fruitfulness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, wine, oil and every good thing, that they may give to those in need. Grant also to, those who are here present with them all their requests which are for their salvation.

For Thou are the God of mercy, compassion and love towards man and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Priest. Blessed are Thou, O Lord our God, the Priest of mystical and pure marriage, and the Ordainer of the marriage of the body. Thou are the Guardian of immortality and the Good Steward of the means of life. In the beginning, O Master, Thou Thyself created man, and appointed him king over Thy creation saying, "It is not good that man should be alone on earth, let us make a helper fit for him." Then taking one of his ribs. God made woman. Adam, seeing her, said, "This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man." For this reason man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

O Master, our Lord and God, send now also Thy heavenly Grace upon these Thy servants, N. and N. Grant that this Thy handmaid may be subject in all things to her husband, and may Thy servant be the head of his wife that they may live according to Thy will.

Bless them O Lord our God, as Thou blessed Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and all the Patriarchs, Joseph and Asenath, Moses and Zipporah, Joachim and Anna and Zachariah and Elizabeth.

Preserve them. O Lord our God. as Thou preserved Noah in the ark, Jonah in the whale and the three Holy Children from the fire, sending upon them the dew from heaven. May that joy, come upon them which the blessed Helena had when she found the precious Cross.

Remember them, O Lord our God, as Thou remembered Enoch, Shem, Elijah, and Thy Forty Holy Martyrs, bestowing upon them crowns from heaven. Remember the parents who have nourished them; for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of houses. Remember also Thy servants, the groomsmen and the bridesmaids, who have come together in this joy.

Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servant, N., and Thy handmaid, N., and bless them. Grant them of the fruit of the body, fair children, harmony of soul and body. Exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon like a fruitful vine. Give them fruitfulness like the full ears of grain, that having sufficiency in all things, they may abound in every work that is good and acceptable to Thee. Let them see their children's children, like a newly planted olive orchard around their table. And having obtained favor before Thee may they shine like stars of heaven in Thee, our Lord.

For unto Thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Priest. O Holy God, who created man from the dust, and from man’s rib made woman joining her to him as a helpmate, for it seemed good to Thy Majesty for man not to be alone on earth. Do Thou now, O Master, extend Thy hand from Thy holy dwelling and unite this Thy servant, N., and this Thy handmaid, N., for by Thee is the husband united to the wife. Unite them in one mind. Wed them into one flesh. Grant them of the fruit of the body and the procreation of fair children.

For Thine is the majesty, and Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

[The Priest then takes the Groom’s crown and bestowing it on him says:]

Priest. The servant of God, N., is crowned unto the handmaid of God. N., in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages or ages. Amen.

[The Priest then takes the Bride’s crown and bestowing it on her says:]

Priest. The handmaid of God, N., is crowned unto the servant of God, N., in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

[The Priest now blesses them thrice, saying:]

Priest. O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor. [Thrice]

The Groom and Bride are crowned (wed) to one another with these words: "O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor." The clowns remind us of the dignity and beauty of marriage as ordained by God for the continuation of the generation and the establishment of His Kingdom. The husband and wife are crowned to be good rulers of a new Christian family, to rule with love, humility, wisdom and patience. Marriage is also a holy martyrdom, like that of the Forty Holy Martyrs who received their heavenly crowns. It is through mutual sacrifice in love that the father and mother establish and nourish the Christian family, the basic unit of the Church. For "as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her," (Eph. 5:25) so they must follow Him and sacrifice in love to create by Grace that unity in which two shall become one.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Reader. And with Thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom.

Reader. The Prokimenon is in the 8th Tone. "Thou hast set a crown of precious stones upon their heads. Life they asked of Thee and Thou gave it to them."

Verse. For Thou will give them Thy blessing forever and ever. Thou will make them glad with the joy of Thy presence.

Deacon. Wisdom!

Reader. The Lesson is from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Reader. (Eph. 5:20-33) Brethren: Always and for everything give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, His Body, and is Himself its Savior. As the Church is subject to Christ, so let wives be also subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any Such thinly, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church, because we are members of His Body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one." This is a great Mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Priest. Peace be unto

Reader. And with Thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom!

Reader. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Choir. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Deacon. Wisdom. O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Choir. And with Thy spirit.

Priest. The Lesson is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John.

Choir. Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. (John 2:1-12) On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus was also invited to the marriage, with His disciples. When the wine failed the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him. "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Choir. Glory to Thee. O Lord, Glory to Thee.

Deacon. Let us say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say:

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon. O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers we pray unto Thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon. Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray unto Thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon. Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation for the servants of God. N. and N., and for the pardon and remission of their sins.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Priest. For Thou art a merciful God and loves mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. O Lord our God, who in Thy saving providence did agree by Thy presence in Cana of Galilee to declare marriage honorable: Do thou the same Lord, now also maintain in peace and harmony Thy servants, N. and N., whom it pleases Thee to join together. Cause their marriage to be honorable. Preserve their life blameless. Mercifully grant that they may live together in purity. Enable them to attain to a ripe old age, walking in Thy commandments with a pure heart.

For Thou art our God, the God whose property it is to show mercy and to save, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen

Deacon. Help us, save us, have mercy on us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon. That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord. [Repeated after each petition.]

Deacon. An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord:

The pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord:

All things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord:

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord:

A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defense before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord:

Asking for the unity of the faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Priest. And make us worthy, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon Thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:

Choir. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.

Priest. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Common Cup of which the Bride and Groom partake together reminds them that Christ is present in their midst now, and that He will remain in their midst as long as they communicate with Him.

In some Churches, during the drinking from the Common Cup, the verse, "I will lift the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord," (Psalm 126, 12) is sung.

It is only in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that every marriage finds its ultimate unity in the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood of which the Common Cup is a reminder.

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Choir. And with Thy spirit.

Priest. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord. have mercy.

Priest. O God who has created all things by Thy might and made fast the round world, and adorned the crown of all things which Thou has made: Bless now with Thy spiritual blessing, this Common Cup, which Thou gives to those who are now united for a Community of Marriage.

For blessed is Thy Name, and glorified is Thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

After blessing the Cup, the Priest gives to drink of it three times to each of them, first to the Groom and then to the Bride. Then the Priest takes them, with the groomsmen behind them holding their crowns, and leads them three times around the table while the Choir sings the following hymn:

Choir. Rejoice, O Isaiah! A Virgin is with child, and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel, both God and man: and Orient is His name, whom magnifying we call the Virgin blessed.

O Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns: Entreat the Lord that He will have mercy on our souls.

Glory to Thee, O Christ-God, the Apostles' boast, the Martyrs' joy, whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.

The Priest now joins the right hands of the Bride and Groom and leads them in procession around the table three times. In some churches the groomsmen follow carrying the crowns above the heads of Bride and Groom. In those churches where the crowns are wreaths of flowers and branches, the Groom and Bride wear their crowns. They walk around the table carrying candles, symbolic of the Light of Christ which is a light unto our feet as we walk in His Way. This is the Church guiding and leading the Groom and Bride in their first steps as Husband and Wife. The Church graphically shows them the way to walk in His way. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." At the center of their journey through life together they must keep the Gospel and the Cross which are on the table. They should light their way with the Light of Christ. Their hands are joined together in their new unity of love in Christ. In the person of the Priest, they are led by the Church, the true Teacher and Guide of Goodness and Perfection. It they walk this way, then indeed their life together will be one of perfect love, peace and joy, and they can hope to attain to that perfect unity in the Holy Trinity symbolized by the circling of the table three times. We pray that truly their hope will be fulfilled and they will receive heavenly crowns having accomplished the real purpose of every Christian marriage: to be instruments of salvation in their circle of love to the furthering of the Kingdom of Heaven itself.

[The Priest removes the Groom’s crown, saying:]

Priest. Be exalted, O Bridegroom, like unto Abraham; and be blessed, like unto Isaac; and multiply like unto Jacob, walking in peace, and keeping the commandments of God in righteousness.

[The Priest removes the Bride’s crown, saying:]

Priest. O Bride: Be exalted like unto Sarah; Lind exult, like unto Rebecca: and multiply, like unto Rachel: and rejoice in your husband, fulfilling, the conditions of the law: for so is it well-pleasing unto God.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord have mercy.

Priest. O God, our God, who came to Cana of Galilee, and blessed there the marriage feast: Bless, also, these Thy servants, who through Thy good providence are now united together in the Community of Marriage. Bless their goings out and their comings in. Replenish their life with good things. Receive their crowns into Thy kingdom, preserving them spotless, blameless, and without reproach, unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Choir. And with Thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To Thee, O Lord.

Priest. May the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial and life-giving Trinity, one Godhead and one kingdom, bless you and grant to you length of days, fair children, prosperity of life and faith, and fill you with abundance of all earthly good things, and make you worthy to obtain the blessings of the promise: through the prayers of the holy Theotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.

Deacon. Wisdom! Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

Choir. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement gave birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify thee.

Priest. Glory to Thee, Christ-God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. Father, bless.

Priest. May He who by His presence at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee declared marriage to be an honorable estate, Christ our true God; through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles, of the holy, God-crowned sovereigns, Constantine and Helena, equal to the Apostles, of the holy Great Martyr Procopius; and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us: forasmuch as he is good and loves mankind.

Choir. Amen.

With this the Priest removes the crowns, bestows on them a final blessing, and sends them forth into the world to work out creatively that unity for which they prayed; that as Husband and Wife they will together attain to the perfect unity of love and peace in Christ Jesus.