What gives a wedding. Why do people get married

AT modern times An increasing number of couples are limited to marriage only in the registry office, bypassing the church. Some do not recognize this ritual, others refuse it for religious reasons, while others simply do not understand why they need to get married. If you belong to the third type of future newlyweds, then our article will be of interest to you.

Less than a century ago church marriage and the state were inseparable. The couples went through a wedding ceremony, after which they were officially considered husband and wife. In modern America, this practice still exists: by submitting an application to a certain authority (in some states this is a court), in return you receive a referral for the ceremony. The referral can be addressed to the municipality or to the church. Thus, after the wedding, Americans can automatically become spouses.

In Ukraine, the procedure is more complicated: you cannot get married if you are not registered in the registry office. When you can get married - immediately after registration. In the church, you must first present a state-issued marriage certificate. But we will talk about the features of the implementation later.

Choosing the Right Day

Choosing a wedding day should not only focus on the time of year. Best to open church calendar and see what days this or that post falls on. Marriage during these periods is strictly prohibited. In addition, one cannot enter into a church marriage on the days of major holidays - at Christmas, Easter, etc.

Confession

According to church canons, before the wedding, the couple is obliged to confess. For many people, this process is incomprehensible, awkward and even frightening. In fact, there is nothing wrong with it. You do not even have to speak out loud, as it happens in foreign films, because you are confessing to God.

AT Orthodox Church confession takes place as follows: the priest stands in front of the lectern and reads a prayer. Then he invites those present to confess. At this time, each parishioner can mentally ask the Lord for forgiveness for their sins. The purpose of this rite is repentance. Upon completion, the priest will read another prayer, you put your lips to the cross - and the confession is over.

Wedding Attributes

To conduct a religious ceremony, you will need to buy some things in advance. What do you need for a wedding? In addition to wedding rings, these are: paired wedding icons (of the Savior and the Mother of God), candles, a bottle of Cahors wine and a wedding towel. In most cases, you can purchase icons and candles directly in the temple. If he is engaged in your holiday, he will take care of everything himself.

Fast

Before entering into a church marriage, you must fast for at least 3 days. This means giving up animal food and entertainment.

Witnesses

The choice of witnesses for the wedding should also be approached with all responsibility. They must belong to the same religion, be baptized and wear crosses as confirmation. It is believed that witnesses should not be a couple, since after the ceremony they will become spiritual brother and sister. In relation to the spouses, they can be blood relatives, there are no restrictions on this. The roles of witnesses at the wedding are compared with godparents - only they are responsible for the well-being of the new family.

It is believed that from the moment the bride and groom cross the threshold of the temple, they appear before God himself. From this moment on, they must be silent and listen to everything the priest says. They hold icons in their hands (the groom is the Savior, the bride is the Mother of God). The bride must have a veil. Witnesses hold crowns over the heads of the spouses. Warn them in advance so that the crown does not touch the head.

Who can't get married?

There are certain conditions for a wedding. If you fall into one of the following categories of people, the church will refuse to perform the ritual for you:

those who have not registered their marriage in the registry office
unbaptized or bride and groom belonging to different religions
married for the 4th time
responsible for the dissolution of another's marriage
those who were not given their blessing by their parents

In addition, there is an age limit for the ceremony. The lower threshold is the age of majority, i.e. the minimum age from which you will be signed in the registry office. There is also a maximum limit. For women, this is 60 years, and for men, a little more - 70.

Finally, I would like to remind you that it is never too late to get married. Even people who have been married for many years often come to the desire to become families before God. Perhaps our article has helped you realize this need.

(21 votes : 3.76 out of 5 )

The birth of a Christian family is accomplished with the blessing of the Church, which unites the two into a single whole in the sacrament of the wedding. There is a special providence of God for such a family, since at its foundation lies the gospel commandment of love.

What does a Christian need to know about this church sacrament, how to prepare for it? This will be our story, intended for the bride and groom preparing for the wedding, or unmarried spouses who lived side by side, perhaps until the golden jubilee. We invite them all to think about a simple question that our great-great-grandmothers and great-great-grandfathers knew so well - for what do people get married?

Why was the wedding persecuted by the enemies of the Church?

Many of our readers, if not present at the church wedding, certainly have an idea about it from numerous films.

First of all, I remember the princess-bride in a snow-white wedding dress. Burning candles, jubilant chants and church prayers. Solemn procession behind the priest around the lectern under the shadow of royal crowns. A bell chime falling from the sky, glorifying the union of love. Many flowers and a stream of joy overflowing over the edge of this special day when before God and people two first appeared as husband and wife.

The older generation still remembers how the solemn registration took place in the wedding palace or the regional registry office, accompanied by Mendelssohn's wedding march. And only a few, after the registry office, dared to get married in secret ...

The cases of bygone days now include the era of fierce persecution of: the destruction of temples, the persecution of the clergy, the eradication of faith itself. Our memory does not bleed when faced with the fact of recent reality, when one enterprising leader of the people presumptuously "prophesied" how "the last priest would be shown on television."

This is how the enemies of Christ acted, consistently implementing their monstrous plan for the destruction of Russia, the stronghold of Orthodoxy.

The autocratic power was trampled, the family of the last sovereign of Russia was slandered and shot, so that their icon-painting faces, given to us forever, would disappear forever from the face of the earth and our memory true image Christian marriage. Satanic destructive stereotype begins to take hold human relations. Herodias becomes the ideal of the new woman.

As you know, she was from the Maccabean family and the granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was looking for royal honors and power, which she did not have in her marriage to Herod Philip, her cousin uncle. The blood of many evil and voluptuous ancestors mixed in her veins. She persuaded her husband's brother Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, to adulterous marriage.

Being publicly denounced by John the Baptist for violating the law, she, harboring malice, looked for an opportunity to deal with the holy prophet. The instrument of revenge was her daughter Salome. On the day of the anniversary of Herod's accession to the throne, she pleased the ruler and all the guests with her dance, and therefore Herod publicly promised Salome any reward, even up to half of his kingdom. Here is how F.V. describes the events that followed. Farrar.

“The delighted girl ran to consult with her mother, and it was then that Herodias had the opportunity to satisfy her bloodthirsty vindictiveness. “Ask,” she said, for the heads of John the Baptist, so that they would immediately give you the head of this hated prophet on a platter. Herod listened to this request with horror. She sobered him, because she went against all his best convictions. Had he been capable of any courage, he could easily have dismissed this request as being inconsistent with the purpose of his promise. But the false fear of people and the thirst for approval, the passion for popularity, the vanity of power - all this suppressed the best motives in him. An executioner was sent into prison, a sword flashed, and, at the request of a shameless maiden, at the instigation of an adulteress distraught with hatred, due to the conceited weakness of the criminal king, the head of the greatest of those born by women was cut off! This head, laid on a bloody dish, was brought to the princess, and she took it to her mother, who poured out all her hatred over her, to which only a worthless angry woman was capable of "(F.V. Farrar. From the chapter" Herods "in the book "Conscience and the Fall", St. Petersburg, 1998, pp. 120-121).

Subsequently, all three - Herod Antipas, Herodias and her daughter Salome accepted a painful death as God's retribution for the death of the holy prophet of the Lord John the Baptist.

Holy Scripture teaches foolish mankind about the ways righteous life“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (). And all the same, since the time the world has been standing, humanity has repeatedly fallen into a trap set by the spirits of malice in high places. “You will be like gods,” a seductive whisper is heard. And the light of reason is fading. Where will the scales of free human will now tip? Destroy the family and the man will get lost in the dark forest.

This is not the first time in the history of Christianity that blood has been shed. But the enemies of God cannot overcome the Church. And on the blood of the martyrs, faith is resurrected again. Indestructible is the love for Christ of all those who gave their lives to Him and followed Him, taking up their cross. “God is love,” testifies the Apostle John the Theologian (). Therefore, Christianity itself is a religion of sacrificial love, which has two ways: either to consecrate oneself to God and leave the world to pray for him, or, while in the world, to keep a blessed marriage, honoring God's commandment: "And God said to them: be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it" (). And God gave a promise to future mankind that “the seed of the woman will erase the head of the serpent” (), seeing through the millennia the modest face of the Most Pure Virgin from the house of Joachim and Anna.

And so the God-Manhood was accomplished. The first thing the Savior did when he entered the path of service was to bless the married couple in Cana of Galilee. According to church tradition, it was the wedding of Simon the Zealot, who was shocked by a miracle that happened - the transformation of water into fine wine. “Here is He, promised by God, the long-awaited Messiah!” revealed to him that day.

Since then, every marriage is performed with the blessing of the Church, the Head of which is the Lord Himself. Moreover, Christian marriage creates its own invisible small church, the head of which is a man who stands before the Lord for all his household members. Each of our prayerful sighs is known to God. You just need to be able to give place to God's care for us and not forget - "what a man sows, that he will also reap: he who sows to his own flesh from the flesh will reap corruption, and he who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life" ().

And if a husband and wife are outside the church fence, their life passes among the raging passions that reign in this world and destroy fragile human structures. Enmity and quarrels, jealousy and adultery alternate in it vicious circle from which there is no way out for those who reject God's help. This is evidenced by the growing wave of divorces, dooming both children and adults to loneliness.

Take care of honor from a young age

We all know this proverb, set by Pushkin as an epigraph to the story "The Captain's Daughter". But it was an epigraph to the very life of a Russian person, to his whole way of life and being.

Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov therefore multiplied the glory of Russian weapons, because the famous words of the commander: "My daughter's chastitydearer to me than life and own honor» , - were not only words loving father. They testified to the deep invincibility of his spirit. Therefore, the Suvorov army was invincible, because it lived according to the gospel commandments, constituting a single spiritual whole with its commander. She could always fearlessly go to her death “For God, the Tsar and the Fatherland!”. And this made our state strong, in which the Orthodox people lived and believed in this way.

How important it is for us today to touch with our souls this patriarchal chastity, faithfully preserving the pious customs of our ancestors. They built their lives according to the word of God. Then neither grandfathers nor grandchildren parted with the lives of the saints. The spiritual heritage of the holy fathers and teachers of the Church was a source of innermost thoughts about oneself and about life. The life-giving word of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition thought of as an incorruptible treasure of the spirit.

So the modern pastoral word explores and verifies our fleeting and changing life by the eternal word of God, which guides the priest, who is always at the epicenter of human problems. For this, like the apostles, “verbs eternal life».

“In the old days, concern for a future wedding did not overtake parents suddenly. Almost from birth, they collected a dowry estate for the girl, figured out the worries of her son's marriage. In rich houses of the upper classes, various benefits were recorded for children: villages, houses, money was saved. In a peasant family, the girl was preparing a styling-chest: fur coats, blankets, dresses, towels. The guy was saving up for the wedding. Without renouncing the division, they tried to prepare an extra sleigh, buy a forest, a tool. Already the baby had his own property: it was customary to give “by the tooth”, and later “money” for the name day for the future household. Thus, from childhood, the child, meeting with objects and conversations related to his future marriage, thought about independent family life.

Wedding celebrations were the brightest event in a series of family holidays. They stood out for their long and well-established rituals, very special and magnificent dresses. Gifts. Songs. It didn't last one day. There were many guests at the wedding. This also had its educational value. An older sister or aunt, a neighbor in a wedding dress, “like a princess”, became the center of attention of the whole family, the whole street, the parish. The girl looked, mentally trying on such an unusual care and love of loved ones and, of course, a rich dress. The boy looked at an older relative or brother friend and also thought about the unprecedented honor with which the groom is surrounded. Hoping to experience the same someday. In conversations, the children discussed wedding gifts for a long time, the list of which, by ordinary chance, became the property of relatives and neighbors.

These gifts also captivated children's imagination. “Why, why does he have such respect and gifts? What did he do that he deserved? thought the child. They asked mother and father. “You will be hardworking and modest, and you will be married. We will sew for you Nice dress". “Be a good helper to your father, don’t be lazy, don’t be mischievous - they’ll give a good girl for you,” the mother probably answered. From gifts and boots, the child's attention switched to virtues. Virtue received a real reward - the right to be an enviable bride, an enviable groom. Sin also had a visible and tangible punishment. “Who will take you, clumsy ?!”, “Who will they give for you, unlucky ?!”.

Once upon a time, the attention of our compatriots was not so scattered. Anxiety for the health of the pope or an unprecedented flood in Brazil did not disturb the hearts. But more spiritual strength remained for their own, family affairs and concerns. For the future marriage of a son or daughter, serious preparations were made. Morality, industriousness, religiosity, household skills, neatness, health, obedience to parents, the fun of possible applicants for relatives did not escape the attention of others. All impressions and information fit into the memory until the time, then to make the only right choice for happy fate daughter or son. They also tried to give a look to their “goods”, so that later there would be no reproaches from relatives. “Mother made me wash it five times. She ran a handkerchief around the corners, checking if it was clean. She said: “When you get married, it will be a sin on me that I raised a slut.” You won’t linger at the gate either, they will definitely shout from the house that there’s nothing, they say, to look out for the street, ”one woman told about her upbringing.

Both boys and girls remembered that " good fame lies, and the thin one runs, ”and they tried not to give a reason for bad fame, because the retribution for a prank in the future could be a shameful refusal during matchmaking, or even loneliness.

The fact that a teenager's thoughts often turned to a future marriage does not mean that he developed carnal daydreams. There was nothing lustful in these thoughts. The wedding attracted the imagination of the young by highlighting, revealing to those around them the real dignity of a person. Not everyone could realize this, but everyone felt it ”(Priest Sergius Nikolaev. To the grooms and brides. M., p. 5-9).

So slowly lived Mother Russia, accommodating in her every day the simple wisdom of pious being, inherited from generation to generation, firmly knowing that without this it is impossible to calmly look into the future. This is a lesson to all young people and all parents who should know that in order to be with burning candles at the lectern, the bride and groom will need their whole life under their parents' roof. From the way that prevails in father's house bride and groom, subsequently the main wealth of the new family is formed.

About parental blessing, or who chooses the bride?

There were times when the bride and groom first met only in the church at the wedding. Parental blessing and will were an indisputable law. The obedience and piety of children was rewarded by the Lord Himself.

In order to find out the will of God, it used to be that the whole family prayed for a long time at the holy relics of God’s saints, ordered prayers from miraculous icons, went to monasteries to spiritual elders, to whom the human heart is open and God’s providence for those who ask for advice is visible. Such a conversation is known between the reverend and the benefactor of the Diveevo monastery, Nikolai Alexandrovich Motovilov, which took place in October 1831.

Motovilov told the elder his innermost secret. For more than ten years, his heart has been given to the pious maiden Ekaterina Mikhailovna Yazykova. But the marriage did not work out in any way, which made Nikolai Aleksandrovich unusually sad, since in the image of his first love he found for himself a truly Christian ideal of a self-sacrificing female heart and did not think to look for or wish for anyone else.

The Monk Seraphim listened to him with attention, asking about everything in detail. And unexpectedly he told Motovilov that the bride, who was destined for him from God, is now still small, she is only a little over eight years old. And then the elder revealed to the astonished Nikolai Alexandrovich those circumstances that would serve their acquaintance in the future and further happy marriage.

“After all, it’s different, your love of God, to ask the Lord God to foretell someone a bride, as you, for example, ask now that I, a poor one, ask the Lord to foretell Yazykov as a bride, but it’s different when the Lord is already Himself to whom he deigned to foretell which bride, as, for example, for your love of God. Your bride is now no more than eight years and three or four or five months old. Believe me, this is exactly true, and I myself, poor Seraphim, am ready to testify to you in this ... I am not talking about the present time, but about the future. After all, I told you that life is great, and a lot happens in life. So this is how it will happen to you in advance that they will reproach you for some girl, and vilify her for you, then then do not forget the requests and prayers of the wretched Seraphim - marry this girl!

“And the Father for the third time bowed to me, a sinner, to the face of the earth, and I again fell at his feet.

Standing up and looking directly into my eyes, Father Seraphim began to look at me vigilantly and, as if looking into my very soul, asked:

Well, father, will you fulfill the request of the wretched Seraphim?

And I said

- If God deigns to fulfill, then I will try to do as you wish!
“Well,” Father Seraphim said, “thank you! Do not forget this girl! ... And she, I tell you, poor Seraphim, she is like an angel of God both in soul and in flesh ..

But maybe you will be embarrassed when I tell you her title? .. She is a simple peasant woman! .. But do not be embarrassed by this, your love of God: she is your sister according to our forefather Adam, and according to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Then Batiushka began to talk about how we should live with my future wife, and ended his conversation by repeating his request, begging us not to forget either his request or the conversation, and then he let go in peace, without saying anything about Yazykova ...

…AT specified time Motovilov still had no idea either about Diveev or about the role that, over time, he was to play in the fate of this last lot on earth of the Queen of Heaven.

Elena Milyukova, an eight-year-old girl at that time, could even less suspect that someday she would marry, and even a rich nobleman, who in the future would stand at nothing to fulfill the covenant of her Father, and in a worldly appearance would become that servant of the Mother of God and Serafimov, as he later became by the wondrous sight of God ”(Nikolai Alexandrovich Motovilov and the Diveevo Monastery. Edition of the Holy Trinity-Seraphim-Diveevo Convent, 1999, p. 42,45-46,48.)

Since marriages are made in heaven, it means that we must learn to hear the will of God about ourselves, which is revealed to a Christian through prayer life his heart turned to God.

On the blessing of the confessor

When the question of marriage is decided by church people, then the blessing of the spiritual father or the parish priest is necessary, with whom the bride and groom usually confess.

Obedience to the confessor helps to avoid those mistakes that are so often made due to the lack of life and spiritual experience.

When does a church wedding take place?

For a church wedding, the bride and groom must choose a day to perform the sacrament of the wedding and first agree with the priest. You need to know that marriage takes place on special days established by the church - on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The exception is the days on the eve of the Twelve, temple and great holidays. And also in continuation of all posts: Veliky, Petrov, Uspensky and Rozhdestvensky.

In continuation of Christmas time - from January 7 to January 20, during Maslenitsa, as well as during Bright Week; on the eve and on the day of the memory of the Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11; on the eve and on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.

The wedding itself is a separate service performed in the church after the liturgy. On the same day or the day before, the bride and groom partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in order to proceed to the sacrament of the wedding in spiritual purity.

“Our Divine Liturgy, and especially the Eucharist, is the greatest and constant revelation to us of the love of God! - Testifies the shepherd of God, the holy righteous.

For the bride and groom, who are preparing to create a new family - a home church - being in the Divine service, especially on such a day for them, is the best spiritual strengthening. After all, the Lord Himself receives them at His wedding feast, which is the Holy Eucharist. It is no coincidence that in the Gospel the Kingdom of Heaven is more than once likened to marriage and a wedding feast.

About the symbolism of wedding rings

The sacrament of the wedding is preceded by the betrothal of the bride and groom. In the old days, it was performed separately from the wedding and was a test of fidelity and love, the pledge of which was wedding rings.

The word “betrothal” itself, as V.I. Dalia ( Dictionary living Great Russian language V.I. Dahl in 4 vols., Russian language, 1999, vol. 2, p. 616.) comes from the word “hoop”, or “ring”, which is an ancient symbol of eternity. And since the purpose of marriage is to achieve an imperishable image of eternity, then an indispensable condition for its completion is the exchange of rings between the bride and groom.

In the ancient Church, the bishop, performing the betrothal blessing, offered the following prayerful wish:

“Bless, Lord, this ring… for as it crowns a man’s finger… so let the grace of the Holy Spirit surround the bride and groom, so that they see sons and daughters up to the third and fourth generation, who may praise Your name.”

Thus, the bride and groom, “as children of the light,” according to the words of the Apostle Paul (Eph. 5:8), testify to everyone that they are pure and chaste before God. The flame of candles illuminates the beginning of a new life, where light is the source of God's holiness. Union in the Lord necessarily attracts the grace of God. “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (). The bride is handed over to the groom and the husband receives her from God and His Church, according to the word of blessed Simeon. (Works of Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, St. Petersburg, 1856, p. 353.) All brides are beautiful, like snow-white lilies. They delight the eye and gladden the heart. It is no coincidence that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary with a lily flower - a symbol of chastity and purity.

What does burning newlyweds mean?

When the bride and groom stand with lighted candles, the priest performs the cruciform censing of the newlyweds. Thus, he calls on them the grace of the Holy Spirit, reminding us of the events from the Old Testament book of Tobit, which tells of the marriage of Tobias, the son of Tobit, to the daughter of Raguel Sarah, destined for him by God as a wife. And in order for the will of God to be done, an evil spirit was near Sarah, which kills all the suitors, leading both the bride and her parents to despair.

Tobias and Sarah fervently prayed that the Lord would bless them marriage. The prayer of the newlyweds was answered. The Archangel Raphael, who brought Tobias to his bride's house, taught him how to drive away the enemy force with censing (Book of Tobit, chapters 6-8.). Thus, cruciform incense means the invisible, mysterious presence with us of the grace of the Holy Spirit, sanctifying us for good deeds.

How is a betrothal done?

When the priest burns the bride and groom, standing with burning candles in the temple, the Church lifts up prayers, asking God for the peace that the newlyweds need, prays for sending them perfect love and help, grace for immaculate residence, for only the One God grants an honest marriage and a bed bad. The Church prays for deliverance from all sorrow, anger and need, turns to the Most Blessed Lady of the Most Holy Theotokos for intercession and salvation.

In her prayers, the Church brings us back to the times Old Testament. We remember Isaac and Rebekah, whom the Lord Himself chose for each other. And the priest, citing them as an example, asks God's blessings for the betrothal of the bride and groom coming here, so that "the union of love can be made unbreakable for them."

Then the priest blesses first the bridegroom and then the bride three times crosswise with the rings that were consecrated on the holy throne of this church.

The priest accompanies the first step of the union of the bridegroom and the bride with the words: “The servant of God (the name of the groom is called) is betrothed to the servant of God (the name of the bride is called) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen". And then he addresses the bride with the same words: “The servant of God (calls her name) is betrothed to the servant of God (calls his name) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen".

The marital union bears in itself a pledge of unity and eternity. The rings are put on the fingers of the right hands, signifying a blessing on every good deed - “... and the right hand of Your servant will be blessed” - says the text of the prayer, read by the priest after betrothal. Rings testify grace-filled help in conservation conjugal love, unfading thanks to God's mercy.

What does the white board under the feet of the bride and groom mean?

With the singing of the psalm of King David "Blessed are all who fear the Lord ..." the bride and groom with lit candles go to the middle of the temple and stand in front of the lectern, on which they lie holy gospel and the cross of Christ. By this, the Church shows that in all the ways of their lives, in all undertakings, spouses must follow the gospel commandments. And the Cross of Christ the Savior should strengthen them spiritually in carrying their own cross commanded by the Lord to all Christians.

Under the feet of the newlyweds white towel or white cloth - a symbol of unity and joy of inseparable residence in marriage. Like the bride's wedding dress, this snow-white fabric speaks of the purity and chastity of those entering into marriage, that their thoughts, feelings and deeds are also impeccable in relation to each other and to the Lord.

What do the bride and groom make vows to God during the wedding?

When church hymns cease and it becomes quiet in the temple, the priest addresses the instructive word of the Church to the bride and groom, which prepares them for the pronunciation of marriage vows.

Vows are given by believers or in gratitude to the Lord for the heavenly help or when praying for God's help. Violation of the vows made to God constitutes a sin against the third commandment of the Law of God: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."

Therefore, before the vows are pronounced, the priest asks the newlyweds, starting with the groom: “Do you (calls his name) have a good and unconstrained will and a strong idea to take as your wife (calls the name of the bride) ...” The consent of the groom testifies that from now on he is ready to take full responsibility for his family on his shoulders and will take care of both his wife and children, with whom the Lord will bless their union, from now on he recognizes himself as the head of the family in the image of Christ, who is the Head of the Church, for whose unspeakable love ascended the Cross of Calvary.

And the next question of the priest: “Did you not promise another bride?” The negative answer of the groom testifies to his prudence and a clear conscience, fidelity and readiness to be the steward of his family, as a servant of Christ and steward of the Mysteries of God (): “From stewards it is required that everyone be faithful.”

The same questions are offered by the priest and the bride: “Do you have a good and unconstrained will, and a firm thought, take this (groom’s name) as your husband ...” By her answer, the bride testifies that she knows the calling of a wife and mother and she is ready to be a faithful helper to her husband , a loving wife and a virtuous mother, according to the words of the wise Solomon: “Who will find a virtuous wife? Its price is higher than pearls; her husband's heart is confident in her, and he will not be left without profit; she repays him with good, and not with evil, all the days of her life ”().

The bride’s answers: “I have, honest father”, “I didn’t promise, honest father” also testify to her good temper and piety, her readiness to be a reliable support in life for her husband and children.

The marriage vows of the bride and groom confirm before God and the Church the voluntariness and inviolability of their intentions. In a Christian marriage, such evidence is the main condition for recognizing the bride and groom as husband and wife.

“You put crowns on their heads…”

When the wedding vows are pronounced by the bride and groom, the priest proceeds to perform the sacrament of the wedding. Like any church action, it begins with a prayerful petition, invoking the blessing and mercy of God on all those who pray. The priest remembers the God-blessed marriages of the holy forefathers and calls on the future family the blessing of the Lord, which Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Joseph and Aseneth, Zechariah and Elizabeth were honored with; the priest recalls the blessing of the married couple by the Lord in Cana of Galilee and asks Him, who is invisibly coming here, to bless the union of God's servants, whose names he loudly calls and prays for the gift of a peaceful and long married life, blessing to future children and well-being to the whole house.

AT next prayer the priest prays to the Lord to save the spouses, as Noah and his whole family were saved in the ark, as Jonah miraculously escaped in the belly of the whale, and the three youths in the cave of Babylon found heavenly coolness in the fire.

Ascending to the Lord and special request about parents whose prayers “establish the foundations of houses” ().

And now comes the moment of mystery, when the priest places crowns on the blessed couple - a sign of royal power.

The priest, taking the crown, marks the bridegroom with a cross and gives him to kiss the image of the Savior, attached to the front of the crown and consecrating it. When crowning the bridegroom, the priest says: “The servant of God (calls his name) is married to the servant of God (calls the name of the bride) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Having blessed the bride in the same way and allowing her to venerate the image of the Most Holy Theotokos that adorns her crown, the priest crowns her, saying: “The servant of God (the name of the bride) is married to the servant of God (the name of the groom) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

By laying on crowns, the Church gives the bride and groom a special honor for the spiritual feat of maintaining chastity before marriage.

At the exclamation of the priest: “Lord our God, crown me (them) with glory and honor,” the sacrament of marriage is performed. The Church proclaims those who are married to be the founders of a new Christian family - a small church. The church blessing marks the eternity and indissolubility of the born union: “What God combined, let no man separate” ().

Who are the wedding witnesses?

When the priest places crowns on the head of the bride and groom, they are received and held by their godparents, or witnesses. Behind the bride is her friend, and behind the groom is her friend. They are the prayer guardians of this marriage, spiritual mentors, therefore “they must be Orthodox and God-loving” (Composition of Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, 1856, St. Petersburg, p. 357.), - Blessed Simeon adds.

What does the word of the holy Apostle Paul and the gospel reading about the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee teach husband and wife?

And the word of the Apostle Paul to church community Ephesus, and gospel reading about the feast in Cana of Galilee they talk about the main thing - about obedience as an immutable law of all relationships between Christians.

“Whatever He tells you, do it,” says the Mother of God. And behold, they did as it was said, and suddenly they found wine in the vessels in abundance.

And the holy Apostle Paul calls on believers: “Submit to one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21). That is, for the sake of Christ, for the sake of love for Him. And peace enters their homes and hearts, and the Lord blesses them, granting them earthly and heavenly blessings.

The marriage union is like the indissoluble unity of Christ and His Bride-Church, going in the name of love for each other to a voluntary sacrifice on the cross. The Lord, in the name of love and salvation of mankind, ascends to Golgotha. The Church, whose faithful children live for the glory of God and die for the holy Orthodox faith witnessed their love for God during two millennia of unceasing spiritual warfare.

What does the drinking of wine from a common cup by young people symbolize?

After reading the Gospel, the Church again lifts up its prayers for the newlyweds. Then the priest brings a cup of wine and, having blessed it, gives it to the newlyweds. The bride and groom take turns drinking from it to commemorate from now on their inseparable being, both spiritual and bodily, and also as evidence of their unity in good thinking about God.

About walking around the lectern

Then the priest joins the right hands of the spouses as a sign of their unity in Christ and covers them with the end of the stole, which symbolizes the handing over to the husband through the hands of the priest of the wife from the Church Itself. Then he, holding a cross in his hands, circles them three times around the lectern, on which lies the Gospel. The circle at all times served as a sign of eternity, therefore walking around the lectern symbolizes the indissolubility of the concluded union. It is performed three times in honor of the Holy Trinity.

Following the priest, the newlyweds sing church troparia, the meaning of which reveals the hidden meaning of their marriage as unity in Christ to serve God.

“Isae rejoice, Virgin in the womb, and give birth to the son of Emmanuel, God and man, the east is His name: He is great, we bless the Virgin.”

This is how the Church sings of the most joyful event in the Universe - the Nativity of Christ. This hymn, in the context of what is happening at the moment in the temple, reveals to the newlyweds that the birth of their family is now in the series of church events and has the same goal as the God-Manhood - the salvation of each other for eternal life with Christ.

Then the troparion “Holy martyr, who suffered well and was married, pray to the Lord, have mercy on our souls” is sung.

This is a prayerful appeal to those who accepted voluntary suffering, which brought the crown of martyrdom, and through this were made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Church thus tells us that good spouses, through the patience of sorrows, are likened to Christians who have acquired crowns of martyrdom for their feat on the cross of confessing faith in Christ.

At the end, the troparion “Glory to Thee, Christ God, praise of the apostles, joy of the martyrs, their preaching, consubstantial Trinity” is sung.

This hymn recalls that the path of the gospel of Christ awaits every Christian, for according to the words of the Apostle Paul: “The heart believes unto righteousness, the mouth confesses unto salvation” (). Following this path, the husband and wife must first of all be a worthy example for their children and faithful helpers to each other.

Parting word of the Church

In the old days, the newlyweds stayed for seven days covered with crowns, and only on the eighth day they were allowed to leave the temple with a special order. AT contemporary practice the removal of the crowns takes place at the end of the solemn procession. The priest speaks about it a short prayer. But for the rest of their lives, these crowns will invisibly adorn the husband and wife, if they always follow the truth of God, keep peace and love for each other.

The wedding concludes with a special prayer for the newlyweds, in which the priest asks the Lord for a blessing for their whole life, as well as goodness and longevity. He also addresses the Mother of God, who asked the Lord for mercy for the newlyweds in Cana of Galilee.

In this prayer petition, the divinely crowned saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena and Tsar Constantine, who are especially revered by the Church, are also remembered. They were the first of the earthly kings to accept the Christian faith and affirm it as the state faith, bringing the entire universe subject to them into the bosom of the Holy Church of Christ.

In prayer for the newlyweds, the Church addresses the Holy Great Martyr Procopius, who, by his sufferings for Christ, inspired twelve noble women to acquire the crowns of martyrdom, who ascended the cross as if at a wedding feast.

By such examples, the newlyweds are called by the Church to keep apostolic zeal in their hearts and serve God with their labors, for from now on they are a small church, blessed on the day of their wedding by our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Many and good years…” the Church sings to the newlyweds, and the priest addresses them with a pastoral word, which they must listen with special attention, for on a whim during the performance of the sacrament, the priest speaks the word not so much from himself, but revealed to him by the Lord by the grace of the priesthood , says exactly what is important for those coming before him and before God. His word will be about the most necessary in the field of family life, where they are called to serve their neighbors and God.

On the indissolubility of church marriage

Church marriage is indissoluble, except in the event of the death of one of the spouses or the guilt of adultery. Holy Scripture testifies to this:

“A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only in the Lord. ().

What can hinder Christian marriage?

The Orthodox Church considers civil marriage devoid of grace as a human dispensation, but as a fact it recognizes and does not consider it illegal cohabitation. However, the conditions for concluding a marriage under civil law and according to church canons differ. Not every civil marriage can be consecrated by the Church.

The Church does not allow marriage more than three times, while civil law allows fourth and fifth marriages, which the Church does not bless.

A wedding is impossible if one of the spouses is not baptized and is not going to be baptized before the wedding, or if one of the spouses came to the wedding at someone else's will.

A wedding is not possible if one of the spouses is actually married to another person. This requires the dissolution of a civil marriage, and if the marriage was church, it is imperative to take the permission of the bishop to dissolve it and the blessing to enter into a new marriage.

An obstacle to marriage is the blood or spiritual relationship of the bride and groom. If they are christening recipients of the same person, then their marriage cannot be blessed by the Church.

About the wedding meal

The Holy Church warns against irreverent behavior after the sacrament of the wedding, both the newlyweds themselves and the invited guests. Canon 53 of the Council of Laodicea says: “It is not fitting for those who go to marriage to skip or dance, but to dine and dine modestly, as befits Christians.” The wedding feast should be free from all intemperance and indecency. Witnesses at the wedding should take care of this, who, according to Russian custom, are both honored guests and pious reasonable hosts at the wedding celebration.

About married life

The decree of one of the Councils of Carthage says: "The bride and groom, upon receiving a blessing, must spend the next night in virginity out of reverence for the blessing received."

The Church condemns the intemperate conduct of the "honeymoon" by young spouses. Their restraint and moderation will be rewarded with quiet joy and happiness of the first days of a new, joint life.

Also, abstinence is required according to church canons on all Sundays and holidays, days of communion, repentance and fasting. The reverend said to a young man entering into marriage: “... And also keep clean, keep Wednesdays and Fridays, and holidays, and Sundays. For not keeping cleanliness, for not observing Wednesday and Friday by spouses, children will be born dead, and if the holidays and Sundays are not kept, wives die in childbirth.

The elder wrote the same thing in one letter: “Your wife’s illness, perhaps, was due to your own fault: either they didn’t honor the holidays in marital relations, or they didn’t observe marital fidelity for which you are punished with the illnesses of your wife.”

The ability to restrain oneself in married life brings good fruits of spiritual peace and prosperity in the family, strengthens the husband and wife spiritually, makes them able to withstand the sorrows and trials that are inevitable in family life, educates them capable of sacrifice and self-restraint.

Which saints to pray for a successful marriage?

In all Orthodox prayer books you can find prayers on different cases family life. The Lord hears our every prayerful sigh, but in life we are surrounded by exactly what is beneficial for the salvation of our soul, which is priceless in the eyes of God. “Knock and it will be opened...,” the Lord tells us.

They pray for a blessing for marriage to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her icon "Kazanskaya", to the right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, miracle workers of Murom.

For advice and love between husband and wife, they pray to the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian.

About every family and everyday need - the holy blessed Xenia of Petersburg.

When childless, they pray to the righteous god-fathers Joachim and Anna, the holy prophet Zechariah and Elizabeth. If you wish to have a male child - to the reverend.

About the upbringing of children in Christian piety - the martyr Sophia and Saint Sergius Radonezh.

About help in everyday affairs, about the blessing of God over the house - to the Hieromartyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste.

"Without God is not up to the threshold"

We hope that our story about the sacrament of the church wedding will help the reader to think seriously about himself. The last generations of Russians have dropped out of church life and have been deprived of any religious experience for almost a hundred years. Most of us continue to live like this, following generally accepted standards, drifting among the temptations of this world. Is there a place for eternity among this roar, crowd and circulation? Can the Lord knocking on our hearts be heard? Isn't such a life like a painted sun that neither shines nor warms?

But it is worth crossing the threshold of the temple, it is worth joining your heart to common prayer how a previously unknown being will reveal to us the innermost joy of communion with God. Then the centuries-old experience of Russian life, captured in simple words"Without God is not up to the threshold."

At the end of our story about church wedding Let us recall the main thing - this sacrament is a special blessing of the Church, the Head of which is the Lord Himself. Therefore, it is so important to approach it prepared, collected, pure, without deceit, so that it does not come to condemnation, but to the salvation of the soul. Then family life will have a solid, unshakable foundation. And all the prayers uttered on this day in the temple will bear their good fruits, “for with God no word will remain powerless” ().

To the organization weddings should be taken seriously. First of all, decide on which day and in which temple you would like. To date, in most there is a preliminary record, thanks to which you can even choose the time of the ceremony. The presence of the newlyweds at the registration is not required, any of your relatives can do this. If there is no preliminary entry in your chosen one, then you need to issue a receipt for the weddings right on the wedding day. In this case, it is impossible to name the exact time of the sacrament; the priest will be able to conduct it only after other things. But on the other hand, you can agree to conduct the ceremony with a certain priest, if there is a need for this. You need to prepare not only organizationally, but primarily spiritually. Before the sacrament, the bride and groom must observe a three-day fast, visit evening services, confession and . The priest will tell you exactly what prayers should be on these days. Also, during the time it is necessary to refrain not only from animal products - meat, eggs - but also from marital relations. On the wedding day, the newlyweds must come to the temple at the beginning of the service, before that you can not eat or drink anything, smoke and perform marital duty. In the temple, the bride and groom pray and then take communion. After that, there is time to change into wedding clothes, while it is better for the bride to give preference to comfortable shoes, otherwise several hours of standing on high heels can turn into real torture. Wedding rings must be given to your wedding priest in advance so that he can consecrate them. During the ceremony, the newlyweds must wear underwear, and the bride must have a headdress. It can be a veil if you are getting married on the day of your official wedding, or a shawl or scarf. During the ceremony, the presence of relatives and friends is allowed, but filming the process weddings or taking photographs is not allowed in all temples.

Preparing for the wedding

First, the newlyweds must prepare themselves spiritually. Each of the newlyweds must confess to God and take communion. This process should be done 3-4 days before the wedding. Before the wedding, you need to acquire two icons, the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, they will bless the bride and groom. If such icons have been preserved after the wedding of the parents, they can be used and passed on from generation to generation, and they will become family amulet. Icons for the sacrament must be brought by parents, if they do not take part in the ceremony, then the bride and groom bring them.

After the lovers have chosen and purchased the rings, which means the inseparability and eternity of the union of the newlyweds. Rings should be made of different precious materials, one of gold and the other of silver. The brilliance of the sun will give a ring of gold, which is characteristic of a man, and silver, it illuminates the light of the moon, serving the brilliance of the Sun's light. Then, the newlyweds buy other rings - gold ones, they can be decorated with different precious stones that will shine on your fingers.

How is the preparation for shit going?

The instillations of the Holy Church say that before the ceremony, the newlyweds must go through a series of tests, such as fasting, reading prayers, repentance and communion. How long is the preparatory phase? Fasting should be observed for several days, then you need to confess in time, this is not long, the main thing is to have time to do this before the ceremony.

What do you need for a wedding?

This day and moment must be discussed in advance with the priest personally. It is not necessary to confess on the day of the wedding, this can be done in advance. Several witnesses must be present at the wedding. In addition, you need to bring an icon of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, wedding rings, wedding candles can be purchased in the temple itself, and a towel that will need to be laid under the feet of the newlyweds.

Acquaintance of witnesses with the ceremony

The modern rite differs significantly from the ancient one. But even until these times, the rule has been preserved that the ceremony takes place in the presence of a boyfriend and girlfriend. It was they who confirmed the marriage of the bride and groom, as they know them, the witnesses vouched for their marriage.

How does the wedding ceremony take place?

Upon arrival at the temple, it is strictly forbidden to laugh and talk, especially during the Liturgy. Conversations show no respect not only for the church, but also for the clergy, who at this time pray only for a couple of newlyweds. It is not necessary to do this in order to support fashion.

Those who consciously want to legitimize their family before God come to the temple. As a rule, the bride and groom should read prayers that will help them in their future family life. It is this hour that means a lot in the church, and what will happen in the end depends only on you.

Betrothal of the young

Necessarily before the wedding, lovers are betrothed. This means that marriage takes place before God himself, and in his presence. After the end of the Liturgy, the betrothal ceremony begins. This will show the newlyweds the importance of the Marriage Sacrament.

The ceremony takes place in front of the holy altar, behind the doors of which there is a priest. To bring the bride and groom into the temple by the priest himself, this indicates that the newlyweds are like Adam and Eve, and begin a spiritual holy life before God's face and the Holy Church.

Natalia Kaptsova — practitioner of integral neuroprogramming, expert psychologist

Reading time: 11 minutes

A A

The Christian family appears exclusively with the blessing of the Church, which unites lovers into one whole during the sacrament of the wedding. Unfortunately, for many, the sacrament of the wedding today has become a fashionable necessity, and before the ceremony, young people think more about finding a photographer than about fasting and soul.

Why is a wedding really needed, what does the rite itself symbolize, and how is it customary to prepare for it?

The meaning of the wedding ceremony for a couple - is it necessary to get married in a church, and can the sacrament of a wedding strengthen relationships?

“Here we are getting married, and then no one will definitely separate us, not a single infection!” Many girls think when choosing a wedding dress for themselves.

Of course, to some extent, a wedding is a talisman for the love of spouses, but first of all, the Christian family is based on the commandment of love. A wedding is not a session of magic that will ensure the inviolability of the marriage, regardless of their behavior and attitude towards each other. The marriage of Orthodox Christians needs blessing, and it is consecrated by the Church only during the sacrament of the wedding.

But the realization of the need for a wedding should come to both spouses.

Video: Wedding - how to?

What does marriage give?

First of all, the grace of God, which will help the two to build their union in harmony, give birth and raise children, live in love and harmony. Both spouses must clearly understand at the time of the sacrament that this marriage is for life, “in sorrow and joy.”

They symbolize the eternity of the union of the rings that the spouses put on during the betrothal, and walking around the lectern. The oath of allegiance, which is given in the temple before the face of the Almighty, is more important and more powerful than the signatures on the marriage certificate.

It is important to understand that it is realistic to dissolve a church marriage only in 2 cases: upon the death of one of the spouses or the deprivation of his mind.

Who can't get married in an Orthodox church?

The Church does not marry couples who are not legally married. Why is the stamp in the passport so important for the Church?

Before the revolution, the Church was also part of the state structure, whose functions also included the registration of acts of birth, marriage, and death. And one of the duties of the priest was to conduct a study - is the marriage legal, what is the degree of relationship of the future spouses, are there any problems with their psyche, and so on.

Today, these issues are dealt with by registry offices, so the future Church christian family carries a marriage certificate.

And this certificate should indicate exactly the couple that is going to get married.

Are there reasons for refusing to marry - absolute obstacles to church marriage?

A couple will definitely not be allowed to marry if ...

Marriage is not legalized by the state. Such relationships the Church considers cohabitation and fornication, and not marriage and Christian.
The couple is in the 3rd or 4th degree of lateral consanguinity.
The husband is a clergyman, and he took holy orders. Also, nuns and monks who have already taken vows will not be allowed to get married.
The woman is a widow after her third marriage. The 4th church marriage is strictly prohibited. It will also be forbidden to marry in the 4th civil marriage, even if the church marriage will be the first. Naturally, this does not mean that the Church approves the entry into the 2nd and 3rd marriages. The Church insists on eternal fidelity to each other: two and three marriages do not publicly condemn, but they consider them “impurities” and do not approve. However, this will not be an obstacle to the wedding.
The one entering into a church marriage is guilty of a previous divorce, and the cause was adultery. Re-marriage will be allowed only upon repentance and the fulfillment of the imposed penance.
There is an inability to marry (note - physical or spiritual), when a person cannot express his will freely, is mentally ill, and so on. Blindness, deafness, the diagnosis of childlessness, illness are not reasons for refusing to marry.
Both - or one of the couple - did not reach the age of majority.
The woman is over 60 and the man is over 70. Alas, the highest limit for the wedding also exists, and such a marriage can only be approved by the bishop. Age over 80 is an absolute barrier to marriage.
There is no consent to marriage from Orthodox parents on both sides. However, the Church has long been condescending to this condition. In the event that it is not possible to secure a parental blessing, the couple receives it from the bishop.

And a few more obstacles to church marriage:

Man and woman are related to each other.
There is a spiritual relationship between those entering into marriage. For example, between godparents and godchildren, between godparents and godchildren's parents. Marriage between the godfather and the godmother of one child is possible only with the blessing of the bishop.
If the adoptive parent wants to marry the adopted daughter. Or if the adopted son wants to marry the daughter or mother of his adoptive parent.
Lack of mutual agreement in a couple. Forced marriage, even church marriage, is considered invalid. Moreover, even if the coercion is psychological (blackmail, threats, etc.).
Lack of common faith. That is, in a pair, both must be Orthodox Christians.
If one of the couple is an atheist (even if he was baptized in childhood). Just "standing" next to the wedding will not work - such a marriage is unacceptable.
The bride's period. The wedding day must be chosen in accordance with your cycle calendar so that you do not have to reschedule it later.
Period equal to 40 days after birth. The Church does not prohibit getting married after the birth of a baby, but you will have to wait 40 days.

Well, besides, there are relative obstacles to getting married in each particular church - you should find out the details right on the spot.

When and how to organize a wedding?

What day should you choose for the wedding?

Pointing your finger at the calendar and choosing the number that you have is "lucky" - most likely, it will not work. The Church conducts the sacrament of the wedding only on certain days - in Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, if they don't come out...

On the eve of church holidays - great, temple and twelfth.
to one of the posts.
For January 7-20.
On Maslenitsa, on Cheese and Bright Week.
On September 11 and on the eve of it (note - the day of memory of the Beheading of John the Baptist).
On September 27 and on the eve of it (note - the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross).

They also do not marry on Saturday, Tuesday or Thursday.

What do you need to organize a wedding?

Choose a temple and talk to the priest.
Choose a wedding day. The most favorable are the days of the autumn harvest.
Make a donation (it is made in the temple). A separate fee is paid for the singers (if desired).
Choose a dress, a suit for the groom.
Find witnesses.
Find a photographer and arrange a shoot with a priest.
Buy everything you need for the ceremony.
Learn the script. You will swear your oath only once in your life (God forbid), and it should sound confident. In addition, it is better to clarify for yourself in advance how exactly the ceremony takes place in order to know what follows what.
And the most important thing is to prepare for the sacrament SPIRITUALLY.

What will you need for the wedding?

Neck crosses. Of course, consecrated. Ideally, if these are crosses that were received at baptism.
Wedding rings. They must also be consecrated by a priest. Previously, gold was chosen for the groom, and for the bride silver ring, as a symbol of the sun and the moon, which reflects its light. Nowadays, there are no conditions - the choice of rings lies entirely with the couple.
Icons : for the spouse - the image of the Savior, for the wife - the image Mother of God. These 2 icons are the amulet of the whole family. They should be kept and passed down from generation to generation.
wedding candles - white, thick and long. They should be enough for 1-1.5 hours of the wedding.
Handkerchiefs for couples and for witnesses to wrap candles from below and not burn your hands with wax.
2 white towels - one for framing the icon, the second - on which the couple will stand in front of the lectern.
Wedding dress. Of course, no “glamour”, an abundance of rhinestones and a neckline: we choose a modest dress in light shades that does not open the back, neckline, shoulders and knees. You can’t do without a veil, but it can be replaced with a beautiful air scarf or hat. If the shoulders and arms are left bare due to the style of the dress, then a cape or shawl is required. Pants and uncovered head women in church are unacceptable.
Scarves for all women present at the wedding.
A bottle of Cahors and a loaf.

Choosing guarantors (witnesses).

So the witnesses must be...

People close to you.
Baptized and believers, with pectoral crosses.

Divorced spouses and couples who live in an unregistered marriage cannot be called witnesses.

If the guarantors could not be found, it does not matter, you will be married without them.

Wedding guarantors - it's like God-parents at baptism. That is, they take "patronage" over the new Christian family.

What should not be at the wedding:

Bright makeup - both the bride herself and the guests, the witness.
Bright outfits.
Extra items in the hands (no mobile phones, bouquets are also postponed for a while).
Defiant behavior (jokes, jokes, conversations, etc. are inappropriate).
Excessive noise (nothing should distract from the ceremony).

Remember, that…

Pews in the church are for old or sick people. Be prepared to be on your feet for an hour and a half.
Mobile phones will have to be turned off.
It is better to arrive at the temple 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
It is not customary to stand with your back to the iconostasis.
Leaving before the end of the sacrament is not accepted.

Preparing for the sacrament of the wedding in the church - what to keep in mind, how to prepare correctly?

We discussed the main organizational aspects of preparation above, and now - about spiritual preparation.

At the dawn of Christianity, the sacrament of the wedding was performed at the Divine Liturgy. In our time, communion is important, which takes place before the beginning of married Christian life.

What does spiritual preparation include?

3 day post. It includes abstaining from marital relations (even if the spouses have been living together for many years), entertainment and eating food of animal origin.
Prayer. 2-3 days before the ceremony, you need to prayerfully prepare for the sacrament in the morning and evening, as well as attend services.
Mutual forgiveness.
Evening Service Attendance on the eve of the day of communion and reading, in addition to the main prayers, "for Holy Communion."
On the eve of the wedding, starting from midnight, you can not drink (even water), eat and smoke.
Wedding day begins with confession (be honest with God, you can’t hide anything from him), prayers at the liturgy and common communion.

Site site thanks you for your attention to the article! We would love it if you share your feedback and tips in the comments below.