Wedding is what is needed for the ceremony. Wedding ceremony - how to prepare for it, conducting

A wedding is a sacrament in which the marital union is blessed. Many newlyweds get married immediately after registering their marriage at the registry office, while someone prefers to check their feelings, find out what is needed for the wedding and prepare carefully. These couples undergo this ceremony after several years of living together or after the birth of a child.

Choosing a wedding date

What do you need for a wedding?

• two icons: the Savior and the Virgin;
• a white towel or linen on which the newlyweds will stand;
• wedding candles;
• handkerchiefs for white candles;
• newlyweds and guests must have pectoral crosses;
• wedding rings;
• Marriage certificate.

Appearance

• the bride should have a headdress, this is a veil, a scarf;
• shoulders and chest should be covered with a cape;
• girls are not allowed to be in the temple in trousers;
• make-up and manicure should not be flashy and kept to a minimum.

The wedding will not take place

• Tuesday Thursday Saturday;
• in posts: Great post, Petrov post, Assumption, Christmas;
• during the Maslenitsa period;
• in the Easter week;
• during the time from Christmas to Epiphany.

Marriage in the church is impossible if the young have been married three or more times. If the newlyweds are closely related or at least one of them is not baptized at the time of the wedding.

In order for the wedding to become a holiday for you that will be remembered for your whole life, take good care of its organization. We have told you tips on what you need for a wedding in a church, and you try to follow them.

Wedding rings

Wedding rings have long been considered a sign of fidelity, inseparability and purity of the marriage union. Previously, the rings had to be different: one gold and the other silver. The golden ring was a symbol of the sun, because of its brilliance, and the silver one was like the moon. Nowadays, as a rule, gold rings are chosen for the bride and groom.

What do you need for a wedding if you have a second marriage

Newlyweds who have decided to join their hearts in marriage for the second time and want to get married should be aware that the church does not support or approve of remarriage, however, a second time is allowed. In this case, two more prayers of repentance are added to the ceremony.

Couples who decide to get married should think carefully about their intentions. Find out what you need for a church wedding, how to dress and what prayers you need to know. Good preparation for this ceremony will allow you to capture these moments even on camera.

At the moment, the wedding ceremony is becoming more widespread in our state, which allows not only to create a marriage, but to illuminate the sacrament of marriage.

The union of two lives is a solemn and responsible moment. Today, many decide to formalize their marriage not only in the registry office, but also in the face of the Lord. What is needed for a wedding in a church, except for the desire of the young? Find out from our material.

Two join in unity

Before you decide to get married, you need to understand:

• Church marriage cannot be dissolved! There is no "debunking" in principle. The fact that some bishops go towards people who have already divorced and live in other families is due to the weakness of modern "Christians". This is done so that people do not fall into great sins. Therefore, we must realize that the wedding is forever!

Basic requirements for those who wish to get married in a church:

• newlyweds must be baptized in the Orthodox Church (this can also be done before the wedding);

• people must enter into a civil marriage (in the registry office) - in many churches a certificate is required (if people are not permanent parishioners);

• before the wedding, you must confess and take communion.

This is about the spiritual side. Also, in parishes where they treat parishioners responsibly, the priest necessarily conducts a preliminary conversation with the young. He explains to them the whole meaning of this rite, which is not only a tribute to tradition. You should not get married just for the sake of beautiful photographs or because "it is customary." This is a profanation of the Sacrament.

What is needed for the ceremony

Weddings in the Orthodox Church are held according to certain rules. The order of actions and the necessary prayers are recorded in a special book - the Treasury, which the clergyman has. You should not worry about this, although it is necessary to understand what stage of the Sacrament is being performed.

Usually, a donation is provided for such requests. Everything can be arranged directly in the temple. The "price" can vary greatly, depending on the temple. There will be other costs as well.

• Icons of the Savior and the Virgin - are needed so that parents bless their children with them.

• Towel - according to the rules, in church, young people stand on a white towel.

• Special candles - for the bride and groom, usually sold in a shop.

• Rings - used in the Orthodox wedding ceremony.

These are the main points, everything else is prepared in the temple. It is important to decide on the date, to prepare spiritually for this event. You also need to decide how many choristers will be, they usually need to be paid separately. Singers, as a rule, are not on the staff of the church, but come only to services or rites (weddings, funerals, baptisms).

Rite rules

Weddings in the church are carried out according to the established procedure. It usually follows the Liturgy, where the young are to take communion. Before this, you should fast (fast), read certain prayers - there is about this. Such spiritual preparation is necessary in order to accept the Sacrament of marriage with a pure soul.

Witnesses used to play not only the role of those who hold the crowns. They vouched for newlyweds, usually those who had known them for a long time. The guarantors took upon themselves the responsibility of looking after the spiritual situation in the new union. After all, this is a small church, which was created with the aim of giving birth and raising children in piety. Therefore, the witnesses were people of respectable age, having their own families. Today it is, rather, a tribute to tradition - the wedding will be held without witnesses.

According to the rules, the wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church begins with the betrothal. Previously, it was held separately, but now it is very rare to find this. Young people stand before the doors of the temple, as before the Lord Himself. The priest introduces them into the church, as if the first people - into paradise, where they must lead a pure life.

• The priest censes, consecrating the young. He blesses the bride and groom, then hands them candles. After the blessing, you should be baptized. This is done three times.

• The fire of candles is a symbol of love, pure and hot, which spouses should feed.

• The deacon reads special litanies, for which everyone who came to the temple can pray.

• The priest reads a secret prayer for the newlyweds.

Then they bring the rings, which are put on with a prayer first to the groom, then to the bride. Three times they will change them - as a sign that they now have everything in common. The ring is a sign of eternal union, readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of the beloved (beloved). After the prayer, the betrothal ends and the wedding ceremony begins.

Continuing to hold the candles, the young people go to the center of the temple, a special psalm is sung. The couple stands on a towel, in front of them on a lectern (special stand) are crowns, the Gospel, a cross. Crowns in Orthodoxy mean not so much triumph as martyrdom. After all, it is not so easy to endure all the shortcomings of your spouse throughout your life, to be a support for the family, to support your “half”. Therefore, in the sacrament, God's special help is requested.

The priest will ask everyone in turn if they have a voluntary desire to marry, you must answer in the affirmative. There is also the question of whether the heart was promised to someone else. In some churches, they are allowed to answer in Russian, and not in Church Slavonic. Then three special prayers follow - one to Christ, two to the Triune God.

Only after this are crowns taken (hence the name of the sacrament - wedding), they are laid on the young with prayer, the Holy Scripture is read.

Then, after brief prayers, both are given wine from the same cup. Also as a sign that the young are now waiting for a common life. Then the hands of the husband and wife are tied, they go around the lectern behind the priest three times.

The ceremony ends with the handing over of icons, instructions from the confessor. The meal, if it continues the service, should be decent, befitting a Christian title, without drunkenness, dancing, wild fun.

How to behave in the temple

There are unspoken rules of conduct in the church that should not be broken. The wedding ceremony is carried out “by order”, but this does not mean that in front of you is a dressed toastmaster with a censer. You should not, imitating the "stars" of television, behave defiantly.

• Witnesses and other participants in the ceremony should not forget that they are in the house of God. Laughter, conversations are inappropriate, if there is absolutely no desire to pray, it is better to leave the church altogether until the Liturgy is over. So at least you will not distract the parishioners who have come to pay their debt to the Lord.

• The bride and groom must learn in advance the words that should be spoken during the ceremony. This is a simple respect not only for the priest, but also for God.

• You should not shock others with your appearance - the bride's dress should be closed. Or you need to purchase a cape that would cover the shoulders, back and neckline. Lipstick must be removed before the start of the service.
• Women should enter the church with a covered head, skirts should be below the knee. Too bright makeup is also inappropriate.

The beauty of the wedding ceremony should be forever remembered by the young, but also remind of the deep meaning of Christian marriage - love, patience, sacrifice. One can worthily endure such a test only by being in the bosom of the Church, attending services, participating in the Sacraments. God bless you!

wedding rules

Wedding in the church - the rules that are needed for the ceremony was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

• To get started, agree on the date and time of the wedding with a priest who will write you down on a specific date. Otherwise, there may be some misunderstanding.


• If there is no preliminary record in the church, then you will have to draw up a receipt for the sacrament on the day of the wedding.


• The newlyweds must come to the temple for the beginning of the day service. At the same time, on the eve, they are required to observe a strict fast - nothing to eat, drink, or smoke. In the event that the young are already together, it is also impossible to have sex on the eve of the wedding.


• In the temple, the newlyweds must defend the service, then confess and take communion. At the same time, the bride and groom do not have to be dressed up.


• After communion, prayers and memorial services usually begin, during which those who are getting married can change into wedding clothes.


• It is best for the bride to put on comfortable shoes, as it will take a long time to stand.


• Friends and relatives are encouraged, but not required, to attend the day service. They can come up to the beginning of the wedding.


• Photo and video filming is not allowed in all churches, so before the wedding, you need to clarify all the details with the priest. If photography is prohibited, you can get by with one photo in front of the temple.


• The wedding bands are given to the priest, who will bless them before the wedding.


• Newlyweds need to bring a white towel or piece of white cloth to stand on.


• The bride must wear a headdress to get married in the church.


• The bride is not allowed to wear make-up and wear various jewelry to the wedding ceremony.


• Both spouses must be baptized Orthodox Christians and have a cross on their body


• According to an old Russian tradition, the bride and groom must have a couple of witnesses, who then must organize the marriage feast. In the temple, they must hold crowns over the heads of the newlyweds. Two men can be taken as witnesses, since the crowns are quite heavy and will need to be held for a long time. Both witnesses must be baptized.


• Church rules do not allow to marry several couples at the same time. But there are also such cases. If you want to get married separately, then you will have to wait a whole hour, or pay extra, as in some churches they get married separately for a fee.

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A wedding is a rite, thanks to which you can even more strongly feel unity with your soulmate. In order for the family to be strong and for many years of a happy married life ahead of you, hold a wedding in accordance with all the rules.

You will need

• - 2 icons;
• - a piece of white or pink cloth;
• - wedding rings;
• - pectoral crosses;
• - 2 wedding candles;
• - crowns;
• - closed wedding dress;
• - veil (chiffon scarf).

Instruction

Find out about the consent of your spouse (or spouse) to conduct the ceremony. In case of disagreement of one of the members of the couple, the procedure cannot take place. Convince him of the need if it's really important to you. In no case do not insist and do not question the love of your soulmate if she does not agree: a wedding is a ceremony that requires internal acceptance, and if a person is not ready for this, then it will be difficult for him to enter the church.

Prepare a certificate of conclusion - without it, it will not be possible to hold a wedding. Be prepared to confirm that you and your spouse are not atheists and profess Christianity, are not related to each other by blood relatives and are not spiritually related (godchildren cannot be with their godparents), have not taken a vow of celibacy and are not married to another face. An obstacle to the wedding ceremony can also be a strong age difference between partners and the presence of three or more previous marriages.

Check the calendar so as not to plan the wedding for periods when the ceremony cannot be performed. This is the time of the Christmas, Petrovsky, Assumption fasts and many other church dates. Be careful, as the periods of some fasts are not fixed and fall on different dates in different years.

Pay attention to your choice of outfit. This primarily applies to the fair sex: an overly open or short dress cannot take place in the church, a woman must be dressed strictly and chastely. Do not forget to wear pectoral crosses and wedding rings: you will give them to the priest immediately before the ceremony. You will also need a piece of white or pink fabric to stand on, two wedding candles and two icons.

Find two people who will hold crowns (a symbol of the ceremony) over your heads during the wedding. Look for them among men, as crowns are quite heavy and can become an unbearable burden for fragile girls.

Pay attention to the spiritual component of your life. Refrain from smoking and taking alcohol and food on the day when the wedding is to take place, and forget about sexual relations the day before. Prepare for confession by remembering your sins - this procedure necessarily precedes the wedding. You will also receive communion.

Be careful during the wedding: you have to repeat his words after the priest while he leads you to the lectern. After he puts the rings on your hands (three times), stand on the cloth. Be sure to do this at the same time as your soulmate, but do not forget that it is forbidden to look at each other at this time (that is, throughout the entire wedding procedure).

Read in detail the entire sequence of actions that you have to do and inform the witnesses. It is best to contact the church directly, where they will be able to explain everything in detail and warn you about possible nuances.

note

Some restrictions, such as age differences or spiritual kinship, can be bypassed. In this case, you need to obtain permission from the archbishop for the ceremony.

Helpful advice

Do not plan a wedding if you are not feeling very well: the ceremony lasts about an hour, and you will have to spend all this time on your feet.

A wedding is a marriage that takes place before the face of the Lord. That is why the wedding is held in the church. It can be made only after the conclusion of an ordinary marriage in the registry office.

Instruction

Go to church and sign up for a wedding. To do this, take with you a marriage certificate at the registry office. Then pay the required amount of money. After that, you will be given a certain receipt for the right.

Confess when you arrive at the church. Then, as a rule, a prayer service, memorial services and funeral services will be held within an hour. You can change clothes during this period of time. After the Divine Liturgy, you will be engaged. At the same time, the young people should stand at the entrance doors to the church, and the priest at that moment in the image of the Lord Jesus Christ will be in the altar. Then the priest will lead the newlyweds to the temple to create a new and pure life in marriage.

The priest will begin this ritual by imitating Tobiah the pious, who with prayers and smoke drove away the demon from pure marriages. Then he will bless the young and give them one lit candle each. These candles imply a symbol of fiery love and the purity of the relationship between and. Then the priest will say prayers. These prayers will be for the salvation of the newlyweds and for the continuation of kinship.

Next, the priest will take the groom from the right side of the throne and put him on, baptizing three times and pronouncing the cherished words. Then he will also put the ring on the finger of the bride herself. The betrothal will end with an exchange of rings between the young. And so exactly 3 times in the glory and honor of the Holy Trinity. This exchange symbolizes the fidelity and devotion of the spouses.

After the engagement, the wedding begins. Young people should enter the middle of the temple, holding lighted candles in their hands. The priest will go ahead of them with a censer. At the same time, he will instruct the young in good deeds. And the Choir will meet the newlyweds with the singing of a psalm, which will bless the marriage.

After that, the bride and groom will go to the lectern, where the cross, crowns and the Gospel lie. There will be a white towel in front of him, on which the young people should stand. Further, they confirm all their intentions before the Lord God and before each other.

Then the priest will say 3 lengthy prayers. After that, he will take the crown and baptize the groom with it, let him kiss the image of the Savior. Similarly, the priest will bring the crown to the bride. Next, the Gospel of John is read, the sayings of the Apostle Paul and a small petition from the Church is pronounced. Then the priest presents the wine to the groom for him to take three small sips, and after that the bride must also do the same.

Then the priest takes the right hands of the young and reunites, and covers them with his hand from above. Then he circles the wedding couple around the lectern three times. The wedding ceremony ends already at the royal doors, where the groom needs to kiss the icon of the Savior, and the bride - the image of the Mother of God and vice versa.

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Increasingly, spouses prefer to seal their marriage before the Lord by undergoing the Sacrament of the Wedding. It is necessary to prepare for the Sacrament, because a beautiful church ceremony requires compliance with certain rules and careful preparation.

Instruction

Find out all the organizational points. Contact the temple you have chosen, talk to the priest. It is necessary to determine the date of the wedding, as there are strict restrictions (to get married in and on some). Often the clergyman holds several meetings with young people to explain to them the essence of the Sacrament, to make sure of their sincere desire to sanctify the union. Make sure that the wedding date does not coincide with the day of registration with the registry office - this must be done in advance.

Consider an outfit for the bride. It is undesirable to be present with bare shoulders and a revealing neckline, so if your wedding dress is rather open, then get a cape, cape or drape these parts of the body with a piece of fabric. Shoes should be comfortable, with low heels.

Prepare for the Mystery. Before the wedding, both spouses must take communion, therefore, a strict three-day fast must be observed. Prepare wedding rings, a couple of wedding icons, wedding candles and a towel.

Go through the Sacrament procedure. The groom must arrive at the temple by the beginning of the service, relatives and friends may come later. Everyone should have a pectoral cross. The wedding icons should be in the hands of the bride and groom, and the rings should be given to the priest before the start of the Divine Liturgy. During the ceremony, the groomsmen hold crowns over the heads of the newlyweds - this is not necessary, since initially the crowns were simply placed on the heads of the newlyweds. But modern traditions and the festive hairstyle of the bride involve the participation of best men - males who hold crowns over their heads during the ceremony.

After carrying out all the necessary ceremonies and three times the exchange of rings, the spouses are considered engaged. The clergyman's questions about voluntary marriage and the absence of obstacles end with prayer and drinking from the cup. A couple of three times they spend around the lectern, then the spouses listen to the edification of the priest at the altar. After that, the marriage is considered perfect, and the young can accept congratulations from relatives, friends and invited guests.

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The wedding ceremony is optional for couples who want to link their lives with each other for life. However, an ordinary wedding ceremony cannot completely imbue a marriage with purity and strength, like a wedding ceremony.

Instruction

The ceremony begins with the engagement. The bride and groom are led into the church by the priest. The betrothal is preceded by the Divine Liturgy.

As soon as the couple entered the temple, the priest blesses the bride and groom, saying three times: “In the name of the father and son and spirit”, gives them lighted candles. At the end, the priest gives the groom lighted candles. After the blessing, the bride and groom are baptized and receive candles from the priest. Candles serve as a symbol of love for future spouses, they characterize it as fiery and pure.

After the end of the doxology, the priest from the holy throne takes the rings and puts on the ring to the groom, covering him with the banner of the cross three times and pronouncing the words of betrothal three times, and then to the bride, observing the same ceremony. Rings do not act as a gift to the bride and groom, but as a sign of love and sacrifice for the wife to everyone and help in everything. The bride puts on the ring to the groom, thus symbolizing her boundless love for him and devotion.

As soon as the priest has blessed the spouses, they exchange rings. First, the groom puts his ring on the bride's ring finger, then the bride. This is repeated three times.

Future spouses with lit candles in their hands go to the center of the temple. The bride and groom need to stand on the board, which is spread on the floor. The unconstrained desire of the bride and groom to marry and receive the titles of husband and wife is confirmed.

The wedding ceremony begins. The priest reads three prayers.

After the prayers, the priest marks the bridegroom with a crown in the form of a cross, who kisses the image of the Savior. The bride goes through the same ceremony.

Prayers and instructions are read for the wife and husband, after which the priest gives three times to drink wine, offering first to the husband, and then to his wife. He connects the right hand of the wife with the right hand of the husband, covering it with the stole and with his own hand, holds it around the lectern three times.

At the end of the wedding ceremony, the priest removes the crowns from the spouses and greets them with solemn words, congratulating them on their marriage.

Sources:

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Many couples want to seal their marriage union not only with a painting in the registry office, but also with a church rite. A wedding is a long-standing Orthodox tradition that links two people with spiritual ties. This ritual belongs to one of the seven sacraments of the Russian Orthodox Church. But to perform it, you need to know the basic rules and procedure for the ceremony.

You will need

• - white wedding towel;
• - wedding rings;
• - pectoral crosses;
• - white handkerchiefs for candles;
• - a cape to cover the shoulders of the bride (with a low-cut dress);
• - icons.

Instruction

Arrange the wedding with the priest a month before the ceremony. Choose the date together with the clergyman, since the ritual cannot be performed during fasting, on certain days of the week, and also if the bride has her period on that day. People who are blood relatives, mentally ill or unbaptized are not allowed to get married.

The wedding ceremony is carried out only after the registration of marriage in the registry office (so take the appropriate certificate with you). When you go to church, wear crosses around your neck. The bride for the wedding needs a closed dress or cape to cover her bare shoulders and décolleté. An obligatory attribute of a bride's wedding dress is a veil. It is desirable that it be long: it is believed that the longer the veil, the longer the family life will be.

Get engaged before the wedding. Previously, betrothal preceded the wedding a month or even a year before the ceremony. At the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, betrothal is carried out immediately before the wedding and is an integral part of it. For betrothal, enter the temple and stand apart from each other (the groom is on the right, the bride is on the left).

Wait until the priest brings you the Cross and the Gospel and connects your hands with the stole (church breastplate). After that, follow the priest to the center of the temple, where you will be blessed and handed lighted candles. Cross yourself before taking candles. Hold the candles with your hand covered with a white handkerchief. After reading the prayers, the clergyman will take the wedding rings from the altar (they must be handed to him before the ceremony), put them on your fingers and carry out the exchange. Exchange rings three times - as a sign of awareness of the chosen path. After that, the betrothal is considered perfect and the wedding ceremony begins.

To the singing of "Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!" go to the lectern and stand on a white foot (they are served by a white towel, tablecloth or just a piece of white linen), brought in advance by relatives. Before marrying the newlyweds, the priest will ask you if you are firm in your intentions and if you have made a promise of marriage to someone else. After listening to the required answers, the clergyman will read a prayer, put crowns on your heads (sometimes witnesses hold them over their heads) and after a cycle of prayers, the final of which is “Our Father”, will give you a common cup of red wine. Drink it to the bottom, the bride should drink the last drops, like the keeper of the hearth.

Then, to the sounds of solemn singing, follow the priest around the lectern where the Cross and the Gospel lie. Go around the lectern three times and wait for the priest to remove the crowns from you and congratulate you on your marriage. At this, the wedding ceremony is considered over, and the young can accept congratulations from relatives, friends and relatives.

At the wedding, for the only time, it is allowed for a man to wear a headdress during the gospel. Even the archpastors of the Church take off their mitres before reading the Word of God, while the newlyweds remain in crowns. This is a figurative expression of the Church's reverence for those who are married.

Crowns as a symbol of martyrdom

Another symbol of the crowns can be considered martyrdom. This means that now the newlyweds, having witnessed their marriage before God, undertake to arm themselves against the sinful desires of the body. Newlyweds should not only confess the faith of Christ in their hearts and souls, but also set an example with their whole lives.

The confession of faith, according to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, must be even before death. That is, the Orthodox should not renounce God in difficult life situations. An example of the steadfastness of faith are the holy martyrs, who even endured death for the name of Christ.

Crowns are put on newlyweds as a sign that now they both undertake to preserve not only the purity of family life, but also the Orthodox faith. Together, in unity, the newlyweds should strive for the moral ideal - Christ. And for a pious life, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the Lord will vouchsafe his children with incorruptible crowns of the Kingdom of Heaven.

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You have already decided that you want to connect your fate with your loved one by getting married in a church. and the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. offer to learn more about how and under what conditions a wedding is performed, and what is needed for this.

In Russia, they crown in the same way as they “paint” from the age of 18

1. The very first and most important thing is that both those who are getting married must be baptized Orthodox Christians. If it turns out that the situation with baptism is not clear - for example, a person does not remember whether he was baptized or not, then you need to come to the temple in advance and discuss this with the priest, preferably at least a month before the expected date of the wedding. In some cases, marriage with non-Orthodox Christians (Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, etc.) is allowed, but on the condition that the children born in this marriage will be baptized in Orthodoxy.

2. They do not marry if at least one of the newlyweds professes a non-Christian religion (Muslim, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.).

3. The sacrament of the wedding is performed only after registration at the registry office, however, if there are any circumstances that interfere with this, for example, problems with the documents of one of the future spouses, then you can always be met. To do this, you need to go to the temple in advance and consult with the priest.

4. During the fasts do not get married. This is important to consider when setting a wedding date, because fasting, as you know, involves abstinence not only in food, but also in physical intimacy, the first wedding night in fasting is not blessed. The dates of fasting days can be found on the website www.pravoslavie.ru.

5. It is forbidden to marry persons who are in close degrees of kinship.

6. In the Orthodox Church, it is allowed to get married three times in a lifetime if a person was widowed while being married, or the previous marriage was dissolved according to church rules.

7. They do not marry if the bride or groom is actually married to another person. A civil marriage must be dissolved in the prescribed manner, and if the previous marriage was a church one, then the permission of the bishop to dissolve it and the blessing to enter into a new marriage is necessary.

The sacrament of the wedding is performed only after registration in the registry office

8. The age of those getting married is limited by local laws - in Russia they get married in the same way as they “paint” from the age of 18.

9. At the wedding, everyone who the newlyweds want to see at the same time can be present. There are no restrictions.

10. A wedding can be held on the same day as a trip to the registry office, but usually this is not done, since it is simply difficult for young people and their guests to withstand such a load.

11. The clothes of those who are getting married should, of course, be smart, the bride's dress can be of any color, traditionally light colors. It is desirable that there are sleeves, a closed back, but if the dress is sleeveless, then you can use a cape on the shoulders.

12. At the wedding, it is allowed to conduct video and photography, only the priest must be warned about this in advance.

13. Before you take such a responsible step as a wedding, it would be good to confess. Confession is usually performed during the evening service on Saturdays and before Orthodox holidays, or during the morning service on Sundays and holidays, respectively.

14. If the wedding donation is too big for you, then you can always explain the situation to the priest and donate as much money as you can

15. And most importantly: if you have any specific questions of a domestic, organizational or personal nature, you should discuss them exclusively with the priest, but not with the saleswomen in the candle shop, active grandmothers in the church or the church watchman.

Text: Alexandra Borisova, Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

A church wedding is not just a beautiful tradition that confirms the civil bonds of marriage. This sacred rite strengthens the connection between a man and a woman in the face of God. It should be understood that a church marriage is indissoluble, unlike a civil union. Accordingly, the wedding should be taken seriously.

In contact with

And although the marriage ceremonies in the registry office and in the church are somewhat similar, there are a lot more requirements for the wedding. Everything is important here to the smallest detail - from the spiritual mood of the newlyweds, to the color of the handkerchief wrapped around the wedding candle. Careful advance preparation for the wedding ceremony will help to avoid unnecessary unrest on this bright day. So, what do you need to know for a wedding in the Orthodox Church and how everything happens.

Social and religious conditions

Primarily it is worth considering the basic conditions necessary for the implementation of the wedding in the church.

Social:

• The couple to be married must be officially married (a marriage certificate is provided).
• Neither spouse should be officially married to a third party.
• Spouses must be of marriageable age. It corresponds to the official marriageable age - 18 years. In certain cases, the age of the bride may be 16 years.
• The spouses must not be closely related by blood. Marriages of relatives up to the third generation are prohibited.

Religious:

• Both spouses must be baptized.
• In rare cases, marriage between an Orthodox Christian and a non-Orthodox Christian (Catholics, Lutherans, etc.) is allowed. Such a union will be approved if the children born in it are brought up in Orthodox traditions.
• It is not allowed to marry persons who are related to the church (godparents, godchildren).
• Marriage is allowed no more than three times in a lifetime. Provided that previous marriages were dissolved in accordance with all the canons of Orthodoxy, or the spouse was previously widowed.
• A wedding is not performed if at least one of the newlyweds declares his atheism or coercion into marriage by his parents, future spouse, etc.

When to get married?

If all the basic conditions are met, then it is necessary to choose the time for the ceremony. Newlyweds can choose one of four days of the week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. It is worth remembering that weddings are not carried out during multi-day fasts - Christmas, Great, Petrov and Assumption. Also, Christmas time (January 7-19), the week before the start of Lent (Maslenitsa) and the week after Easter fall out of the calendar. You should not count on the dates of the great church holidays - the Presentation Day (February 15), the Ascension of the Lord, the Trinity, the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11), the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (September 21), the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 28), the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God ( October 13). Under the ban and the days on the eve of the above dates. In addition, the days of temple holidays may also fall. These activities are determined individually for each temple, therefore, in any case, it is better to first consult with the rector of the church.

Preparing for the wedding

Since a wedding in the Orthodox Church is a spiritual ritual rather than a physical one, the preparation for it for the most part lies in the non-material plane. A prerequisite for a wedding is the sacrament and confession of the newlyweds. These rituals should be performed 3-4 days before the wedding. It will be optimal to observe a two to three day fast before that. It should be remembered that on the day of the sacrament, as well as on the day of the wedding, you can not eat, drink alcohol and have sex. Additionally, you can spiritually tune in to the ceremony, turn to God with a prayer for a successful marriage.

But still, when preparing for the wedding, one should not forget about the material attributes of the ceremony. Future spouses need to pay attention to the following points.

crosses

Pectoral crosses are an indispensable attribute for any person crossing the threshold of the church. This rule applies both guests of the holiday, and the spouses themselves.

Rings

According to ancient tradition, two rings were bought for the wedding - gold and silver. Golden personified sunlight and male power. BUT silver embodied the image of moonlight and, therefore, the feminine. In our time, this tradition is almost a thing of the past. Often the same gold or silver rings are bought. You can choose models inlaid with precious stones. But still it is better to give preference to a not very pretentious, flashy option.

The rings must be given to the priest before the ceremony. He places them on the throne for consecration.

Icons

For the wedding ceremony you will need two consecrated icons - Christ and the Virgin. The images will symbolize the masculine and feminine. These icons after the action will certainly go to the house of the newlyweds. It is best to place them in the red corner. These symbols are the most powerful amulet. In the old days, wedding icons were kept in families for many generations and passed from parents to children.

Candles

During the wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church, the newlyweds hold church candles in their hands. You can buy them at your local church shop. Usually for the wedding you can buy special holiday candles. It is also worth preparing two beautiful small scarves. The bride and groom wrap candles with them so that the wax does not burn their hands during the ceremony.

Wedding candles are also preserved in the home of the young throughout their lives.

According to popular belief, these attributes have strong protective abilities. In particular, candles are used as a talisman during a difficult pregnancy of the spouse.

Towels, towels

For the ceremony, it is necessary to prepare two festive towels. These can be towels decorated with wedding symbols, or elegant white cuts. Sometimes pieces of white cloth are used.

One of the towels is laid under the feet of the newlyweds, and their hands are bandaged with the other. These attributes also need to be stored to ensure a happy life for spouses.

Bride's dress

At the wedding, the bride always wears a white dress. Bare shoulders or chest are not allowed in the church, so you should choose a more closed, restrained model. If the purchased dress does not meet this condition, then you can use a cape, jacket, coat.

Bride must be in church with a covered head. It can be a veil, hat or other headdress. It is worth considering that the rule of a covered head applies not only to the spouse, but also to any woman who has crossed the age barrier of 4 years.

The procedure, order and how long does the wedding in the Orthodox Church

The wedding ceremony itself takes from 40 minutes to an hour. But, taking into account the expectation, you should tune in to a ceremony lasting up to two hours.

It must be remembered that during the wedding, the bride should always be to the left of the future spouse.

The couple holds wedding candles in their left hand. The right hand is required in order to be baptized. Therefore, it is better to transfer the bride's wedding bouquet into the hands of close guests. For clarity, you need to be baptized at the same time when the priest does it. The couple will need witnesses, best men. A baptized man and woman should be chosen for this position. Their duties, in particular, include holding the crowns over the heads of the spouses.

Initially, a betrothal ceremony is held. The action takes place in front of the entrance to the church. The father blesses the newlyweds three times and hands them lit candles. After reading a short prayer, the priest puts the ring on the groom's finger. Then the spouses change rings three times. This process symbolizes the transfer of power over oneself to the spouse. Now the couple is officially considered a bride and groom. Next comes the actual wedding. The priest introduces the couple into the center of the temple, stopping in front of the lectern. Prayers will be read almost all the time of the ceremony. The most touching moment is the sacramental phrase “I take you as a husband (wife)”. The priest gives the newlyweds to kiss the crowns and wedding icons. Also, the newlyweds drink church wine three times from a special bowl. This part of the ceremony symbolizes that from now on the couple will divide everything in their lives in half. At the end, the newly-made husband and wife are circled around the lectern three times. The priest gives the last instructions, and the guests are already in a hurry with congratulations.

Photo and video shooting during the wedding in the Orthodox Church

It is worth remembering that the wedding in the Orthodox Church is a sacrament. Staged photos are not allowed here. The operator can shoot only in reportage format. In no case should you pass between the newlyweds and the Royal Doors. And in many churches, photography is only allowed at the entrance.

Video on how and by what rules the wedding ceremony takes place in the Orthodox Church:

Preparing for the wedding ceremony in the church, you should definitely pay attention to the choice of the necessary accessories, the time and place of the ritual itself. But still, behind all this fuss, the main thing is not to lose the very sacred meaning of this ancient ritual. Indeed, after a church marriage, a man and a woman become one in the eyes of people and God himself.

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