Advice on marital happiness from a black priest at a Russian-English wedding

Recently, many have become interested in: how to properly conduct an Orthodox wedding? Moreover, this question is asked even by people who have a good education. For example, Mikhail, a university teacher from Novosibirsk, asks on the Orthodox website Tatyana’s Day:

How should Orthodox people celebrate a wedding?

Orthodox website Tatiana's Day

This is a very important question, since Orthodox marriage is a sacrament, as a result of which the bride and groom receive the blessing and grace of God. That is why the Orthodox wedding ceremony is divided into 6 stages, which must be strictly observed.

The family in Christianity is a “small church”

In the Orthodox Church, a church marriage or wedding is a Christian marital union of a man and a woman, concluded through a sacred ceremony in a religious community. This is how it differs from a civil marriage, which is concluded in a state institution or a registry office. In historical churches, marriage is considered a sacrament of the church.

"Wedding". N.P. Bogdanov-Belsky. 1904 In marriage, spouses receive the grace and blessing of God, since wedding is one of the Church Sacraments

According to church teaching, in this sacrament the bride and groom, who are united by love and mutual consent, receive the grace and blessing of God. They are necessary for mutual consent in married life, the blessed birth of children and their upbringing in the Christian faith.

The ultimate goal of an Orthodox marriage is the salvation of all family members. This is why in Christianity the family is called the “small church.”

In the Holy Scriptures, the second chapter of the Book of Genesis is dedicated to marriage.

The sacrament of marriage belongs to the type of sacraments that originate from Old Testament times. Moreover, according to Gen. 2:18 The purpose of marriage is not only procreation, but also spiritual-physical unity and mutual assistance. The Fathers of the Church say that the commandment “be fruitful and multiply” applies to both humans and other living beings.

In the Bible, the second chapter of the Book of Genesis is dedicated to weddings.

In the Holy Scriptures, namely in the Old Testament, the entire second chapter of the Book of Genesis is devoted to marriage. According to it, the meaning and purpose of marriage is eternal and indivisible unity in the image of the Persons of the Holy Trinity.

This is exactly how the Bible describes the heavenly marriage of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:18).

Eve is led to Adam. Mosaic of the Cathedral in Montreal, 12th century. Marriage or the union of the male and female principles into one flesh appeared before the Fall in Paradise through the marriage of Adam and Eve, blessed by God

It should be noted that the Holy Scripture says that the unification of the two sexes - male and female into one flesh, or the establishment of the institution of marriage, occurred even before the Fall in Paradise.

That is why it would be a mistake to recognize the fact that marriage was established after the Fall.

The revelation of the divine plan for marriage occurs during the conversation of Jesus Christ with the Pharisees.

(Matt. 19:3)

The attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to marriage is expressed in the “Fundamentals of the Social Concept”, adopted in 2000.

See also the article Why you can’t get married during Lent

“We both had bruises and abrasions.”

After moving, I literally became pregnant immediately. My husband did not use a condom - he said it was inconvenient - and we protected ourselves by coitus interruptus. I perceived pregnancy as a tragedy: our family was not ready for new responsibility. But there was no thought of having an abortion - for me it was unacceptable.

Sasha drank a lot, lived in a separate room from my daughter and me and was completely indifferent to us. There was always not enough money: I didn’t work, and Sasha, although he brought in a salary, could take any amount at any time and spend it. We might not have money for bread, but we always had money for alcohol.

At the same time, the parishioners in the temple doted on him and considered him almost a saint. They said that he would always find the right words and if he needed help, he would definitely provide it. For some reason, his exploits did not extend beyond his arrival.

A month later, I couldn’t stand it and left for my hometown, supposedly to deal with the institute, but in reality just to get away from Sasha. In September he wrote that he would soon be ordained a priest and it would be good if we returned and supported him. I refused, and he was terribly offended. We didn’t communicate for a long time, but then correspondence began again, where he convinced me that he had rethought everything. His interest in the child became stronger when it turned out that we were having a boy: he was happy about the heir. I decided that I needed to try to save the family and that the children needed a dad: I myself grew up without a father and I know how difficult it is.

Soon Grisha was born - a healthy and beautiful baby. My husband was very happy about the birth of his son, called us back and convinced us that he had changed. At the same time, he continued to drink and said that if a man doesn’t drink, he’s not a man. If I argued with him, he would turn the conversation around in such a way that I remained guilty and ended up doubting that I was right. I blamed myself for our quarrels.

My husband and I moved in together again and moved into a private house. It was very difficult for me: I had to combine caring for home and children with remote work in order to have my own money. It was then that my husband raised his hand to me for the first time. One day, Sasha once again showed up drunk, started arguing with me and getting in the way of the children - this was the last straw. Out of anger, I pushed him, and he responded by getting into a fight. We both had bruises and abrasions. I didn’t go to the police: I didn’t have the strength or resources to prove I was right.

An Orthodox wedding has six stages

An Orthodox wedding includes six stages, and not all of them are related to the wedding. Each region has its own traditions of wedding celebrations, but the following points are almost always observed:

• matchmaking or family negotiations on the part of the bride and groom;
• bridesmaid viewing or the arrival of the bride's relatives to the house of the future groom in order to assess his financial capabilities;
• engagement or betrothal;
• hen or stag party, the purpose of which is to say goodbye to bachelorhood;
• sacrament of wedding;
• wedding celebrations.

Matchmaking.
To Tetmeier. 1895 Matchmaking is one of the six stages of an Orthodox wedding. Unlike the wedding of non-believers, the wedding of Orthodox Christians should be modest, without excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is also not welcomed when the bride and groom stay late at night with guests, participating in a festive feast.

It would be optimal if after the first part of the wedding meal the newlyweds leave. This was often done in ancient times, because newlyweds needed to take a break from the tedious marriage ceremony and be together as husband and wife.

Bridal clothes

There are practically no rules for the groom, except that the clothes must be clean and decent.

There are a number of requirements for the bride’s appearance.

• Shoes must be closed and stable. This is due to the fact that the ceremony takes a long time, and to prevent your feet from getting tired, your shoes should be comfortable.
• The veil should not be too long, and the dress should not be too fluffy, otherwise the bride becomes flammable - the fabric can easily catch fire from the flame of a candle, of which there will be many around.
• The hairstyle should not be voluminous, otherwise there will be big problems with putting on crowns
• You should not use bright makeup - the bride will have to kiss the icons, and they will deteriorate under the influence of lipsticks and products with which they will then have to be cleaned.
• The chest, arms and shoulders must be covered. If the dress cannot cope with this, you should use a cape.

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In an Orthodox marriage, wife and husband become one flesh

According to the Christian Church, a husband and wife in marriage become one flesh forever. Such a sacrament of union can only be destroyed by the sin of adultery.

That is why spouses bear mutual responsibility for the safety of the marriage union. Jesus Christ says this about it:

“...and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

(Matt. 5:19)

The Russian Orthodox Church distinguishes three rites of marriage.

Great breviary. It contains a description of the three rites of marriage

The Russian Orthodox Church distinguishes three rites for the celebration of marriage:

• the succession of the great wedding. He says it in ch. 16 - 19 of the Great Trebnik. This rite is performed when one of the spouses marries for the first time;
• follow-up on a second marriage. The description of the rank is in chap. 21 of the Great Breviary and it is fulfilled when both those getting married remarry;
• the subsequent church consecration of the union of spouses who have lived together for many years without a church blessing.

Spread of the section “On those getting married” in the metric book of the village of Skirki, Vyshnevolotsk district, Tver province.
1903 The fact of the Wedding, in addition to the bride and groom, must be confirmed by witnesses, putting signatures under the corresponding entries in the metric book. The wedding procedure in the Russian Orthodox Church has been constantly improved. In 1775, the Synod decided to perform the rites of betrothal and wedding at the same time. An exception to this rule was made only for persons of the imperial family.

Since 1802, at the Wedding, in addition to the bride and groom, it became mandatory to present witnesses who confirmed the accomplished act of Marriage with their signatures in the metric book of the temple.

Wedding registration text.

Most likely, he or she will talk about the seriousness of the formal vow you will take and the new life you will begin.

MARRIAGE VOWS

SECOND READING AND SONG

EXCHANGE OF RINGS AND GIFTS The bride and groom say something like “I (name) present you with (name) this ring as a sign of eternal love and affection.”

LIGHTING A CANDLE OR OTHER COMMON CEREMONY (optional) Many couples include an additional ceremony. Some do everything in silence or to music, others make speeches about uniting families.

CLOSING This could be a verse, a prayer, or an endorsement of the marriage. Basically, these are the “last thoughts” of the priest.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE

Typically the priest will say something like "By the authority vested in me _______, I pronounce you man and wife" or for same-sex marriages "I pronounce you married." This is followed by the newlyweds' first kiss. Sometimes the priest will say, “You may now kiss the bride,” but again, we live in the 21st century and it seems a little strange for someone to give permission to kiss a grown woman. Therefore, now the couple either kisses immediately after the marriage is announced, or the priest says something like “now you can kiss.”

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEWLYWEDS

The priest says “I present to you Mr. and Mrs._______” if they have changed their last names or “I present to you the newlyweds Jane and John” if their last names remain the same. Guests stand and applaud as the couple leaves the church building.

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The wedding is the heart of the Orthodox wedding ceremony

The sacrament of marriage is the heart of the Orthodox wedding ceremony. The bride and groom must always remember that this is a church sacrament and therefore must be treated appropriately.

In addition, it is also necessary to know that in Russia the concept of church marriage is absent in legislation. Therefore, in any case, for the state, the young people will have to formalize their relationship at the registry office.

"Conclusion of a civil marriage." Painting by Swiss artist Albert Anker. 1887 The Russian Orthodox Church recognizes civil marriage, says that it is deprived of God’s Grace

In addition, there are church and canonical obstacles to marriage. That is why not every marriage registered in the registry office will be sanctified by the Church. The Russian Orthodox Church considers civil marriage to be devoid of grace, but in fact recognizes it and does not consider it illegal fornication.

In any case, the priest will require a certificate from the registry office from the newlyweds, since checking the age of majority, the mental and physical health of the bride and groom, and the voluntariness of their marriage is the responsibility of the state.

The Russian Orthodox Church considers civil marriage to be devoid of grace, but in fact recognizes it.

The Orthodox Church clearly defines the reasons why the Sacrament of Marriage cannot be performed. They are as follows:

1. Marriage is not allowed more than three times.
2. It is prohibited for persons who are in close degrees of relationship, up to the fourth degree (that is, with a second cousin) to enter into Marriage.
3. A Church Marriage is impossible if one of the spouses (or both) declare themselves atheists and want to get married, guided by extraneous motives.
4. A couple is not married if at least one of the future spouses is not baptized and is not ready to be baptized before the wedding.
5. A marriage is not celebrated if one of the parties is actually married to another person. If this marriage is civil, then it must be dissolved in accordance with the procedure established by state law. If it is church, then the bishop’s permission is required for its dissolution and blessing for entering into a new Marriage.
6. An obstacle to marriage is the spiritual relationship between godfathers who baptized one child and between godparents and godchildren.
7. The marriage will not be celebrated if at least one of the spouses professes a non-Christian religion (Muslim, Judaism, Buddhism). But a marriage performed according to a Catholic or Protestant rite, as well as a non-Christian marriage, if even only one of the spouses has joined the Orthodox Church, can be considered valid at their request. When both spouses, whose marriage was concluded according to a non-Christian rite, convert to Christianity, it is not necessary to perform a wedding, since their marriage is sanctified by the grace of Baptism.
8. You cannot marry those who have taken monastic vows, as well as priests and deacons after their ordination.

The age of majority, the mental and physical health of the bride and groom, and the voluntariness of their marriage are mandatory conditions for registering a civil marriage. Therefore, the Church does not take part in clarifying these circumstances, but requires from those who come to the Sacrament of Wedding a certificate of state registration of marriage.

The absence of parental blessing for the wedding (especially when they are atheists) in the event of the age of majority of the bride and groom cannot prevent the wedding.

Certificate-permission for marriage of a peasant and a peasant woman. 1875 Kostroma district

Church canons establish bans on weddings in some cases. Verification of compliance with the requirements of church canons is entrusted to secular authorities. If previously a special certificate for marriage was issued by the volost clerk, then in our time it is necessary to provide a certificate from the registry office.

If the priest refuses to perform the wedding, the newlyweds can go to the registry office, but the Church will not sanctify such a marriage. At the same time, in principle, Orthodox Christians can get married up to three times, but the second marriage is a reason to think about it.

The fact is that if your married life is not working out for you, it means you are not ready for it yet and it is better to wait than to break off and enter into again a marriage union sanctified by God’s Grace.

“She justified all quarrels by grinding in character”

Pretty soon there was talk about the wedding. In April we were going to meet my parents. But suddenly, before the trip, Sasha said that he couldn’t - he had the opportunity to study in Europe. He said that he wanted to refuse, but he was literally forced as one of the most promising students at the theological academy. For me at that moment everything collapsed. I was ready to break up, but Sasha calmed me down and proposed.

A few months later, we finally visited our parents. That’s when we had our first sex, because after all, I was already practically his wife. Then I really regretted the hasty decision.

The wedding was planned for 2014. Especially for this, Sasha took a vacation and flew to me from Europe. Before this, I knew that Sasha sometimes allowed himself to drink, but the situation suddenly worsened. A week before the wedding, we quarreled so much about this that I thought about giving up the marriage, but did not dare to cancel the ceremony.

The preparation and the wedding day itself seem like a nightmare to me today: absolutely everything lay on me. On the second day after the wedding, we went to the dacha with a small number of close friends, and an ugly scandal occurred there. Sasha got very drunk, I tried to reason with him, but he said that I was disgracing him and behaving inappropriately for the image of his mother. I think I started to bother him and he relaxed: after all, I won’t leave.

I really gave reason to think so: I was the first to make peace, adjusted to him, tried to please. I loved Sasha and justified all the quarrels by grinding in character, I attributed a lot of things to my shortcomings, I thought that over time we would find an approach to each other.

After the wedding, he left for Europe again, and I stayed in my hometown and began working as a regent in a small church. At that time, I graduated from seminary and decided to continue my studies at the Faculty of History, and then found a vacancy as an assistant in the diocese. I studied full-time and worked two jobs. In February 2015, I flew to Sasha for three weeks. I remember that time as very bright: at a distance, our relationship improved and we spent time without quarrels.

When we got married, Sasha was not yet a clergyman. We got married in July, and on August 19 he was made a deacon, that is, an assistant priest. I became a mother. But I have never been the way they are usually imagined: always in a long skirt, eyes on the floor, speaking Church Slavonic and blushing at the word “fool.” I wore my usual clothes, behaved the same way as before, except that I became a little more restrained in my statements.

The responsibilities of a mother greatly depend on who her husband will be. For example, if the priest is the rector of the temple, the mother most often takes care of the choir or accounting. But it didn’t work out that way for us: we always worked in different churches, so my life didn’t change radically.

There are days when the sacrament of wedding is not performed

In the Orthodox Church there are days when the Sacrament of Marriage is not performed. Accordingly, an Orthodox wedding cannot take place.

• during all four multi-day fasts;
• during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa);
• on Bright (Easter) Week;
• during the Christmastide period: from the Nativity of Christ (January 7, according to the current style) to the Epiphany (January 19, according to the current style);
• on the eve of the twelve and great holidays;
• on the eve of fasting days - Wednesday and Friday, as well as on Saturdays throughout the year;
• on the eve and on the day of the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 10 and 11 according to the present day);
• on the eve and on the day of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 26 and 27 according to the present day);
• on the eve of the patronal feast days of the temple in which they plan to perform the Sacrament.

Photo session of the Sacrament of Wedding in the Annunciation Cathedral in Voronezh.
An Orthodox Christian can only get married in an Orthodox church, and the Sacrament itself can only be performed by a legally appointed “white” priest.

An exception to these rules can be made only with the blessing of the ruling bishop, and then in the presence of emergency circumstances. At the same time, it is also necessary to remember that the Sacrament of Wedding can only be performed by a legally appointed “white” priest.

The place where the Sacrament is performed is any Orthodox church.

Many temples have pre-registration, and the problem with it must be resolved in advance. If there is a desire for a specific priest to perform the wedding, it is necessary to discuss this issue with him, otherwise the Sacrament will be performed by the priest whose “turn” falls on that day

“I wrote to my husband that I needed help, but he didn’t come.”

Sasha was still in Europe, and I was in Russia. In the summer of 2015, he came for vacation, and after he left, I found out that I was pregnant.

It was a desired child, but when I told Sasha about the pregnancy, he did not react at all, although he later said that he was simply in shock. The pregnancy was easy: there was almost no toxicosis, I gained a little weight, my belly was very small. After Easter, I quickly gave birth to our daughter Yana. My mother and sister started helping with the child, and I continued to work and study.

Sasha finished his third year and finally returned to me. He got a job as a deacon at the local cathedral, worked almost seven days a week, but the salary was very low. Three months later he started drinking heavily and our relationship deteriorated. He studied in Europe and could not apply this education anywhere, and the child and I seemed like an additional burden.

Sasha’s friends from Kemerovo found out about his situation and invited him to go and work there. He met with the local metropolitan, made a good impression, and was offered a job, a good salary and a service apartment. The husband agreed without a doubt. He left, leaving Yana and I alone.

On the eve of May 9, my daughter and I came to visit to spend the holiday together. Yana just turned one year old. During the day, Sasha and I had a big fight, and he went to a friend’s house to drink, leaving us with our daughter. Yana had a fever, and I was afraid to leave her alone, running out to get medicine. I wrote to my husband that I needed help, but he didn’t come, deciding that I was manipulating. Sasha returned late at night, went to sleep on the floor and then never discussed what happened with me.

Illustration: Olga Lisovskaya

When Sasha accepted the invitation to work, he said that he would pick us up in a few months. As a result, we moved only a year later.

The wedding at an Orthodox wedding is preceded by betrothal

Future spouses must prepare for the wedding. First of all, this concerns joint fasting, repentance, prayers and communion. Preparations for a wedding also include everyday matters. This includes choosing comfortable shoes, clarifying issues of photo and video shooting, and the presence of crosses on the body.

Wedding in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. One of the duties of best men at an Orthodox wedding is to hold crowns over the newlyweds.

It is also necessary to remember that best men do not participate in the Sacrament of Wedding. Their presence on it is a tribute to tradition. In addition, best men should hold crowns over the newlyweds, not because this is a requirement of church canons, but in order not to wrinkle their hair. In any case, it is desirable that they belong to the Orthodox.

Those getting married must know what the priest says in order to understand what to do in a given case. The wedding ceremony itself begins with betrothal. To do this, after the end of the service in the church, the newlyweds stand in its vestibule facing the altar: the groom on the right, the bride on the left.

During the Liturgy, the rings that the newlyweds must exchange are on the throne in the altar of the temple close to each other. Then, when the wedding begins, the deacon takes them out to the priest on a special tray.

Orthodox wedding rings. During the wedding, the deacon carries out the wedding rings after the priest on a special tray

During the engagement, the priest approaches the newlyweds and blesses them three times with lighted candles. If this is the first marriage for the bride and groom, candles are given to them. This concludes the engagement.

“I try to keep the defense as tough as possible”

Once we had sex: it was the only time in the last year and a half that interrupted intercourse was not during ovulation. But I got pregnant again.

Quarrels and scandals continued. When I once again asked him to babysit the children while I was in the hospital, and he went out to drink, I couldn’t stand it. He came home with a fume, and I said that I was filing for divorce and alimony in the amount of 15 thousand rubles a month for three children. Sasha immediately began to deny that he would not pay anything and he had no official income, and in general he could go to the village where they would not find him. I reproached my husband for not loving his own children, and this sobered him up a little. He agreed to my terms.

I said I didn't want to see him in my house. I don’t know where he lives now: perhaps in a church, maybe filming something, or staying with friends. I don't care about that. He sometimes brings some groceries and sees the children for a few hours, but no more. I’m not writing an application for divorce yet, because the process will require a lot of effort and money, but I’m not going to let this person back into my family.

My fourth pregnancy is difficult; there were two bleedings in the early stages. The body is worn out, and I am very scared for the child. You can only believe that everything will be okay.

I continue to sing in the temple. Previously, I turned to the local priest for advice and help. He once helped me a lot, gave me a job as a regent with a good salary, but when he learned about the quarrel in my family, our relationship worsened. Father sincerely believes that my husband should be allowed home, that I need to raise him and that I am too impulsive. I try to keep my defense as tough as possible, because I didn’t ask his opinion and advice as a man. I'm not going to back down.

The sacrament of wedding is performed in front of the lectern

The wedding ceremony itself includes: betrothal, the wedding itself, permission of the crowns and a prayer service. At the same time, at present there is no time interval between the sacraments of betrothal and wedding. That is why they merge into one ceremony, continuing each other.

Wedding rings. Orthodox wedding rings are made of gold, because its shine symbolizes Heavenly light

During the wedding of the bride and groom, a ceremony is held to exchange gold rings. The exchange must be completed three times. The golden ring is a symbol of the eternity of continuity and the eternity of the marriage union, since the ring has no beginning or end.

In addition, its brilliance signifies the heavenly light that illuminates the marriage from the moment of its conclusion until the death of one of the spouses.

Wedding crowns are a symbol of eternal life.

The words of the priest at a wedding have a sacred meaning. Thus, the following speech of the priest has a secret meaning in the rite:

“Lord our God, crown me with glory and honor”

The full text is contained in the Wedding Ceremony.

In this way, and also by placing crowns on the heads of those getting married, the King of creation is glorified. Moreover, according to the Christian tradition, the family is a small church.

Church crowns. Church crowns are a symbol of eternal life, as well as the fact that the husband becomes a king for his wife, and his wife becomes a queen for him

Wedding crowns are a symbol of eternal life. In addition, they mean that after the wedding, the newlyweds become king and queen to each other. At the same time, they make a promise to each other before God to maintain chastity in marriage.

If one of the spouses does not have the strength to keep it and breaks his vow, he will thereby destroy the small church and commit a great sin.

Option II

- Dear friends! On behalf of the Bride and Groom, I am glad to welcome you all and thank you for being here to share this happy moment with them. Here and now you will witness a real miracle - the Miracle of the Union of two wonderful young people, two hearts, two destinies, two lives! The Miracle of the Birth of a Family! When a man finds a woman, he is ready to change the world for the sake of her smile, to perform a miracle. And this is not at all difficult for him, because she becomes part of his soul and heart. Fills his life with extraordinary light and joy. And only with her can he be truly happy. here today - for the sake of one - the only girl whom he is ready to call his wife today! This is a very serious, important and masculine act. And this will happen before your eyes, here, under the wedding arch. Therefore, meet the heroes of this action: - Dear newlyweds, you have what millions are looking for, but only a select few find - this is Love! It is she who connects hearts and destinies, thoughts and aspirations on the way to achieving the great art of married life - living for the happiness of a loved one. It is Love that can work miracles and make possible what sometimes seems incredible to us. And we suddenly realize that there are no coincidences. And two different people are not strangers to each other at all, but parts of one whole, the meeting of which is destined by fate. An important moment has come in your life! Today is your family's birthday. You managed to find each other in our rather harsh world and decided to unite your destinies with sacred family ties. Family life is a responsible time when you will equally share joys and sorrows, good fortune and adversity, but there will be a person nearby who will always understand correctly, a heart that will judge correctly. And therefore, marriage cannot be concluded under duress, through thoughtlessness or recklessness, but with reverence, thoughtfully and consciously. In marriage, people should be united by mutual love, affection, respect, the desire to protect each other and the desire to live together all their lives. In the presence of your witnesses, family and friends, I ask you to answer, do you agree to take her as a wife, love, respect and care for her until the end of your days? - Yes, I agree. - Do you agree to take him as your husband, love, respect and take care of him until the end of your days? - Yes, I agree. — People say that newlyweds stand on a white wedding towel as if on a white cloud, receiving the blessing of heaven, for there the blessing of their love takes place. Please spread out the wedding towel for the newlyweds. I invite young people to stand on the towel of consent. — In cinema, you can shoot several takes if something doesn’t work out. But life is such a thing that you can only play it once. And there is no way to rewind the film and replay something in life again. Now we are ready to shoot the main shots of your destiny. Those shots when you, in the presence of your guests and family, are ready to say to each other the most important, most cherished words for which people are born into this world. And today your hands will be decorated with wedding rings - an ancient sacred symbol of love and devotion, deep and pure feelings. Let them remind you that your love is endless and forever remain a memory of today's exciting event. Exchange rings! Exchange of rings. — I ask you to seal your family union with signatures. The newlyweds sign. — They say that marriages are made in heaven. And today the will of heaven on earth is supported by your signatures. Accept your marriage certificate as the most precious and memorable document of your family, recognized by the state. (The registrar gives the marriage certificate to the newlyweds). From now on you are husband and wife! The mutual manifestation of the will of the spouses to bear a common surname is affirmed - - I sincerely congratulate you on the birth of your family! True love is tested by time - you have your whole life ahead of you. I wish you that the fire of love never fades in your hearts. - Our life consists of moments! Sometimes - cheerful and joyful, sometimes - sad and sorrowful. And sometimes you are so happy that it takes your breath away and the whole world stops! And only what happens here and now becomes important! These moments cannot be repeated or experienced again. And only in our hearts do they remain forever. Remember this joyful, solemn moment! Nothing changed. Everything is the same as always - you two, loving each other, your family and friends nearby. But today you are opening a new page - this is the family page of your life.

Outside the church, an Orthodox wedding must take place chastely

After the priest performs the wedding sacrament, most of the newlyweds and wedding guests go to the festive table. At the same time, Orthodox Christians must behave modestly and chastely behind him. You should not drink large quantities of alcoholic beverages, start fights, etc.

Wedding feast "Russian wedding". Splint. 1880s. Orthodox Christians must observe modesty at a wedding: do not drink excessively alcoholic beverages and indulge in depraved dancing.

Nowadays, you can contact your parish priest or an agency that specializes in organizing holidays. They will tell you how you can hold an Orthodox wedding according to all church canons, as well as keep its guests occupied.

In addition, some registry offices organize Orthodox weddings by prior agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church.

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