THE GREEK WEDDING CEREMONY

  • The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony is an ancient and deeply symbolic service that has been celebrated for centuries. Every part of the ceremony reflects the core values of marriage: love, mutual respect, equality, and sacrifice. Many actions are repeated three times throughout to honor the Holy Trinity. The ceremony begins as white candles are given to the couple, symbolizing their willingness to receive Christ and walk together in faith.

  • The Service of Betrothal focuses on the couple’s commitment to one another. Prayers are offered for their spiritual well-being, followed by the blessing and exchange of rings. The priest blesses the rings and places them on the couple’s right hands, symbolizing God’s blessing and strength. The Koumbara (the couple’s religious sponsor) then exchanges the rings three times, representing how each partner supports the other, balancing strengths and weaknesses and becoming whole together. The service concludes with prayers for faith, unity, and love.

  • The Sacrament of Marriage includes prayers, scripture readings, crowning, the common cup, and the ceremonial walk. Early in the service, the priest joins the hands of the Bride and Groom, symbolizing their unity. Their hands remain joined until the end of the ceremony

  • The crowning is the focal point of the ceremony. The stefana (the wedding crowns) symbolize the honor and responsibility of marriage. They are joined by a ribbon, which represents unity. The priest blesses and places the crowns on the Bride and Groom, and the Koumbara exchanges them three times as a witness to their union. Scripture readings follow the crowning, including the Gospel of the Wedding at Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. In remembrance of this blessing, the Bride and Groom share wine from the Common Cup, symbolizing their shared life, joys and sorrows alike. From this moment forward, all experiences are shared, strengthening their bond.

  • The priest then leads the Bride and Groom in a circle around a table holding the Gospel and the Cross. This walk represents their first steps as a married couple, the eternity of their marriage bond, and Christ as the center of their shared life. As they walk, a hymn honoring the Holy Martyrs is sung, reminding the couple that marriage is rooted in sacrificial love. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the priest removes the crowns and prays for the couple’s long, happy, and fruitful life together. He then lifts the Gospel and separates their joined hands, reminding them that only God has the power to separate what He has united.