How long does an Orthodox wedding last? How long does a church wedding last and how to go through the ceremony

The wedding ceremony is divided into several important stages. I'll tell you about each in detail.

Blessing. Before entering the temple, the newlyweds wait for the priest in the vestibule: the groom stands on the right, and the bride on the left, both facing the altar. The priest approaches them, holding two burning candles in his hands as a symbol of purity and chastity. Then he blesses the bride and groom three times, hands them candles and blesses them with cross-shaped incense.
Betrothal - this part of the ritual aims to convey to the young and those present the full importance of the sacrament of marriage, to awaken in their hearts deep respect and awe for this event. It is after the blessing that the priest and the newlyweds go to the temple itself, where the clergyman engages them, after which they put wedding rings on each other three times.
A marriage according to religious canons, during which the bride and groom confirm their voluntary and inviolable intention to enter into a marital union. On the lectern (special table) lie the Gospel, crucifix and crowns. The bride and groom, with lit candles in their hands, kneel in front of this table and swear an oath to the inviolability of their union. The priest reads prayers, after which he baptizes the bride and groom with a crown. Then the young bow their heads under the crowns, drink wine from a special cup, and follow the priest around the lectern. This is followed by the ritual union of two hearts, and the wedding ceremony ends with wishes for many years of family life to the newlyweds and congratulations from the relatives and guests present.

>How long does a church wedding last?

Usually the wedding lasts about one hour and takes place, as a rule, after the Divine Liturgy - between 11:00 and 13:00.

What do you need for a wedding?

Before performing the sacrament, you need to talk with the priest and prepare a wedding pair of icons, candles, and a towel. Wedding rings are required. Peculiarities:

According to Orthodox canons, the bride wears silver jewelry, and the groom wears gold jewelry. This is explained by the fact that a woman personifies the image of the Church, and therefore should, like silver, radiate light and grace. The man is considered the image of Christ, whose Divine Glory is symbolized by gold.
In the future, the things used in the ritual will help. So, candles can be lit during a period of family problems, and icons will give strength, protecting spouses.

What kind of icons should there be?

Icons necessary for pious tradition are called wedding couples. According to tradition, newlyweds must receive a blessing from their parents, and the bride is blessed with an icon Holy Mother of God, and the groom - an icon of the Lord Almighty. Currently, the use of any handwritten image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ is allowed. The wedding icon of the Kazan Mother of God is often used for these purposes.

Conditions for a wedding in the Orthodox Church

Not every official marriage can be blessed and illuminated. There are a number of contraindications and restrictions for getting married in a church, including the age of the newlyweds. So, the future wife must be over 16 years old, and future husband- 18 years. According to church canons, there are days of the week and holidays on which sacred rites cannot be performed.

When can I get married?

Many spouses plan to get married on the day of marriage registration at the registry office. This is a serious intention that should not be rushed. It is better to postpone this decision until the birth of the child or after several years of marriage. When choosing a date for the sacrament, it is important to remember that it is not always possible to perform a church wedding ceremony. Unacceptable days for this: Tuesday, Thursday: they precede fast days. You cannot get married on Saturday - the day before the day off.

On patronal and twelfth holidays, and multi-day fasts, weddings are prohibited. This:

Christmas post: 28.11-06.01;
Cheese week;
Petrov's fast, depending on the date of Easter, lasts 8-42 days;
Assumption Fast: 14.08-27.08;
Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11);
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27);
Christmas time (07.01-19.01);
Maslenitsa;
Bright week after Easter.

Even if you have decided on a date that is not included in the fast, it is worth going to the temple and additionally checking with the priest so that there are no misunderstandings. Other restrictions on holding a church wedding ceremony include: night time, “critical” days for women and permanent holidays such as Christmas, Epiphany, Annunciation, Easter.

Obstacles to marriage

A prerequisite for a wedding is the conclusion of an official marriage. Those getting married must be baptized Orthodox Christians. Although there is an exception to this rule: a non-Orthodox Christian is allowed to get married, provided that the children born will be baptized into Orthodoxy. Other restrictions when the ordinance is not performed include:

unbaptized;
atheists;
living in a civil marriage;
people with blood or spiritual kinship;
fourth official marriage;
mental disorders and diseases.

Preparation

To choose a church for a wedding, you need to walk through different churches and feel “your” place. It is also important to find a priest you like, talk to him, discuss all the details. Then you need to make an appointment for the wedding a few weeks in advance. The issue of cost needs to be discussed in advance: in some churches it is a fixed amount, in others it is a voluntary donation.

The bride and groom should prepare for the wedding not only financially, but also spiritually: confess and receive communion. Without these procedures, the couple will not be able to receive blessings from God in the church. Newlyweds must pray, ask for salvation, forgiveness from the offended, let go of grievances, and pay off debts. Only after their souls are cleansed are spouses allowed to receive communion.

Prayers

Treat your prayers with attention and reverence, because a wedding is not just a ceremony. During the entire sacrament, the Church prays only for the bride and groom, with the exception of prayer for the raising parents. Church ministers, those getting married, witnesses, guests and everyone present should, with their words, thoughts, and prayers, ask God for happiness and a strong family for the spouses. It's important to focus on what's important.

Choosing an outfit for the bride

The wedding dress should cover the shoulders and arms and be no higher than the knees. A deep neckline is not desirable, but you can use a cape, an openwork shawl, a bolero, or a stole. It is better to choose a light color for the outfit; avoid dark and bright ones. Sundresses and trouser suits are not appropriate for this occasion. The bride's head must be covered. A hat is not suitable for this occasion, since during the ceremony the newlyweds wear church crowns.

Shoes can be anything, the main thing is that they are comfortable. You must remain on your feet throughout the entire procedure. The wedding lasts a long time, so it is better to avoid high heels and uncomfortable shoes. Makeup should be light and discreet. It is forbidden to kiss icons, crosses, or crowns with painted lips. The wedding dress is stored with wedding candles, icons, and baptismal shirts. It cannot be sold, given away or given to anyone.

How does the wedding take place?

During the Divine Liturgy, they emphasize the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage and the spiritual purity with which one must approach its conclusion. This is followed by betrothal - the consolidation of the mutual promises of the spouses before the Lord. A heavenly marriage takes place in a church and means that the husband receives a wife from God himself. The engagement is secured with wedding rings, which the priest puts on first to the groom, then to the bride, while saying prayers. Afterwards, the spouses exchange rings three times in honor of the Holy Trinity. Everything ends with a prayer for a Guardian Angel for the new family.

Then comes the wedding:

The newlyweds hold candles in their hands and solemnly follow the priest with a censer to the altar. This means that on its own life path they must follow and keep the commandments of the Lord.
The couple is greeted by the Choir singing Psalm 127, which blesses the marriage.
The newlyweds stand on a white or pink board located in front of the lectern.
The bride and groom once again confirm their voluntary decision to marry, remain faithful and create a union made in heaven.
The wedding ceremony begins with the liturgical exclamation: “Blessed is the Kingdom...”
Then prayers are read, after which the most important moments of the sacrament begin - everything that was asked for in the prayers is accomplished, strengthening and illuminating the future family.
The priest places a crown on the groom and gives him to venerate the image of the Savior. In the same way, he blesses the bride, allowing her to kiss the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The priest reads a prayer for the acceptance of crowns immaculate and undefiled in the Kingdom of God.
Following is the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, which husbands and wives should fully know.

Spouses, adorned with crowns, appear before the face of God Himself, awaiting blessing. The solemn moment comes. After reading the prayers, the priest gives wine to drink first to the groom and then to the bride. Everyone takes 3 sips. Then the priest connects the husband’s right hand with the wife’s right hand, covers them with stole, and places his hand on top. Such a gesture means that through the hand of a clergyman, the husband receives a wife from the Church itself forever in the earthly world.

The young couple walks around the lectern 3 times, from that moment their joint procession began, hand in hand. Having completed the movements, the priest removes the crowns from the married couple, brings them a cross for kissing and hands the image of the Savior to the groom, and the image of the Most Holy Theotokos to the bride. The great sacrament of wedding lasts 45–60 minutes. A church wedding ends with a wedding meal for spouses, guests, and witnesses.

How many times can you get married in Orthodoxy?

A wedding is a responsible decision for two adults. loving people. This is the step that seals the marriage bond and makes it inextricable. If there is a feeling of fear or uncertainty, it is better to wait. Having decided on the sacrament, you should not perceive it as a beautiful church ceremony, and even more so as an obligatory element of the wedding. It's something more. Jesus said in the Bible that people cannot destroy a union blessed by God, but there are situations when a church marriage does break up.

There is no such thing as “debunking,” but the church still recognizes the possibility of dissolving a married union. According to church canons, a Christian is not allowed, but tolerated, a second marriage. Permission can only be obtained by writing a petition addressed to the ruling bishop and submitting the necessary documents. This is followed by a conversation with a priest to explain the reasons for the dissolution of the first marriage. The Church allows remarriage:

widowers;
those who are left with small children;
if one spouse was never married, and the second was divorced not on his own initiative;
after adultery;
in case of criminal punishment of one of the spouses;
in the presence of a disease that is incompatible with the birth of children (AIDS, syphilis);
in the absence of a spouse for more than 3 years;
in case of severe mental illness incompatible with family life(including drug addiction, alcoholism).

According to church rules, a repeated sacrament leads to excommunication from communion for 1-2 years, and for a third wedding – up to 5 years. The temple interprets the second and third marriage as adultery and polygamy. The ceremony will no longer take place the same way as during the first wedding. There will be prayers not only for the happiness of married life, but also for the repentance of those who have deviated from the church rules of marriage. It is permissible to marry for the third time only due to the exclusion of disorder in personal life and fornication. This is not the norm for a believer. The fourth marriage is not considered by the church in any way: it is prohibited.

How to dress for a wedding?

Many couples get married sooner or later: some go to church immediately after registering their marriage, while others decide to get married years after the wedding. In any case, wedding is an important step that requires a serious, balanced approach.

You need to prepare for the wedding: take communion, confess, sign up for the wedding in church. You need to make a list of items that will be needed for the wedding: a marriage certificate, wedding icons, towels, etc. You should definitely think about your appearance.

When registering for a wedding ceremony, the bride and groom need to communicate with the priest and discuss with him, and not with the grandmothers in the church or with the sellers in the church kiosk, all everyday and organizational issues. It is also advisable to ask about how to dress for a wedding.

Perhaps a particular parish has its own requirements regarding the appearance of those getting married. It may happen that there are no special requirements, and then only you will decide how to look at your own wedding. However, there are traditionally established rules for weddings in Orthodox Church, including appearance. Let's talk about these rules.

Appearance of the bride at the wedding

Wedding clothes: bride's wedding dress

Wedding dress: color. White Wedding Dress- This is a tradition that came to us from Europe. In Rus' people got married in dresses of any color. Only one condition was observed - the dress for the wedding in the church had to be light enough, not too bright or colorful. You should not wear a very dark, gloomy dress of dark purple, dark brown or black. All other colors are appropriate.

Wedding dress: length. The length of the wedding dress should not be above the knee. Dresses with a long train for weddings are Catholic tradition. Our brides did not sew dresses with trains. It is unlikely that church ministers will condemn a modern bride who comes to her wedding in a dress with a long train, but if you want to observe Orthodox traditions, give preference to an outfit without a train.

Wedding dress: style. The style can be any, but a closed dress is preferable. Ideally, these are long sleeves, a shallow neckline on the chest, and a closed back. Although the sleeves may be short, the most important thing is to cover your shoulders and not enter the church with a very deep neckline and bare back.

Suitable attire for a wedding

If the wedding is planned on the same day as the wedding at the registry office, the bride faces a dilemma: either get married, get married and attend the wedding reception in a closed dress, or buy two dresses - one, open, for the registry office and banquet, and the other for the church.

Suitable attire for a wedding

Of course, wedding dresses with bodices, sleeveless and open backs are beautiful. But this outfit is not very suitable for church. The option with two dresses may turn out to be expensive.

There is always a solution. Firstly, you can buy a so-called open-closed dress - for example, like Prince William's new wife Kate Middleton. The bustier dress looks modest and respectable thanks to the lace that covers the shoulders and arms.

For Kate, lace is an integral part of the dress, but you can also cover your arms and shoulders with a lace bolero.

Bolero for wedding

Instead of a bolero, you can order or purchase a beautiful shawl, a cape for a wedding (possibly with a hood) or a stole.

By covering her shoulders and arms, the bride will not lose her beauty, but on the contrary, she will look unusually gentle, modest and touching.

You can do without capes if the bride has a long, fluffy veil on her head. A veil will cover exposed areas of the body, and to hide the bareness of your arms, you can wear long gloves.

On a note. It is not customary to sell or give away wedding dresses after the wedding. They, like baptismal shirts, are stored together with wedding icons and candles.

Bride's shoes for wedding

The bride is not recommended to come to church wearing high-heeled dress shoes. The point here is not about Orthodox traditions, but about banal convenience. The wedding ceremony lasts quite a long time - sometimes several hours pass. Standing in heels for so long is a real feat. And if you consider that the bride will already have time to get tired after the wedding at the registry office and that a banquet awaits her in the future, it is all the more worthwhile to make a choice in favor of comfortable ballet flats or sandals with solid soles.

Headdress, bride's hairstyle at a wedding

Everyone knows that a woman must enter the Orthodox Church with her head covered. When deciding on a wedding hairstyle and its decoration, you need to take this into account church rule. Tall complex designs on the head, creative Greek wedding hairstyles or hairstyles with curls can be spoiled under the headscarf worn for the wedding. To avoid this, it is better to immediately plan your hairstyle with a veil.

Elena Morozova/Lori photobank

If the bride's hairstyle is accompanied by a veil, it is not necessary to cover her head before entering the church (provided that the veil covers the top of her head). A suitable option is a wedding veil with a veil.

If you do not plan to wear a veil, choose a wedding hairstyle that will not be damaged under a mantilla, shawl or scarf. The chosen headdress, if it is large enough, can not only cover your head, but also cover open areas of the body: shoulders, décolleté, arms. Ideally, the bedspread should not be completely transparent.

Make sure that the headdress does not fall off during the ceremony. It will bother you. If necessary, pin the shawl with a bobby pin to your hair.

Check with the priest in advance whether the crowns will be put on the head or whether they will be held by witnesses (recipients). If the crown will be worn on the head, it is better to abandon the silk scarf due to its slipperiness.

Elena Shchipkova/Lori Photobank

Makeup for a wedding

Is it possible to attend a wedding with makeup on your face? This cannot be avoided if the wedding takes place on the same day as the marriage registration at the registry office. It's a rare bride who refuses to wear makeup on her wedding day. In principle, there are no strict rules regarding the makeup of a woman going to church.

True, a woman with painted lips is prohibited from kissing a cross, an icon, or a crown. Therefore, before the wedding ceremony, the bride will only need to remove the lipstick from her lips. Of course, the makeup should not be too bright - however, most brides nowadays prefer natural wedding makeup.

Some parishes have their own opinion about makeup, so you should definitely clarify this issue with the priest.

What to wear to a wedding if the ceremony does not take place on the wedding day

Not everyone gets married on their wedding day in a registry office. Many come to this decision several years after entering into a legal marriage, and some get married a couple of days after receiving a marriage certificate.

The bride can wear her wedding dress for the wedding, choosing a bolero, shawl, stole, etc. to cover her head and bare areas of the body. However, you can come to the wedding in any other clothes.

You can order a beautiful wedding dress in a light color - white, cream, beige, pink or light blue: long, closed, with sleeves.

The wedding of Alla Pugacheva and Philip Kirkorov

Or you can wear a simple blouse with long sleeves and a comfortable skirt, but not shorter than knee-length. You can cover your head with a scarf, a flirty hat or even a beret.

Vika Di

Wedding is one of church sacraments, religious rite marriage according to church statutes, literally marriage before God. Only those baptized in Orthodox faith couples who have registered their marriage in the registry office and who are not related to each other. Sacrament of wedding- a serious decision, when taking it, one must take a responsible approach to marriage according to the Orthodox canon, since such a union is not debunked. After an official divorce, you can only receive a blessing for a second wedding, which is given by the archbishop.

The sacrament can take place in the presence of witnesses, but this is not a necessary condition. On the eve of the wedding, the newlyweds need to confess, take communion, to keep the outpost preferably at least three days.
He will explain the meaning of the ceremony and its importance for spouses about to get married.
It is important to consider that Weddings are not held on any day. According to the church charter, the sacrament is not performed during fasting, on the eve of and on religious holidays, and on the eve of one-day fasts (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). Therefore, the expected date of the ceremony must be agreed upon with the clergyman.
Note: a girl is not allowed to participate in the sacraments during menstruation, so it is better choose a date for days that are safe from the point of view of the female cycle.
What is needed to perform the sacrament?
To carry out the ceremony you need wedding icons, candles, a towel, and wedding rings.
Wedding icons- this is a pair of icons, usually the Most Holy Theotokos and Jesus Christ, with which the priest blesses the couple during the ceremony. They can be purchased in advance, or the parents of those getting married can give the icons as a gift.
Candles will be needed during the ceremony; the spouses will hold them in their hands. It’s better to take care of scarves so that when holding lit candles you won’t be afraid of getting burned by the wax. They can also be purchased at the church store. After the ceremony the candles remain with the spouses, they can be lit in front of home icons.
Rushnik It is a piece of white fabric made of cotton or linen, embroidered along the edges. You can sew it yourself if the bride does needlework or purchase a finished product. The only condition for the towel is that it must be white.
Wedding rings can be gold or silver. Naturally, both spouses must be wearing pectoral cross.
How is a wedding ceremony held in a church?
Newlyweds should have a light breakfast in the morning; if in the morning they are going to confess and receive communion before the ceremony, then they should go to church on an empty stomach.
The girl should dress piously, the head and shoulders must be covered with a scarf, the skirt of the dress must be below the knee. Since you will have to stand for a long time, it is better to choose comfortable shoes without heels. The groom is required to remove his headdress when entering the church.
How does the sacrament itself take place? Where, when and with whom does the wedding take place? Procedure in all Orthodox churches happens about the same. Only the person getting married and the priest who will perform the ceremony need to be present at the sacrament. Witnesses, guests, church choir - at the request of the wedding couple.
The wedding ceremony can be divided into two parts: betrothal and wedding.

First, the clergyman betroths the couple, and they officially become engaged. The couple exchange rings three times. Then they are led into the temple, sanctifying the path with a censer. Afterwards, the priest, blessing the spouses, hands them lit wedding candles. The newlyweds with candles stand on a towel spread on the floor in front of a stand for theological books, on which the wedding crowns lie. The priest places them on the heads of those getting married, witnesses hold crowns, or they are put on the heads of the newlyweds. Then prayers are read to bless the family and grant them family well-being. The priest sanctifies the wine, gives each of the wedding couple to drink from the cup of wine three times, then joins the hands of the spouses together and covers them with the stole, which symbolizes the inseparability of their union.
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After prayers and blessings, a procession of the cross is made three times around the lectern, the priest leads the young, witnesses follow them, holding their crowns. Upon completion procession the priest takes off the crowns, the spouses kiss the images of the Blessed Virgin and the Savior and receive the wedding icons from the hands of the priest.
What should witnesses do during a wedding? The guarantors hold the crowns, hand out the rings, spread out the towel

This is a general wedding scenario. How long does the sacrament last? usually 40-60 minutes. After the ceremony, you can celebrate the sacrament with a meal, but the church warns against too noisy celebrations and an overly rich festive table, recalling the importance of modesty and limiting oneself.
If guests are present at the ceremony, then after the ceremony the newlyweds are given flowers, gifts, congratulations sound- like at a wedding. It is important that all those invited to the sacrament follow the rules on how to behave in the temple.
There are signs that relate to wedding candles, supposedly whichever one goes out first, the spouse holding it will die first of the couple.
The Church calls not to believe in stupid superstitions, not to succumb to fears based on beliefs

When asking yourself the question of how to get married correctly, you should discuss all the details with the priest. There is no need to be afraid to ask or clarify something, even if the question seems stupid, it is better to voice it so as not to get lost in guesswork. Some priests even advise listening to a sermon, going to church and getting closer to church life before going to get married. Still, a wedding is not just a process consisting of certain actions, it is something more.
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The Slavic wedding ceremony was carried out in a similar way, only instead of wedding crowns on the heads of young people laid wreaths, hence the name - wedding. Only the customs were much stricter; it was believed that a girl who was not pure, that is, was not a virgin, could not get married, and without this condition the ceremony could not be carried out.
Photo and video shooting at a wedding
Photography and video recording of the wedding sacrament allowed, but not in all churches, so it’s better to ask the clergyman for permission in advance. It is important to remember that in church you need keep quiet, so the photographer must move carefully, without interfering with the young people, the priest, or the guests during the ceremony.
Do not use the flash or click the shutter too often so as not to interfere with the sacrament.

Despite the limitations placed on a photographer's work, there are many angles and ways to take great photos that will last a long time.
Because the church is the house of God, then it is better to conduct a photo shoot on the street after the ceremony. A wedding photo shoot is an important moment for the newlyweds, but it is by no means the key moment in the ceremony. The wedding photos will make a wonderful photo book, which can be combined with photos from the painting in the registry office.
What should not be done after the wedding of spouses?
The requirements after the wedding do not differ from the requirements of general morality. There is no need to perceive a wedding as a duty or imposition of morality. Wedding is marriage before God, therefore, after the wedding you need to maintain the desire to live your whole life hand in hand with your other half.
Do not forget that the wedding ceremony is a delicate process and to understand the full picture of what is happening, you can watch wedding sacrament video.
31 May 2018, 21:21

A wedding is not an action, not a ritual, and, especially, not a tribute to fashion, as many people believe today. This is one of the oldest rites of the Orthodox Church. In him secret meaning literally every action, word, step is imbued. That's why wedding ceremony and is called the “sacrament of wedding,” and each of its participants must know what exactly it carries.

The essence, meaning and significance of the ritual

The explicit (that is, known to everyone) meaning of the rite is obvious: the ceremony marks the creation of a new family before the bright face of God and the Saints. And the clergyman acts as a guide for the newly formed couple to well-being, sanctified by heaven. The secret meaning of a wedding fills each stage of a special process. There are 3 of them in total:

betrothal (when the newlyweds exchange rings);
the actual wedding (expression good will lovers and laying crowns over their heads);
reading a prayer service.

Each of the steps that the bride and groom must go through is filled with meaning. So, they exchange rings three times (after the priest is the first to place symbols of the unity of the new family on their hands) as a sign of the inflexibility of their decision. The meaning of wedding as part of the ritual, it is special: young people must voice before God their consent to share all the hardships and joys with their loved one until their last days.

The crowns over their heads are a sign of God’s participation in the life of the young family, accepting it under the protection of heaven. A prayer of praise is gratitude for the high feeling with which heaven has endowed a person, which cannot be described in words, explained by science and must be carefully guarded, preserved and stored in the heart.

The wedding took place in the Church of St. Nicholas in the village. Angelovo.

The wedding itself begins in the temple, where the clergyman brings (first) the bride and groom. What is also important: having decided to take an important step, people in love follow the “guide” to the House of God to ask for help in creating a new life - their family and their children. But to get here, they still must fulfill a number of conditions.

Preparation for the wedding

The wedding rules themselves cannot be called strict or numerous. Today the Church is not so demanding of young people: it is already permitted to receive communion and confession both on the day of the ceremony and three days before the event (whereas previously this had to be done no earlier than a week before the marriage). In addition, the ritual is semantic, that is, by default it assumes the correct actions of the participants.

Anyway preparation for a wedding in the Church involves solving three questions:

studying the rules of behavior in the church;
carrying out organizational activities;
preparing attributes for a wedding.
searching for the services of a professional and videographer.

Rules of Conduct in the Church

A conversation with the clergyman before the ceremony will help you figure out the first point (and it is mandatory, because it is during this meeting that the priest will determine whether he agrees to marry the couple, and the newlyweds will choose a priest). In general, the rules will be the same for everyone:

dress correctly (even if it is carried out summer wedding, the heads and shoulders of all women in the church must be covered with a special cape for weddings, dresses and skirts no longer than the knees, sometimes, the shoulders cannot be exposed. It all depends on the priest’s requirements);
not turning your back on the icons is the most important and serious requirement: they come to the Church for blessing, protection, recognition, they should not express disrespect for the Saints who protect this place;
when deciding how to prepare for a wedding, the newlyweds will probably think about taking photos or videos, but to do this they first need to get permission (well, if the invited cameraman has already worked in the church, he probably knows how to get it).

Organizational aspects

As for organizing the process, there are 5 points on the list of preliminary questions for the bride and groom:

When to get married: it is believed that the most favorable days for wedding- the days of the autumn harvest (in September-October), but there are no strict restrictions here, although the Church does not hold ceremonies during everyone large fasts, important church holidays, as well as on even days of the week.
Who will film the wedding and where: you can arrange reportage filming before and after entering the church, or you can negotiate with the priest and make a real movie.
To figure out, what do you need for a wedding.
Prepare for communion and confession: it is advisable to begin fasting and pray for the cleansing of the soul a week in advance.
Learn the "script" and the correct words: wedding oath pronounced only once in a lifetime, isn’t it important that it sounds firmly, confidently and loudly from the lips of lovers?

Semantic symbolism and attributes of the wedding ceremony

Every action, every step, even the thoughts of the newlyweds during the wedding should be filled with deep meaning, the solemnity of the moment, the importance of what is happening. And yet the deepest meaning, the strongest message is determined by these little things - the symbols and attributes of the process. Therefore, listening to the clergyman’s story about what do you need for a wedding, you should pay very close attention to his instructions. So, the list of necessary things is small, but the requirements for them are strict:

wedding towels on which the newlyweds will stand should be snow-white, because they symbolize both the new road and the purity of the event;
the same goes for the bride's dress that is worn for a wedding: it should be white, like the soul of a beautiful girl in love;
but the groom’s outfit should be dark, demonstrating that the husband is in the shadow of the radiance of his beloved’s goodness;
the newlyweds should keep the candles lit throughout the ceremony (it’s hard to say How long does a wedding last? for everyone, but, as a rule, this is no less than an hour and a half), so they should be thick and long (preferably also white);
rings are traditionally chosen in gold, but here the Church is not so strict: silver and platinum as the main metals, gems for decoration there are practically no prohibitions.

In addition to themselves, young people should also think about the appearance of their guests, as well as invited specialists. Witnesses, friends and parents at the wedding should be smart, but not too brightly dressed. Women's heads are covered, nothing should be in their hands (phones, combs, bouquets of flowers should be put aside). On this day, the entire Church (including parishioners - guests of the young) should pray only for the new family. Only one prayer will be sung for the parents of the young, the rest - for the new union. Participants in these prayers must not be allowed to be distracted by anything.

How not to get confused and lose the meaning of the event in the pre-wedding race?

Except over the questions, what to wear to a wedding, what to buy there, you have to think about other aspects of pre-wedding preparation. It is obvious that it is easy for young people to get lost in this turmoil. How can they not get distracted by trifles, understand and feel the meaning of such an important matter, manage everything and not miss anything?

The main rule is to take your time: talk with the priest, listen to his instructions about the paraphernalia, and about the process itself, and about the attire for the wedding in the Church for the bride and groom. And then - discuss the same issues with the operator, sequentially stipulating each step of the ceremony, permissions, the appearance of the master, his route of movement and other basic issues.

A good specialist, by the way, will tell the young people just as well as a priest how everything will go, show them how best to move and what to do after the wedding. After all, with the baptism of lovers husband and wife, the triumph of their love is just beginning.

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Description: The ceremony, the meaning and meaning of the wedding, favorable days for the wedding. Summer wedding. What is needed for a wedding, how to dress and what to wear to a wedding. The oath at the wedding and how long the wedding lasts. Preparing for a wedding in church, parents at the wedding

A wedding is an important event in everyone's life. Christian family. It is rare when couples get married on their wedding day (in order to immediately “kill two birds with one stone”) - in most cases, couples still approach this issue thoughtfully, realizing the importance of this rite and experiencing a sincere and mutual desire to become a full-fledged family, according to church canons .

How does this ritual take place, and what do you need to know about it?

How to prepare for the sacrament of wedding correctly?

A wedding is not a wedding where they walk for 3 days, fall on their faces in a salad and hit each other with their faces according to tradition. A wedding is a sacrament through which a couple receives a blessing from the Lord to live their whole lives together in sorrow and joy, to be faithful to each other “until the grave”, to give birth and raise children.

Without a wedding, a marriage is considered “incomplete” by the Church. And, of course, it must be appropriate. And we are not talking about organizational issues that are resolved in 1 day, but about spiritual preparation.

A couple who takes their wedding seriously will definitely take into account those requirements that some newlyweds forget about in pursuit of fashionable wedding photos. But spiritual preparation is an important part of a wedding, as the beginning of a new life for a couple - with a clean (in every sense) slate.

Preparation includes a 3-day fast, during which you need to prepare for the ceremony prayerfully, and also abstain from intimate relationships, animal food, bad thoughts, etc. In the morning before the wedding, the husband and wife confess and receive communion together.

Video: Wedding. Step-by-step instruction

Betrothal - how is the wedding ceremony carried out in the Orthodox Church?

Betrothal is a kind of “introductory” part of the sacrament that precedes the wedding. It symbolizes the consummation of a church marriage in the face of the Lord and the consolidation of the mutual promises of a man and a woman.

It’s not for nothing that betrothal takes place immediately after the Divine Liturgy – the couple is shown the importance of the sacrament of marriage and the spiritual trepidation with which they should enter into marriage.
Betrothal in the temple symbolizes the husband's acceptance of his wife from the Lord himself : the priest brings the couple into the temple, and from that moment their life together, new and pure, begins in the face of God.
The beginning of the ritual is censing : the priest blesses the husband and wife 3 times in turn with the words “In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In response to the blessing, everyone overshadows himself sign of the cross(note - baptized), after which the priest hands them already lit candles. This is a symbol of love, fiery and pure, which a husband and wife should now have for each other. In addition, candles are a symbol of the chastity of men and women, as well as God's grace.
Cross censing symbolizes the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit next to the couple.
Next comes a prayer for the betrothed and for their salvation (souls) , about the blessing for the birth of children, about the fulfillment of those requests of the couple to God that relate to their salvation, about the blessing of the couple for every good deed. After which, everyone present, including the husband and wife, should bow their heads before God in anticipation of the blessing while the priest reads a prayer.
After the prayer to Jesus Christ comes the betrothal : the priest puts a ring on the groom, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross 3 times. Next, he puts a ring on the bride, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross three times. It is important to note that the rings (which the groom must give!) symbolize an eternal and indissoluble union at the wedding. The rings lie, until they are put on, on the right side of the holy throne, which symbolizes the power of consecration in the face of the Lord and his blessing.
Now the bride and groom must exchange rings three times (note - in the word of the Most Holy Trinity): the groom puts his ring on the bride as a symbol of his love and willingness to help his wife until the end of his days. The bride puts her ring on the groom as a symbol of her love and readiness to accept his help until the end of her days.
Next is the priest’s prayer for the Lord’s blessing and betrothal of this couple , and sending them a Guardian Angel who will guide them in their new and pure Christian life. The betrothal ceremony ends here.

Video: Russian wedding in the Orthodox Church. Wedding ceremony

The sacrament of a wedding - how does the ceremony take place?

The second part of the sacrament of marriage begins with the bride and groom entering the middle of the temple with candles in their hands, as if carrying the spiritual light of the sacrament. In front of them is a priest with a censer, which symbolizes the importance of following the path of the commandments and offering up their good deeds as incense to the Lord.

The choir welcomes the couple by singing Psalm 127.

Next, the couple stands on a white towel spread out in front of the lectern. : both, in the face of God and the Church, confirm their free will, as well as the absence in their past (note - on each side!) of promises to marry another person. The priest asks these traditional questions to the bride and groom in turn.
Confirmation of a voluntary and inviolable desire to marry secures a natural marriage , who is now considered a prisoner. Only after this does the sacrament of marriage begin.
The wedding ceremony begins with the couple’s declaration of participation in the Kingdom of God and three lengthy prayers – to Jesus Christ and to the Triune God. After which the priest signs (in turn) the bride and groom with a crown in the shape of a cross, “crowning the servant of God...”, and then “crowning the servant of God...”. The groom must kiss the image of the Savior on his crown, the bride must kiss the image of the Mother of God that adorns her crown.
Now the most important moment of the wedding begins for the bride and groom wearing crowns. , when with the words “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!” the priest, as a link between people and God, blesses the couple three times, reading a prayer three times.
Blessing of marriage by the Church symbolizes the eternity of the new Christian union, its indissolubility.
Afterwards there is a reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians by St. apostle paul , and then the Gospel of John about the blessing and sanctification of the marriage union. Then the priest pronounces a petition for the newlyweds and a prayer for peace in the new family, honesty of marriage, integrity of cohabitation and life together according to the commandments until old age.
After “And grant us, O Master...” everyone reads the prayer “Our Father.” (it should be learned in advance if you did not know it by heart before preparing for the wedding). This prayer on the lips of a married couple symbolizes the determination to do the will of the Lord on earth through their family, to be devoted and submissive to the Lord. As a sign of this, the husband and wife bow their heads under their crowns.
They bring the “cup of fellowship” with the Cahors , and the priest blesses it and serves it as a sign of joy, offering to drink wine three times, first to the head of the new family, and then to his wife. They drink wine in 3 tiny sips as a sign of their inseparable existence from now on.
Now the priest must join the right hands of the newlyweds and cover them with stole (note - a long ribbon on the priest’s neck) and place your palm on top, as a symbol of the husband receiving his wife from the Church itself, which in Christ united these two forever.
The couple is traditionally led around the lectern three times : on the first circle they sing “Isaiah, rejoice...”, on the second - the troparion “Holy Martyr”, and on the third Christ is glorified. This walk symbolizes the eternal procession that begins from this day for the couple - hand in hand, with a common cross (the hardships of life) for two.
Crowns are removed from spouses , and the priest welcomes the new Christian family with solemn words. Then he reads two prayers of petition, during which the husband and wife bow their heads, and after finishing they imprint a pure mutual love a chaste kiss.
Now, according to tradition, married spouses are led to the royal doors : here the head of the family must kiss the icon of the Savior, and his wife - the image of the Mother of God, after which they change places and again kiss the Images (only in reverse). Here they kiss the cross, which the priest offers, and receive from the minister of the Church 2 icons, which can now be kept as a family heirloom and the main amulets of the family, and passed on to future generations.

After the wedding, candles are kept in the icon case at home. And after the death of the last spouse, these candles (according to the old Russian custom) are placed in the coffin, both of them.

The task of witnesses at a wedding ceremony in a church - what do guarantors do?

Witnesses must be believers and baptized - a friend of the groom and a friend of the bride, who after the wedding will become the spiritual mentors of this couple and their prayer guardians.

The task of witnesses:

Hold the crowns over the heads of those getting married.
Give them wedding rings.
Lay a towel in front of the lectern.

However, if witnesses do not know their duties, this is not a problem. The priest will tell the guarantors about them, preferably in advance, so that there are no “overlaps” during the wedding.

It is important to remember that a church marriage cannot be dissolved - the Church does not give divorces. The exception is the death of a spouse or his loss of mind.

And finally - a few words about the wedding meal

A wedding, as stated above, is not a wedding. And the Church warns against possible indecent and irreverent behavior of all those present at the wedding after the sacrament.

Decent Christians dine modestly after a wedding, and do not dance in restaurants. Moreover, at the modest wedding feast there should not be any indecency or intemperance.

The wedding ceremony appeared more than two thousand years ago along with the birth of Christianity. Previously, to conduct it, the bride and groom had to inform their priest in advance. After which he conveyed the news to the parishioners, and if there were no objections, then the newlyweds were allowed to attend the wedding. Today such consent is not required, the desire of the couple is sufficient, but the traditions of the ritual itself are carefully respected and performed from century to century. The Svadbaholik.ru portal will tell you how to prepare for a wedding and what happens during the ceremony.

How is the wedding procedure carried out?

In accordance with how the wedding takes place in the church, the entire future spiritual life of the couple develops.

The sacrament of church marriage itself begins with betrothal. After the completion of the special service, the bride and groom stand on opposite sides of the altar, on the right and left, respectively. The witnesses line up in the same way, the man on the right, the woman on the left. Then the priest blesses the newlyweds three times and presents them with two special wedding candles, which symbolize the happy meeting of the couple. If the wedding is not the first time for one of the couple, then candles do not participate in the ceremony.

After this, the priest pronounces the necessary words, makes the sign of the cross at the groom and puts it on his head. ring finger right hand wedding ring. Then he does the same with the bride. Let us note that the words of the priest at the wedding are strictly regulated and defined by the church canon.

The betrothal ritual ends with the young couple exchanging rings three times as a sign of unanimity and love. Until the moment of betrothal, the rings themselves are on the altar, on its right side, then the deacon takes them out on a special tray.

Following the engagement comes the wedding itself. In the Orthodox Church, it takes place somewhat in the same way as a Catholic wedding, but with greater severity and regulation. The priest takes the crown in his hands as a sign of Eternal Life (hence the name of the ceremony), crosses it over the groom and allows him to kiss the image of the Savior attached to the front of the crown. The bride is blessed in exactly the same way, only she needs to venerate the image of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Then the wedding process requires that the newlyweds stand on a large white or pink scarf spread on the floor and which signifies the purity of married life. While there, they confirm to those present and to God the voluntary nature of their intention to create a married couple.

At the end of the wedding, the bride and groom are presented with a cup of red wine, symbolizing the common fate of the couple with all its joys and sorrows. The priest reads a prayer over her, baptizes her three times and hands her over to the young people. They take turns drinking all the wine in three doses, after which their right hands are joined and covered with stole. According to the laws of weddings in the Orthodox Church, after this the priest leads the newlyweds three times around the lectern as a symbol of the new married life.

At the end of the solemn procession, the crowns are removed from the bride and groom, and the priest welcomes the new married couple who have entered into an alliance in the face of God. Each of the newlyweds kisses the icon of the Savior and Mother of God at the Royal Doors (doors that lead to the altar). Finally, the ceremony is considered completed, the newly-made couple receives two icons as a gift and accepts public congratulations on the beginning of a new life.

What does the priest say during the wedding?

Wedding regulations in Orthodox tradition involves a set of obligatory words from the priest addressed to the young. In accordance with the procedures during a wedding, each of them in the Orthodox Church has its own message:

How long does the preparation take and how long does the wedding ceremony take place in the church?

The duration of the preparatory period depends only on the newlyweds themselves. During this time, they will have to purchase everything they need for the wedding, meet the priest who will perform the ceremony and tell them how to celebrate the wedding and choose an outfit.

The betrothal and wedding ceremonies themselves in the church last as long as it takes to carry out all the above procedures step by step. Typically, this occurs within forty minutes to one hour.

According to the requirements of some priests, couples are required to fully defend the service in the morning and receive communion. Only after this are they allowed to get engaged and married. In this case, the procedure can last up to five hours. How to celebrate the wedding ritual, and whether it is worth doing it at all, the newlyweds already decide on their own; there are no clear rules on this matter.

A wedding in the Orthodox tradition is a very important ceremony, which has its own clear regulations and drama. The portal site is sure that by going through it, you enter into an alliance before God and give birth to a happy family.