Orthodox World

The Last Supper. Miniature from the Gospel

The Marriage Service

The Service of Crowning

The bridal couple, preceded byt the Priest, moves in procession to the center of the church.
Priest and choir, Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prospertiry of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!
(Ps 128)
[An exhortation may follow. Then according to Slavonic editions of the marriage service, the priest shall inquire of the bridegroom: Do you, _____, have a good, free, and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take as your wife this woman, _____, whom you see here before you?
Bridegroom: I have, reverend father.
P: Have you promised yourself to any other bride?
Bridegroom: I have not promised myself, reverend father.
And the priest, looking at the bride, shall inquire of her:
Do you, _____, have a good, free, and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take as your husband this man, _____, whom you see here before you?
Bride: I have, reverend father.
P: Have you promised yourself to any other man?
Bride: I have not promised myself, reverend father.]
D: Bless, master.
P: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
C: 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 servants of God, _____ and _____, who are now being united to each other in the community of marriage, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will bless this marriage, as He blessed the marriage in Cana of Galilee, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will grant to them chastity, and the fruit of the womb as is expedient for them, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will make them glad with the sight of sons and daughters, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will grant to them enjoyment of the blessing of children, and a blameless life, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will grant to them and to us, all our petitions which are unto salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That He will deliver them and us 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 command ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
C: To Thee, O Lord.
P: 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.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
Then the priest recites aloud the following prayer: O God most pure, fashioner of every creature, who didst transform the rib of our forefather Adam into a wife, because of Thy love toward mankind, and didst bless them and say to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; who didst make of the two one flesh: Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, and what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Thou didst bless Thy servant Abraham, and opening the womb of Sarah didst make him to be the father of many nations. Thou didst give Isaac to Rebecca, and didst bless her in childbearing. Thou didst join Jacob unto Rachel, and from them didst bring forth the twelve patriarchis. Thou didst unite Joseph and Aseneth, giving to them Ephraim and Manasseh as the fruit of their procreation. Thou didst accept Zechariah and Elizabeth, and didst make their offspring to be the Forerunner. From the root of Jesse according to the flesh, Thou didst put forth the ever-virgin one, and wast incarnate of her, and wast born of her for the redemption of the human race. Through Thine unutterable gift and manifold goodness, Thou didst come to Cana of Galilee, and didst bless the marriage there, to make manifest that it is Thy will that there should be lawful marriage and procreation. Do Thou, the same all-holy Master, accept the prayers of us Thy servants. As Thou wast present there, be Thou also present here, with Thine in invisible protection. Bless this marriage, and grant to these Thy servants, _____ and _____, a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, mutual love in the bond of peace, long-lived offspring, gratitude from their children, a crown of glory that does not fade away. Graciously grant that they may see their children's children. Preserve their bed unassailed, and give them of the dew of heaven from on high, and of the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, wine and oil and with every good thing, so that they may give in turn to those in need; and grant also to those here present with them all those petitions that are for their salvation. For Thou are the God of mercies, and of bounties, and of love toward 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.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
Then the priest recites aloud the following prayer: Blessed art Thou, O Lord ou God, priest of mystical and undefiled marriage, and ordainer of the law of the marriage of the body; preserver of immpotality and provider of the good things of life; the same master who in the beginning didst make man and establish him as a king over creation, and didst say: "It is not good that man should be alone upon the earth. Let us make a helper fit for him." Taking one of his ribs, Thou didst fashion woman; and when Adam saw her he said: "This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; what therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder: Do Thou now also, O Master, our Lord and our God, send down Thy heavenly grace upon these Thy Servants, _____ and _____; grant that this Thy handmaiden may be subject to her husband in all things, and that this Thy servant may be the head of his wife, so that they may live according to Thy will. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Jacob and all the patriarchs. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Joseph and Aseneth. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Moses and Zipporah. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Joachim and Anna. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Zechariah and Elizabeth. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve Noah in the ark. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve Jonah in the belly of the whale. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve the three holy children from the fire, sending down upon them dew from heaven; and let that gladness come upon them that the blessed Helen had when she found the precious cross. Remember them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst remember Enoch, Shem, Elijah. Remember them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst remember Thy forty holy martyrs, sending down upon them crowns from heaven. Remember them, O Lord our God, and the parents who have nurtured them, for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of houses. Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants the groomsman and the bridesmaid of the bridal pair, who have come together in this joy. Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servant, _____, and Thy handmaiden, _____, and bless them. Grant Them of the fruit of their bodies, fair children, concord of soul and body. Exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon, like a luxuriant vine. Give them offspring in number like unto full ears of grain, so that having enough of all things, they may abound in every work that is good and acceptable unto Thee. Let them see their children's children, like olive shoots abound their table, so that finding favor in Thy sight, they may shine like the stars of heaven, in Thee our God. 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.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
And again the priest prays aloud: O holy God, who didst form man from the dust, and didst fashion woman from his rib, and didst join her unto him as a helper, for it seemed good to Thy majesty that man should not be alone upon the earth: Do Thou, the same Lord, stretch out now also Thy hand from Thy holy dwelling place, and unite this Thy servant, _____, and this Thy handmaiden, _____; for by Thee is the husband joined unto the wife. Unite them in one mind; wed them into one flesh, granting to them the fruit of the body and the procreation of fair children. For Thine is the majesty, and Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
D: Amen.
The priest takes the crowns, which recall those with which the "martyrs", or witnesses of Christ, are crowned in heaven, and crowns first the bridegroom, saying: The servant of God, _____, is crowned unto the handmaiden of God, _____, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
So also he crowns the bride, saying: The handmaiden of God, _____ is crowned unto the servant of God, _____, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Then he blesses them three times, saying each time: O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor.
D: Let us attend.
P: Peace be unto all.
Reader: And to your spirit.
D: Wisdom!
R: The prokeimenon in the eighth tone (Ps 21): Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones; they asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest it them.
Yea, Thou wilt make them most blessed for ever; Thou wilt make them glad with the joy of Thy presence.
D: Wisdom!
R: The reading is from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
D: Let us attend.
R: (Eph 5:20-33) Brethren: Give thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Saviour. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, live your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that the church might be presented before Him in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of His body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one." This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
P: Peace be unto you, reader.
R: And to your spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Verse: (Ps 12:7; tone 5): Thou, O Lord, shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
P: Peace be unto all.
C: And to your spirit.
P: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John.
C: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
D: Let us attend.
P: (Jn 2:1-11) In those days there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with His Disciples. when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when nem have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
C: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
D: Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say.
C: Lord, have mercy.
D: O Lord almighty, the God of our Fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
C: Lord, have mercy.
D: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
C: Lord, have mercy. (3)
D: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God, _____ and _____ (and he mentions also whomever else he wishes), and for the pardon and remission of their sins.
C: Lord, have mercy. (3)
P: For Thou art a merciful 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.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: O Lord our God, who in Thy saving dispensation didst vouchsafe by Thy presence in Cana of Galilee to declare marriage honorable: Do Thou, the same Lord, now also maintain in peace and concord Thy servants, _____ and _____, whom Thou hast been pleased to join together. Cause their marriage to be honorable. Preserve their bed blameless. Mercifully grant that they may live together in purity; and enable them to reach a ripe old age, walking in Thy commandments with a pure heart. For Thou art our God, the God of mercy and salvation, 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.
D: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
C: Lord, have mercy.
D: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
C: Grant it, O Lord. (Repeat after each petition.)
D: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
All things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
A Christian ending to our life: painless, blameless, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.
D: Having asked for the unity of the Faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
C: To Thee, O Lord.
P: And make us worthy, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call on Thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
P: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of 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.
C: To Thee, O Lord.
Then the common cup is brought and the piest blesses it.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: O God, who hast created all things by Thy might, and hast made firm the world, and adornest the crown of all that Thou hast made: Bless now, with Thy spiritual blessing, this common cup, which Thou dost give to those who are now united for the community of marriage. For blessed is Thy name, and glorified is Thy Kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
C: Amen.
Then, taking the cup, the priest gives it to them three times; first to the bridegroom and then to the bride. Then immediately the priest takes them, the groomsmen behind them holding their crowns, and leads them in a circle three times around the lectern. And the priest or the choir sings:
Rejoice, O Isaiah! A virgin is with child; and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel. He is both God and man; and Orient is His name. Magnifying Him, we call the virgin blessed.
O holy martyrs, who fought the good fight and have recieved your crowns: Entreat ye the Lord, that He will have mercu on our souls.
Glory to Thee, O Christ God, the apostles boast, the martyrs joy whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.
Then, taking the crown of the bridegroom, the priest says: Be exalted like Abraham, O Bridegroo, and be blessed like Isaac, and multiply like jacom, walking in peace, and keeping God's commandments in righteousness.
Then, taking the crown of the bride, he says: And you, O bride: Be exalted like Sarah, and exult like Rebecca, and multiply like Rachel, and rejoice in your husband, fulfilling the conditions of the law, for this is well-pleasing to God.
D: Let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: O God, our God, who didst come to Cana of Galilee, and didst bless there the marriage feast: Bless also these Thy servants, who through Thy good providence now are united in wedlock. Bless their goings out and their comings in. Fill their life with good things. Recieve their crowns into Thy Kingdom, preserving them spotless, blameless, and without reproach, unto ages of ages.
C: Amen.
P: Peace be unto all.
D: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
C: To Thee, O Lord.
P: May the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial, and life-giving Trinity, one Godhead and one Kingdom, bless you; and grant you length of days, fair children, progress in life and faith; and fill you with all earthly good things, and make you worthy to enjoy the good things of the promise; through the prayers of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints. Amen.
D: Most holy Theotokos, save us!
C: More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.
P: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to Thee.
C: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy. (3) Father, bless.
P: May He who by His presence in Canna of Galilee declared marriage to be honorable, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable apostles; of the holy, God-crowned kings Constantine and Helen, equal to the apostles, of the holy great martyr Procopius; and of all the saints; have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.
C: Amen.