Classic Fountain Pen

 

Crowns allow the man and woman, in their union with Christ, to participate in His Kingship. They are a symbol of martyrdom, or the couple’s bearing witness to the Presence of Christ in their married lives. They represent the couple’s giving of one life totally to the other and through the other to Christ. At the end of the wedding service, the crowns are removed from the couple and the priest prays that God will receive these crowns into His Kingdom.

 

Crowns are traditionally kept in a crown case – or stefanothikes – to preserve their beauty and as a visual reminder of the sacrament of the wedding day. They may be hung in a couple’s living room, hallway, or bedroom – or wherever the married couple chooses.

 

The gift of bombonieres is an Eastern Orthodox tradition over 3,000 years old. Filled with koufeta – or jordan almonds – the favors are given as tokens of good fortune and happiness. Bombonieres are symobolic of life with their bittersweet taste. The sugar coating represents the hope that life will be blessed with more sweetness than bitterness. Bombonieres are always filled with an odd number of almonds. The odd number is indivisible and symbolizes the union and indivisibility of the newly married couple. Bombonieres are given to each guest after the baptism by either the godparent or the parents of the baptized child. Styles can range widely for these favors. Traditional favors are simple white, pink or blue puffs of tulle tied with a ribbon. However, styles can range widely and can extend to the elaborate, distinctive and fun.

 

Wedding candles are an essential component of the Orthodox wedding.  They are used throughout the service and - at various times - held by the bride and groom.  Two candles are tradionally tied together with a ribbon to symbolize the union of the couple.

 

Martyrika - or witness pins – are small lapel ribbons handed out at the end of the ceremony and worn by guests as proof of witnessing the wedding. The traditional pin is made of white, pink or blue ribbon and features a tiny cross or icon in the center.  Personalization of the martyrika is optional.  The sponsors - or koumbaroi - of the marrying couple traditionally hand out the pins for guests to wear.

Permissable Wedding dates:
Marriages are allowed on all days of the year except for the following:
- January 5-6
- Great Lent and Holy Week
- August 1-15
- August 29 (Beheading of St. John the Baptist)
- September 14 (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- December 13-25
- The day before feast days and all Holy Days of our Lord

The Wedding Ceremony

Holy matrimony is a sacrament of the Eastern Orthodox Church in which a man and woman solemnly vow before Christ, the priest and the congregation to be true to each other for life.  The ceremony is steeped in ritual and symbolism. The wedding service is conducted around a small table on which wedding crowns, the book of Gospels, two wedding rings, a cup of wine, and two white candles have been placed.

Blessing of the Rings
The rings are blessed by the priest, who touches the foreheads of the Bride and Groom with them.  The rings are put on the right hands, and the Koumbaro exchanges the rings three times.  The exchange signifies that in married life the weakness of one partner will be compensated for by the strength of the other, the imperfections of one by the other.  Each will be enriched by the union.

 The Candles
The Bride and Groom each hold a lighted candle during the service.  The candles remind the couple of the light of Christ who is with them throughout the sacrament and their coming life together.

 The Joining of the Right Hands
The couple joins right hands as the priest appeals to God to make them one in flesh and spirit and grant them the joy of children.  Their hands are kept joined through the service to symbolize the “oneness” of the couple.

The Crowning (Stéfana)
The crowing is the climax of the wedding service.  The crowns –or Stéfana- are the signs of glory and honor with which God crowns the Bride and Groom during the sacrament.  The Bride and Groom are crowned as king and queen of their home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity.  After the priest places the Stéfana on the heads of the Bride and Groom, the Koumbaro exchanges the crowns three times as witness to the sealing of the union. 

The Readings
The designated reading from the scriptures is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians where Paul talks of love and respect.

The Common Cup
Just as wine was drunk at the wedding in Cana, the Bride and Groom share a common cup of unconsecrated wine, symbolizing the sharing of all that life will bring -- the joys, sorrows, love and pain.

The Ceremonial Walk
The priest leads the couple, hands joined, in a circle around the holy table as they take their first steps as husband and wife.  The circling around the table signifies the promise of the husband and wife to preserve their marriage bond until death parts them. The ceremony is concluded with the priest invoking God’s blessings and removing the crowns.

 Proclamation of Husband and Wife

At the end of the ceremony, the priest removes the crowns and charges the newlyweds to go forward in peace.  The Bride and Groom are proclaimed husband and wife, at the conclusion of the service.