THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX WEDDING CEREMONY
The Serbian Orthodox wedding ceremony is a deeply spiritual and symbolic sacrament that celebrates the union of two individuals before God. Rather than vows exchanged between the couple, the emphasis is on God acting for and with the couple to establish the sacred bond of marriage. The solemn occasion is rich in prayer, hymns, and specific rituals that reflect the Orthodox Church's teachings on marriage as a lifelong promise of love, respect, and mutual support throughout their lives.
The service is structured in two distinct parts: the Betrothal and the Crowning. Each step within these parts carries profound meaning, emphasizing that marriage in the Orthodox tradition is not solely an achievement of the couple, but a divine act. Through symbolic rituals like the exchange of rings and the crowning, the ceremony underscores the couple's commitment to one another within the context of their faith.
THE SERVICE OF BETROTHAL
The Orthodox wedding ceremony begins with the Betrothal, a significant step in which the couple formally declares their commitment to each other before God. The Betrothal involves prayers and blessings, culminating in the exchange of rings, symbolizing their lifelong bond.
THE RINGS
After being blessed by the priest, the rings are placed on the right hands of the bride and groom, and the Kum exchanges the rings three times. The rings are a symbol of betrothal, and their exchange signifies that in marriage the weakness of one partner will be compensated by the strength of the other, the imperfections of one, by the perfections of the other. By themselves, the newly betrothed are incomplete, but together they are made whole.
The Rite of Betrothal ends with the priest praying for betrothal of mutual promise, officially given before the church, may prove in true faith, concord and love. Following the Betrothal, the priest leads the bride and groom into the Nave of the Church and into the bonds of Holy marriage, where the Crowning takes place.
THE CANDLES
DONE The bride and groom are each given a lit candle to hold throughout the service. These candles symbolize their individual faith in Jesus Christ, the "Light of the World," and their spiritual willingness to receive His blessing upon their marriage. By holding these illuminated candles, the couple demonstrates their commitment to welcome Christ in their married lives and to be guided by the teachings of the Church as they journey together.
THE EPISTLE
The Epistle is read from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The reading emphasizes the spiritual significance of the union between a man and a woman, reminding us that the bride and groom should love each other as Christ loves the Church.
The Gospel reading recounts the marriage at Cana of Galilee, which was attended and blessed by Christ, and for which He performed His first miracle. There, He turned water into wine and offered it to the newlyweds in remembrance of His blessing.
THE JOINING OF THE HANDS
The right hands of the bride and groom are joined with a white cloth as the priest reads a prayer that asks God to “join these, Thy servants, unite them in one mind and one flesh”. The hands are joined for the remainder of the service to symbolize the unity of the couple.
THE CROWNING
The Crowning marks the high point of the Orthodox wedding service, where the bride and groom are honoured and glorified as the king and queen of their home and family. As the crowning takes place, the priest, taking the crowns and holding them above the couple says, “The servants of God (Peter and Natalie), are crowned in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen”.
The priest then exchanges the crowns three times, symbolizing their shared responsibilities, mutual support, and commitment to uplifting one another as they rule their domestic kingdom with wisdom, justice, and integrity.
THE COMMON CUP
The Rite of Crowning is followed by the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel. Wine is then given to the couple from the Common Cup, which serves as a reminder of the first miracle performed by Jesus at the wedding at Cana of Galilee, where he is said to have turned water into wine.
Drinking wine from the Common Cup serves to impress upon the couple that from that moment on, they will share all aspects of life, both joys and sorrows, and that they are to bear one another’s burdens. Their joys will be doubled, and their sorrows halved, because they will be shared.
THE PROCESSION
The priest leads the couple and witnesses in a circle around the table on which are placed the Gospel and the Cross - the one containing the word of God, the other being the symbol of our redemption by Jesus. The bride and groom are taking their first steps as husband and wife, and the Church, in the person of the priest, leads them in the way they are to walk.
The path is symbolized by the circle at the center of which are the Gospel and the cross of our Lord. During this ceremonial walk around the table which they circle three times, a hymn is sung to the Holy Martyrs, reminding the newly married couple of the sacrificial love they are to have for each other in marriage - a love that seeks not its own but is willing to sacrifice its all for the one loved.
THE BLESSING
At the conclusion of the ceremonial walk the couple return to their place, and the priest blesses the Groom and in turn, the Bride as he removes the crowns. He beseeches God to grant the newlyweds a long, happy and fruitful life together.
The priest then lifts up the Gospel and reads a special prayer, and at the conclusion separates their joined hands.