Doxology – A Doxology does not request anything specifically from God, but instead serves to ask both the couple and the audience to glorify Him.
Opening Petitions – These petitions are a list of requests to God and asks him to bless everyone in attendance, to bless the couple with love and peace and to bless the couple with children in the future. This is meant to symbolize the needs of a Christian couple for marital well-being.
Two Short Prayers – These talk about the theological truths surrounding marriage. The prayers acknowledges that the couple is standing before God, with their family and friends as witnesses, pledging to enter into an “indissoluble bond of love.”
The Exchange of Rings – Once these two prayers are recited, they are followed by the exchanging of rings. The rings are prayed over three times for the groom and three for the bride, while the couple stands in silence. The prayer used is, “The servant of God Andronikos, is betrothed to the servant of God Ashley Ann, in the name of the Father, Son and holy Spirit.” They are then placed on the right hand and Kostas– the Koumbaro (the person asked to be your sponsor and is of Greek Orthodox faith) – will exchange the rings three times, placing the groom’s ring on the bride’s finger, and vis versa. This action seals the commitment of the couple and is the equivalent of them saying “I do,” since the bride and groom do not speak during the wedding service.
The Closing Prayer – The closing prayer is the longest prayer during this section of the service. It offers an overview and significance, and underlying meaning of the rings, their symbolic seal, and lifetime commitment to one another.
The Crowning
Psalm 127/128 – This section begins with a recital of Psalms 127 and 128, which states that all the couple is blessed with in the future is provided by God.
Doxology – After the Psalms are recited, the father signifies the start of the Crowning Service by saying the Doxology.
Wedding Candles – Now, the father will light two candles, both from the same flame and present them to the bride and groom. The candle flame is symbolic and represents the divine light that has come into the world through Christ.
Petitions – This starts with an introductory general petition from the father and then changes to a series of requests made to God on behalf of both the bride and groom.
Three Prayers – These prayers are relatively lengthy and with the help of the Old Testament, metaphors, and references tell the story of a loving God. Then the prayers are coming to a close, the father stands before the bride and groom and reads, “O Sovereign Lord, stretch forth your hand from your Holy dwelling place, and join together this your servant Andronikos and your servant Ashley Ann.” He will then join their right hands together. This ritual invokes the imagery that a new couple has been created and a new family has been established in His presence
Crowning – is when the couple’s hands are joined; the wedding crowns will be blessed by the father.(the crowns are usually the koumbaro’s gift to the couple. We are so lucky that Kostas’ very creative mother, Stella, created them for us! Thank you Mrs. Stella!) The following statement is recited three times in front of the groom and then three times in front of the bride.
Scripture Readings – After the crowning, Scriptures are read. The Scriptures summarizes the beliefs of the Orthodox church on marriage.
The Lord’s Prayer – Everyone joins in to say the lord’s prayer. “Our Father who are in heaven…” Feel free to pray language in your mother tongue. The prayer is the same, just different languages.
Drinking From The Common Cup – The bride and groom will drink from the Common Cup, which contains blessed wine, three times each. This displays the bitter and sweet moments the couple will share throughout their lives.
The Procession or The Dance of Isaiah – After the bride and groom each drink three times from the Common Cup, the father, the bride and groom, and Kostas will walk around the table. These are the first steps the couple take as husband and wife, and are done so in the presence of God.