The Mystery of Marriage

The Rite of Betrothal

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

People: Amen.

(The Great Litany of Betrothal follow, with special petitions:)

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the servant of God (Name) and (Name), who now are betrothed to each other, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That there may be sent down upon them perfect love, peace, and help, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That they may be granted all their petitions which are for salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the Lord our God will grant them a blameless betrothal and a life without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.

(The Prayer of Betrothal:)

Priest: O Eternal God, who have brought into unity those who were separate, and have ordained for them an indissoluble bond of love; who did bless Isaac and Rebecca, and did show them to be the heirs of Your promise: Do You Yourself bless these Your servants (Name) and (Name), guiding them in every good work. For You are a merciful God and love mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The Exchange of Rings: The Priest takes the rings from the Altar and blesses the couple.)

Priest: The servant of God (Name) is betrothed to the servant of God (Name), in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (3x)

(The sponsors or the Priest exchange the rings three times between the couple, signifying their shared life.)

(The Prayer over the Rings:)

Priest: O Lord our God, who didst accompany the servant of the patriarch Abraham to Mesopotamia, when he was sent to seek a wife for his lord Isaac... do Thou Thyself now bless the putting-on of these rings with a heavenly blessing; and may an Angel of the Lord go before them all the days of their life. For You are He who blesses and sanctifies all things, and to You we offer up glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Rite of Crowning

(The Couple processes to the center of the church holding lighted candles, preceded by the Priest with the censer.)

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. Amen.

(The long prayers of Marriage:)

Priest: O Holy God, who didst fashion man out of the dust, and didst bone him with a helpmate, for it was not well for man to be alone upon the earth... do Thou Thyself now, O Master, send down Your hand from Your holy dwelling place, and unite this Your servant (Name) and this Your servant (Name); for by You is the husband joined unto the wife. Unite them in one mind; crown them in one flesh; grant them the fruit of the womb and the enjoyment of fair children.

Priest: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, the Priest of mystical and pure marriage, the Lawgiver of the marriage of the body, the Guardian of incorruption, the Good Provider of the means of life... You who didst bless Abraham and Sarah, and didst show them to be the parents of nations; who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and didst make their offspring to be multiplied; who didst bless Jacob and all the patriarchs; who didst bless Joseph and Asenath; who didst bless Moses and Zipporah; who didst bless Joachim and Anna... Do You Yourself bless these Your servants (Names), as You didst bless them.

Priest: O God most pure, the Creator of every creature... who didst bless the marriage in Cana of Galilee, and didst show it to be an honorable marriage by Your presence: Do You Yourself preserve in peace and oneness of mind these Your servants, whom You have been well-pleased to unite to each other. Let their marriage be honorable; keep their bed undefiled; grant that their life together may be without reproach; and count them worthy to attain a ripe old age, keeping Your commandments with a pure heart.

(The Crowning: The Priest takes the crowns and blesses the couple.)

Priest: The servant of God (Name) is crowned for the servant of God (Name), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (3x)

Priest (Exclamation): Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor! (3x)

The Word of God

Deacon: Let us be attentive! Wisdom!

(The Epistle: Ephesians 5:20-33 is read.)

Reader: Brethren, give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ... Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church... Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it... For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

(The Gospel: John 2:1-11 is read - The Wedding at Cana.)

Priest: At that time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him: They have no wine... Jesus saith unto them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim... This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.

The Common Cup

(The Lord's Prayer is sung:)

People: 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 evil.

(The Priest blesses a cup of wine:)

Priest: O God, who didst bless the cup in Cana of Galilee by Your presence... do Thou Thyself now bless this common cup, which is offered to those who are joined in the community of marriage. Bless it with Your spiritual blessing, and grant that all who drink from it may be filled with Your grace. For You are our God, who bless and sanctify all things, and to You we offer up glory, thanksgiving, and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The couple drinks from the cup three times, alternating, signifying their shared joys and sorrows.)

The Dance of Isaiah

(The Priest leads the couple three times around the table, while specific hymns are sung.)

People: Rejoice, O Isaiah! A Virgin is with child, and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel! He is both God and man; and Orient is His name! Him do we magnify, and the Virgin do we call blessed!

People: O Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns: intercede with the Lord that He may have mercy on our souls.

People: Glory to You, O Christ our God, the Apostles' boast, the Martyrs' joy, whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity!

(The Removal of Crowns:)

Priest: Be thou magnified, O Bridegroom, like unto Abraham, and be thou blessed like unto Isaac, and be thou multiplied like unto Jacob, walking in peace and performing in righteousness the commandments of God.

Priest: And thou, O Bride, be thou magnified like unto Sarah, and be thou joyful like unto Rebecca, and be thou multiplied like unto Rachel, rejoicing in thine own husband, and observing the limits of the Law, for so God has been well-pleased.

(The Final Blessing:)

Priest: May He who by His presence in Cana of Galilee showed marriage to be honorable, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, God-crowned Kings and Saints equal-to-the-Apostles, Constantine and Helen; of the holy Great-martyr Procopius; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.