The Orthodox Wedding
Betrothal, crowning, the common cup, and the dance of Isaiah.
An Orthodox wedding contains no vows. The couple make no promises to each other; instead the Church crowns them, and God is asked to join them. The service is called the Mystery of Crowning.
The betrothal
The service begins in the narthex or at the back of the nave with the exchange of rings, blessed by the priest and exchanged three times by the sponsor (koumbaros or koumbara).
The crowning
The couple are crowned with wreaths or metal crowns joined by a ribbon — crowns of joy and of martyrdom, since marriage is a laying down of one's life for another. The Epistle from Ephesians 5 and the Gospel of the wedding at Cana follow.
The common cup and the dance of Isaiah
The couple drink three times from a shared cup of wine, then are led three times around the analogion by the priest while the choir sings "Rejoice, O Isaiah" — their first steps as a married couple, taken behind the Cross and the Gospel.
When weddings may be served
Weddings are not served during the four fasting seasons, on the eves of fast days, or on great feasts. Couples planning a date should check the calendar carefully, since the permitted windows in any given year are narrower than most expect.
Frequently asked
- Are there vows in an Orthodox wedding?
- No. The Orthodox marriage service has no exchange of vows; the couple are crowned and God is asked to unite them.
- When can an Orthodox wedding take place?
- Outside the four fasting seasons and great feasts. Check the liturgical calendar for the year, as available dates are limited.