How to Get Married in the Greek Orthodox Church

You have fallen in love with a Greek, and he or she wants to be married within the Greek Orthodox faith. You are so in love that you want to please your Greek significant other. The Greek Orthodox ceremony is very traditional and has not changed much in many years.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Services of Bethrothal

1. Assure that you are engaged properly. In the Greek Orthodox faith nothing is taken for granted. There is a ceremony for everything. When a couple decides to marry within the Greek Orthodox faith they will have a Bethrothal party inviting family and friends to the party
2. Deciding to have the tradional wedding the couple along with thier Koumbaros, (the couples sponsor best man, maid of honor) will stand along with the priest.
3. Give the rings to the priest, he bless the rings by holding them in his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the heads of the future bride and groom. The rings are then placed on the third fingers of their right hands, traditional old fashioned Greeks get married on their right hand. He will announce to the gathering that the bride (her name) and the groom (his name) are bethroed to one another in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, He does this three times. then gives the honor to the the Koumbaros
4. Trading the rings between the bride and grooms fingers, The Koumbaro duty is to assure that the rings are moved three times between the couple as a symbol of the Holy Trinity.
5. During the Service of Bethroal, gifts are exchanged between the couple, usually a piece of gold jewelry is bestowed on each, the Koumbaro will also provide gifts to the couple as will the entire audience of family and friends.

The Wedding

6. Arriving wedding guests at the church are seated by the ushers and groomsmen.
7. Awaiting his bride the groom will stand with all the congregation as she makes her entrance.
8. Exchanging of vows are not performed in a Greek wedding. In a Greek wedding, you are there because of love and no vows are necessary.
9. The Service of Bethroal is repeated during the ceremony . The priest will announce that the bride (her name) is betrothed to the groom (his name) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This will be accomplished three times.
10. Performing the Sacrament of the Wedding, the Bride and Groom are joined by crowns, with a silken ribbon attaching them. The priest takes the two crowns and blesses the crowns. The crowns are called stefana, and symbolizes their honor that is being bestowed on them by God, the ribbon shows that they are a couple yet individuals. Then the party begins, and may go on for hours.
11. Standing behind the couple the Koumbaro will exchange the crowns between the heads of the bride and groom three times. The priest then will read from the Gospel of the marriage in Cana at Galilee.
12. Drinking from a cup the couple will take three sips of wine each. The priest then takes the bride and groom by hand and walks them around the altar as their first steps together as a married couple. The priest removes the crowns and separates the joined hands of the couple and announces to the congregation that only God can break the union.
13. Throwing of rice on the couple as they leave the church for the reception, the recption itself will last for hours into the night with songs, dances, and plenty of food.

Tips & Warnings

• It is a beautiful ceremony and remember that once a man or woman decides to marry in the Greek Orthodox Faith, the moment they step forward to the altar and the crowns are placed on their heads, they are married.