Marriage in the Orthodox Church is a sacrament. In this “Holy Mystery,” God Himself joins the man and the woman together to become one flesh (Matthew 19:6). Therefore, marriage is not merely an exchange of promises that the couple make to one another. It is a sacred act of God the Holy Trinity that forms a lifelong bond between the bride and groom.

                The Orthodox marriage service consists of two parts: the Rite of Betrothal and the Rite of Crowning. During the Rite of Betrothal, rings are exchanged. The endless circle of the rings proclaims to all that each partner has promised unbroken faithfulness to the other in the lasting bonds of marriage.

                The center of the Rite of Crowning is the placement of crowns signifying the couple now has royal authority over their household.  But their royalty does not come without mutual effort and sacrifice. After the crowning, the priest leads the couple around the altar while a beautiful hymn to the holy martyrs is sung. In marriage, each partner must give up his/her interests to serve the other, following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the couple builds a life of mutual self-giving. To signify that they will share equally in all the struggles and sorrows as well as the joys of life, they both drink from a common cup.

                Throughout the service, the couple receives many blessings, including the blessing of the bride at the close of the service. Yet the whole service is one in which we bless and worship God, the Holy Trinity. We give thanks for God’s gift of divine love that has brought the couple together, that unites them as husband and wife in the sacrament, and that will be with them throughout all life together.