The priest will read two short prayers. They remind the couple that God’s love has brought them together, and will sustain them in “peace and oneness of mind” across the marital life cycle. They also remind the couple that they are standing before God, their family and the Church pledging to enter into an “indissoluble bond of love.”
The priest will stand before the couple and bless them in the sign of the cross with their wedding rings.
“The servant of God ______, is betrothed to the servant of God ______, in the name of the Father, Son and holy Spirit.”
This will be done three times. Once this step is complete, the priest will begin with the bride, prayerfully repeating the same pattern.
From an Orthodox perspective, this liturgical action serves to seal the couple’s commitment. No vows are requested or required. The couple’s silent participation in this rite presupposes their commitment, and from an Orthodox perspective is a more than sufficient witness of their dedication to one another. Moreover, the rings they will wear on their fingers henceforth will serve as a silent reminder of this commitment.
The final prayer is also the longest prayer. It serves to provide closure by recapping some of the significant underlying meaning of the rings which have served to seal their commitment to one another. Moreover, numerous Old Testament references remind the couple that God will protect their commitment, and guide their future footsteps, as He protected and guided other faithful before them. This prayer also functions to provide a convenient transition into the second half of the service. One of the final phrases alludes to the couple’s life together as husband and wife:
“and may your angel go before them all the days of their life, for you are he that blesses and sanctifies all things.”
Traditionally, the Wedding Service of the Orthodox Church takes place on a different day to the Betrothal.
The first act is that the Priest hands the couple a candle; which represents light and guidance shown from God. Usually, the candle is white.
Next, the priest crowns them while saying:
“O Lord God crown them with the glory and honour.”
The crowning of the couple is a highly significant part of the service as the crowning is considered to be a symbol that the husband and wife are king and queen of their own kingdom.
The Priest holds the crowns again above the couple’s heads, and recites:
“The servants of God ____ are crowned in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
To conclude the wedding service, there is a Bible reading read out to the congregation. The reading tells of the time when Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine. When the couple are offered wine to drink from the common cup, it is a symbolism of the reading.
As they share the wine from this cup it represents the intent to share the rest of their lives together. By sharing from the common cup, it also signifies that from now one, the couple will be sharing happy times together, aswell as bad.
The couple then walk around the altar, hand in hand, three times. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are each symoblised each time the couple walk around the altar. Walking in a circle also represents never ending love.
In comparison to the Orthodox church, during an Anglican wedding, the service only consistes of one part.
The Priest welcomes the congregation and recites a passage from the Bible about why Christians believe in the importance in marriage, he openly asks the congregation if they know of any lawful impediment as to why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony.
If no reasons are announced, the service continues.
The couple must then recite some vows to one another.
Usually the couple choose to use the traditional vows:
'to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
ill death us do part'
Although in some marriages, the couple choose to use their own vows, as it is more personal and will relate to the couple as an individual aswell.
As the rings are exchanged, the following vows are recited :
'With my body I honour you,
all that I am I give to you,
and all that I have I share with you,
within the love of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.'
Finally, the priest will announce the couple as “husband and wife”.
As shown above, there are many differences between wedding services in the two denominations;
During the Orthodox service, there isn’t a question asked to the congregation if they know of any reason why the couple should not be married, like there is in the Anglican service.
Also, the couple in an Anglican Wedding service, do not once drink from a common cup, get crowned or walk round the altar three times in a circle, like they do during the Orthodox service.
Although the two ceromonies have many differences, they also share many of the same traditions, such as.
During both denominations, and every other Christian wedding service, God is believed to be present and is seen as the third member of the couple.
