You are here: Home / Sacraments / Marriage

Marriage

 

 

HOLY MARRIAGE

God is active in our lives. It is He who joins a man and a woman in a relationship of mutual love. The Sacrament of Marriage bears witness to His action. Through this Sacrament, a man and a woman are publicly joined as husband and wife. They enter into a new relationship with each other, God, and the Church. Since Marriage is not viewed as a legal contract, there are no vows in the Sacrament. According to Orthodox teachings, Marriage is not simply a social institution, it is an eternal vocation of the kingdom. A husband and a wife are called by the Holy Spirit not only to live together but also to share their Christian life together so that each, with the aid of the other, may grow closer to God and become the persons they are meant to be. In the Orthodox Marriage Service, after the couple have been betrothed and exchanged rings, they are crowned with “crowns of glory and honor” signifying the establishment of a new family under God. Near the conclusion of the Service, the husband and wife drink from a common cup which is reminiscent of the wedding of Cana and which symbolized the sharing of the burdens and joys of their new life together.

 

(Source: http://goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7105)

 

LIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, ITEMS, ETC. FOR (RELIGIOUS) MARRIAGES…

    1. Three (3) Sessions or More of Pre-Marital Counseling (with spiritual father and/or parish priest)
    2. One (1) Letter of Good Spiritual & Financial Standing for each (Groom, Bride, and Sponsor(s))
    3. Two (2) Photocopies of Civil Marriage Certificate of Couple About to Wed (if applicable)
    4. One (1) “Ecclesiastical License To Marry” (issued by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
    5. One (1) Silver Tray (measuring about 2 ft. by 1.5 ft.)
    6. One (1) Bag of “Jordan” White-Colored Almonds (about fifty or so should suffice)
    7. Four (4) Decorated White-Colored Candles (measuring about one-and-a-half feet long)
    8. One (1) Silver Champagne/Wine Goblet (which resembles a wine glass)
    9. One (1) Bottle of Greek “Mavrodaphne” Wine (which is red and sweet in taste)
    10. Two (2) Wedding Rings (traditionally, yellow-gold for the groom and silver for the bride)
    11. One (1) Set/Pair of Wedding Crowns (traditionally, connected by a ribbon, about five feet in length)
    12. Two (2) Flower Baskets (which should be filled with actual rose flower petals)
    13. One (1) Bridal Wedding Gown/Dress (which should be white in color, for first-time marriages)
    14. One (1) Bridal Bouqet of Flowers (which should be small in size and tied firmly together)
    15. One (1) White-Colored Satin Ribbon (measuring about two feet long, for the joining of hands)
    16. Two (2) Icons of Patron Saints (one of the bride’s and one of the groom’s)    —   *(OPTIONAL)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

*Downloadable Forms: 

1.  Supplementary Marriage Record Form (English)

2.  Supplementary Marriage Record Form (Greek)