The Marriage Service
	The Service of Betrothal The betrothal is celebrated in the narthex, or in the back part of the church. Deacon: Bless, Master. Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. D: In peace let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy. (Repeated after each petition.) D: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the lord. For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. For our Metropolitan _____, for our Bishop _____, for the honorable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. For the servant of God _____, and for the handmaiden of God _____, who now plight each other their troth, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That they may be granted children for the continuation of the race, and all their petitions which are unto salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That they may be granted children for the continuation of the race, and all their petitions which are unto salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That He will send down upon them perfect and peceful love, and assistance, let us pray to the Lord. That He will preserve them in oneness of mind, and in steadfast faith, let us pray to the Lord. That the Lord our God will grant to them an honorable marriage and a bed undefiled, let us pray to the Lord. For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace. D: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and evervirgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God. C: To Thee, O Lord. D: For untoThee are due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now, and ever and unto ages of ages. C: Amen. P: O eternal God, who hast brought into unity those who were sundered, and hast ordained for them an indissoluble bond of love, who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and didst make them heirs of Thy promise: Bless also these Thy servants, _____, and _____, guilding them unto every good work. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. C: Amen. P: Peace be unto all. C: And to your spirit. D: Bow your heads unto the Lord. C: To Thee, O Lord. P: O Lord our God, who hast espoused the Church as a pure virgin from among the gentiles: Bless this betrothal, and unite and maintain these Thy servants in peace and oneness of mind. For unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. C: Amen. Then taking the rings, the priest blesses the bridal pair, making the sign of the cross with the ring of the bride over the bridegroom, and with that of the bridegroom over the bride, saying to the man: The servant of God, _____, is betrothed to the handmaiden of God, _____, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. And to the woman: The handmaiden of God, _____, is betrothed to the servant of God, _____ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. And when he has said this to each of them three times, he places the rings on their right hands. Then the bridal pair exchange the rings, and the priest says the following prayer. D: Let us pray to the Lord. C: Lord, have mercy. P: O Lord our God, who didst accompany the servant of the patriarch Abraham into Mesopotamia, when he was sent to espouse a wife for his lord Isaac, and who, by means of the drawing of water, didst reveal to him that he should betroth Rebecca. Do Thou, the same Lord, bless also the betrothal of these Thy servants, _____ and _____, and confirm the promise that they have made. Establish them in the holy union which is from Thee. For in the beginning Thou didst make them male and female, and by Thee the woman is joined unto the man as a helper and for the procreation of the human race. Therefore, O Lord our God, who hast sent forth Thy truth upon Thine inheritance, and Thy covenant unto Thy servants our fathers, Thine elect from generation to generation: Look upon Thy servant, _____, and Thy handmaiden, _____, and establish and make firm their betrothal, in faith and in oneness of mind, in truth and in love. For Thou, O Lord, hast declared that a pledge should be given and confirmed in all things. By a ring power was given to Joseph in Egypt; by a ring Daniel was glofiried in the land of Babylon; by a ring the uprightness of Tamar was revealed; by a ring our heavenly Father showed His bounty upon His Son, for He said: Bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry. By thine own right hand, O Lord, Thou didst arm Moses in the Red Sea; by Thy true word the heavens were established, and the foundations of the earth were made firm, and the right hands of Thy servants also shall be blessed by Thy mighty word and by Thine upraised arm. Therefore, O Master, bless now this putting-on of rings with Thy heavenly blessing, and let Thine angel go before them all the days of their life. For Thou art He that blesses and sanctifies all things, and unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. C: Amen. next

since 15 oct 2001

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