The Orthodox Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is an
ancient and meaningful service that has been celebrated in its
present form for centuries. The service is abundant with
symbols that reflect marriage: love, mutual respect, equality
and sacrifice.
The ceremony consists of two parts which are distinct and
separate from each other: The service of the Betrothal and
the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. Everything in
the ceremony has a special meaning and significance,
especially the repetition of each act three times to
symbolize and to invoke the mystical presence of the Holy
Trinity. The Wedding begins as white candles are handed to
The Bride and The Groom. These candles symbolize their
spiritual willingness to receive Christ.
The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is an
ancient and meaningful service that has been celebrated in its
present form for centuries. The service is abundant with
symbols that reflect marriage: love, mutual respect, equality
and sacrifice.
The ceremony consists of two parts which are distinct and
separate from each other: The service of the Betrothal and
the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. Everything in
the ceremony has a special meaning and significance,
especially the repetition of each act three times to
symbolize and to invoke the mystical presence of the Holy
Trinity. The Wedding begins as white candles are handed to
The Bride and The Groom. These candles symbolize their
spiritual willingness to receive Christ.
GREEK WEDDING TRADITIONS |
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| Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage |
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The exchanging of rings is the focus of the Service of
Betrothal. The priest blesses the rings by holding them in
his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the
heads of the bride and groom. The rings are then placed on
the third fingers of their right hands. The Koumbaro , swaps
the rings over between the bride and groom’s fingers, three
times.
In the Greek Orthodox religion, the best man is replaced
by a Koumbaro, who must be a member in good standing of
the church- this individual has extended duties during the
ceremony.
Betrothal. The priest blesses the rings by holding them in
his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the
heads of the bride and groom. The rings are then placed on
the third fingers of their right hands. The Koumbaro , swaps
the rings over between the bride and groom’s fingers, three
times.
In the Greek Orthodox religion, the best man is replaced
by a Koumbaro, who must be a member in good standing of
the church- this individual has extended duties during the
ceremony.
| The Service of the Betrothal |
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The Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage consists of
several parts – petitions, prayers, the crowning, readings
from the New Testament, the offering of the common cup,
the circling of the ceremonial table and the benediction.
At the conclusion of the prayers, the priest joins the
right hands of the bride and groom. Their hands remain
joined until the end of the wedding ceremony, which
symbolizes the couple’s union.
several parts – petitions, prayers, the crowning, readings
from the New Testament, the offering of the common cup,
the circling of the ceremonial table and the benediction.
At the conclusion of the prayers, the priest joins the
right hands of the bride and groom. Their hands remain
joined until the end of the wedding ceremony, which
symbolizes the couple’s union.
The Crowning
The crowning is the focal point of the marriage ceremony. The
bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, called stefana,
which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by
the priest. The crowns symbolize the glory and honor that is
being bestowed on them by God, and the ribbon symbolizes their
unity. The Koumbaro then exchanges the crowns between the
heads of the couple, three times.
bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, called stefana,
which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by
the priest. The crowns symbolize the glory and honor that is
being bestowed on them by God, and the ribbon symbolizes their
unity. The Koumbaro then exchanges the crowns between the
heads of the couple, three times.
The Common cup
The crowning is followed by a reading of the Gospel, which
tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee. It was at this
wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, changing
water into wine, which was then given to the married
couple. Wine is given to the couple and they each drink
from it three times.
tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee. It was at this
wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, changing
water into wine, which was then given to the married
couple. Wine is given to the couple and they each drink
from it three times.
The Ceremonial Walk
The priest then leads the bride and groom in a circle
around the alter three times as their first steps as a
married couple. The church, in the person of the priest,
leads them in the way they must walk. The way is
symbolized by the circle at the center of which are the
Gospel and the symbolic cross of the Lord. The Koumbaro
follows close behind the couple holding the stefana in place.
around the alter three times as their first steps as a
married couple. The church, in the person of the priest,
leads them in the way they must walk. The way is
symbolized by the circle at the center of which are the
Gospel and the symbolic cross of the Lord. The Koumbaro
follows close behind the couple holding the stefana in place.
The Removal of the Crowns
When the Ceremonial Walk has ended, the priest blesses
the couple, the crowns are removed and he then separates
their previously joined hands with the bible, reminding them
that only God can break the union which they have just
entered into.
the couple, the crowns are removed and he then separates
their previously joined hands with the bible, reminding them
that only God can break the union which they have just
entered into.
The Traditional Way
Dancing in the Moonlight
There is perhaps no more memorable element of a Greek
wedding celebration than the dancing. It begins with the
kalamatiano, a traditional handkerchief dance. The bride
and groom dance together, connected only by the scarf or
handkerchief that each holds by an end. Eventually, they
invite others to join in the dancing, which can go on for hours.
wedding celebration than the dancing. It begins with the
kalamatiano, a traditional handkerchief dance. The bride
and groom dance together, connected only by the scarf or
handkerchief that each holds by an end. Eventually, they
invite others to join in the dancing, which can go on for hours.
The sugar coated almonds (koufeta), are placed on the tray
with crowns, and which will later be offered to the guests, are
also symbolic. In the early days of the Church, honey dipped
almonds were offered to the newlyweds by the priest. The
white symbolizes purity. The egg shape represents fertility
and the new life which begins with marriage. The hardness of
the almond represents the endurance of marriage and the
sweetness of the sugar symbolizes the sweetness of future
life. The odd number of almonds are indivisible, just as The
Bride and The Groom shall remain undivided.
with crowns, and which will later be offered to the guests, are
also symbolic. In the early days of the Church, honey dipped
almonds were offered to the newlyweds by the priest. The
white symbolizes purity. The egg shape represents fertility
and the new life which begins with marriage. The hardness of
the almond represents the endurance of marriage and the
sweetness of the sugar symbolizes the sweetness of future
life. The odd number of almonds are indivisible, just as The
Bride and The Groom shall remain undivided.
The Koufeta
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