The Service Guidebook for The Sacrament of Marriage - Wedding

Sep 24, 2026

A service guidebook describing the Orthodox Church’s Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, rooted in ritual, symbolism, and prayer. It explains the meaning of objects used at the small table—wedding crowns, the book of Gospels, wedding rings, wine, and candles—and how each ceremonial act is performed three times to invoke the Holy Trinity. The guide outlines the two-part structure, Betrothal and Marriage, and details actions, readings, and blessings that express unity, covenant, and lifelong faith.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

An Explanation of the Sacrament of Marriage

Meaning of Rituals and Symbols

Two Parts of the Ceremony: Betrothal and Marriage

Betrothal: Blessing of the Rings

Marriage: Candles, Joining Hands, Crowning

Readings and the Common Cup

Dance of Isaiah and Final Blessing

|
The Service
Guidebook for
The Sacrament of Marriage

St . John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Tampa, Florida | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | An Explanation of the Sacrament of Marriage From centuries gone by, the Orthodox Church has celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony very much like we witness today. Because of the beauty and the meaningful symbolism of the service, time has honored it and preserved it for our age. The marriage ceremony of the Orthodox Church is steeped in ritual and symbolism. Each of the acts has special meaning and significance. The service is conducted around a small table on which wedding crowns, the book of Gospels, two wedding rings, a cup of wine, and two white candles have been placed. These objects are used symbolically throughout the service. Each separate ritual throughout the ceremony is performed three times to invoke the Holy Trinity. The ceremony has two parts. First, the Betrothal which is performed on the date of the wedding, eventhough there may have been a prior engagement ceremony and secondly, the Marriage itself. The couple stand facing the priest at the door of the Holy Altar, the groom on the right and the bride on the left. The Betrothal ~ Blessing of the Rings In the first part of the service, the couple becomes betrothed by the church. The priest blesses the rings as he proceeds to bless the bride and groom with them. Touching the rings to their foreheads and making the sign of the cross, the priest then says,“The servant of God (groom) is betrothed to the handmaiden of God (bride) in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The celebrant does this three times, first from the groom to the bride and then from the bride to the groom. The back and forth movement can be interpreted to mean that the lives of the two are being entwined into one. He then places the rings on the ring fingers of the right hands of the couple. The sponsor who is called the Koumbaros (or Koumbara if it is a woman) in Greek, then carries out his (her) important role. While standing in front of the couple, he crosses his (her) hands by raising one above the other and exchanges the rings three times, taking the bride’s ring and placing it on the groom’s finger and vice versa. The rings are the symbol of betrothal from the most ancient times. The exchange symbolizes the complimentary role of husband and wife. The Marriage The Wedding Service begins immediately following the Betrothal Service, highlighted by the following: The Candles The bride and groom are handed candles which they hold throughout the remainder of the service. They symbolize the spiritual willingness of the couple to receive Christ, who will bless them through this sacrament and who will guide them through their coming life together. The Joining of the Right Hands The right hands of the bride and the groom are joined when the priest reads the prayer that asks God to “join this your servant (groom) and your handmaiden (bride), unite them in one mind, crown them in marriage.” The hands are kept joined throughout the service to symbolize the “oneness”of the couple. The Crowning The Crowning is the focal point of the wedding ceremony. The crowns or “stefana” are signs of the glory and honor with which God crowns the couple. The white ribbon which connects the crowns is a symbol of the bond between the newly married couple. The bride and groom are crowned as the“king and queen” of their own kingdom, the home, which they will guide with wisdom, justice and integrity. When the crowning takes place, the priest, taking the crowns and holding them over the couple, says,“the servant of God (groom) is crowned in marriage to the handmaiden of God (bride) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The sponsor exchanges the crowns over the heads of the groom and the bride as a witness to the sealing of the union. The Readings

FAQs

What are the two parts of the Orthodox wedding ceremony described in the guide?

The ceremony has two parts: the Betrothal (performed on the wedding date) and the Marriage itself.

What is the significance of the wedding crowns and the ribbon connecting them?

The crowns (“stefana”) symbolize God’s glory and honor crowning the couple, while the white ribbon represents the bond between the newly married couple.

Which scripture readings are included, and what do they recall?

The Epistle is from Ephesians 5:20-33 and emphasizes the love of Christ for His Church as a model for husbands and wives. The Holy Gospel is from John 2:1-11 and recounts Jesus’ first miracle at the marriage feast at Cana.

Sep 24, 2026

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