The Rites of Betrothal and Crowning: the Marriage Rites

Lord, our God, crown them in glory and honour!

Archm. Ephrem Lash

anastasis.org.uk

Nov.3, 2020

The Holy Mystery of Marriage is only served in Church, in the presence of witnesses. According to the ancient practice the bride and groom must approach for Confession and Communion before marriage, and so attend the Divine Liturgy. Following the Divine Liturgy the Priest stands in the Altar (in full vestments, with the Cross in his hand) and the betrothed stand at the western doors of the Church, the bridegroom to the right, and the bride to his left. Their rings rest on the right side of the Holy Table, gold and silver — the silver to the right and the gold to the left, close to each other (the rings may both be made of gold, or silver, or brass).

The Priest approaches the Bridal Pair, blesses them thrice upon their heads and gives them lighted candles.

Deacon: Master, give the blessing.

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

From Pascha until the Ascension, The Paschal Troparion “Christ is risen from the dead…” is sung three times.

Great Litany of the Betrothal

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For His Eminence our Metropolitan [name] ; for our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop), for the honourable presbyterate, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the servant of God [name] and the handmaiden of God [name] , who are now being betrothed to one another, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That they may be granted children for the continuation of the race and all their requests that are for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That there may sent down to them perfect and peaceful love and help, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That they may be kept in concord and sure faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That they may be preserved with a blameless manner and way of life, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That the Lord, our God, may grant them honourable marriage and a bed undefiled, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most-holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Faithful: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For to You belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Prayers

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Eternal God, who brought into unity what had been separated and established an unbreakable bond of agreement; who blessed Isaac and Rebecca, and declared them to be the heirs of Your promise; bless also these servants of Yours [names], guiding them in every good work.
For You are a Merciful God and the Lover-of-Mankind, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto all.
Faithful: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
Faithful: To you, O Lord.

The Priest reads the prayer over the bowed heads of the Bridal Pair, and sprinkles them with holy water:

Priest: Lord, our God, who once betrothed Yourself to the Church from the nations as a pure Virgin, bless this betrothal, and unite and preserve these servants of Yours in peace and concord.
For to You are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Following this the Priest takes the rings which have been brought here from the Holy Table, sprinkles them with holy water, and places them first on the ring-finger of the Bridegroom, and then places the Bride’s ring on her ring-finger.

And he says to the Bridegroom:

Priest: The servant of God, [name] , is betrothed to the handmaiden of God, [name] : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And following this to the Bride:

Priest: The handmaiden of God, [name] , is betrothed to the servant of God, [name] : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And while saying this three times to each of them he makes the sign of the Cross with the ring above their brows and places the rings on their right fingers. After this the Best Man exchanges the rings, or the couple themselves exchange the rings and place them on each other’s fingers.

Betrothal Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord our God, You journeyed with the servant of the Patriarch Abraham in Mesopotamia when he was sent to obtain a wife for his lord Isaac, and by means of drawing water You revealed that he should betroth Rebecca. Bless the betrothal of Your servants [name] and [name] and make firm the word that they have spoken. Confirm them with the holy unity that comes from You. For it was You who in the beginning created male and female, and it is by You that woman is linked to man as a helper and for the continuation of the human race. Therefore, Lord our God, who sent truth out to Your inheritance and Your promise to Your servants, our fathers, Your elect in every generation, look on Your servant [name] and Your handmaiden [name] , and make firm their betrothal in faith and concord and truth and love. For it is You, Lord, who declared that a pledge is to be given and made firm in everything.
By a ring authority was given to Joseph in Egypt.
By a ring Daniel was glorified in the country of Babylon.
By a ring the truth of Thamar was revealed. By a ring our heavenly Father showed compassion to the prodigal son. For He said, ‘Put a ring on his hand and bring out and slay the fatted calf, and let us eat and be joyful’.
It was Your right hand, Lord, that armed Moses at the Red Sea, for through Your true word the heavens were made firm and the earth set on its foundations. And the right hand of Your servants will be blessed by Your mighty word and by Your upraised arm. Therefore, Master, with Your heavenly blessing now bless also this putting-on of rings. And may an Angel of the Lord go before them all the days of their lives.
For You are the One who blesses and sanctifies all things, and to You we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

RITE OF CROWNING

If the betrothed are to be crowned on the same occasion, they enter the Church from the Narthex with lighted candles, preceded by the Priest with the censer, singing Psalm 127. The Bridal Pair stand before the Tetrapod, the bridegroom to the right, the bride on his left. A rug (or embroidered towel) is placed under their feet. The Gospel book and Cross rest on the Tetrapod.

Priest: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Psalm 127

Priest: Blessed are those who fear the Lord. Who walk in His ways.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: You will eat the fruits of your labours. Blessed are you, and it will be well with you.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: Your wife like a fruitful vine on the sides of your house.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: Your children like newly planted olive trees all around your table.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: See, this is how one who fears the Lord will be blessed.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: May the Lord bless you from Sion, and may you see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
Faithful: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Priest: And may you see your children’s children. Peace upon Israel.
Faithful: Glory to you, our God, glory to you.

Here the Priest may offer an edifying word, explaining to the betrothed how they must live out their vocation as a married couple in an honourable and God-pleasing manner. The more common practice is to offer this talk at the end of the service.

Following this the Priest asks the following of the bridegroom:

Priest: Do you, [name] , have a good and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take unto yourself this woman, [name] , whom you see here before you?

Bridegroom: I have, reverend Father.

Priest: You have not promised yourself to another bride?

Bridegroom: I have not promised myself, reverend Father.

The Priest then, looking at the bride, asks her, saying:

Priest: Have you, [name] , a good and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take unto yourself this man, [name] , whom you see here before you?

Bride: I have, reverend Father.

Priest: You have not promised yourself to any other man?

Bride: I have not promised myself, reverend Father.

Deacon: Master, give the blessing.

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

From Pascha until the Ascension, The Paschal Troparion “Christ is risen from the dead…” is sung three times.

Great Litany of the Crowning

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For His Eminence our Metropolitan [name] ; for our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop), for the honourable presbyterate, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the servants of God [name] and [name] , who are now being joined with one another in the communion of marriage, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this marriage to be blessed like that in Cana of Galilee let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For them to be granted chastity and the fruit of the womb as may be expedient for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For them to be given the joy of seeing sons and daughters, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For them to be granted the delight of the blessing of children and a life without accusation, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For us and them to be given every request that is for salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For their and our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Calling to remembrance our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos and
Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For to you belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

First Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: God most pure, Author of all creation, through Your love for mankind You transformed the rib of our forefather Adam into a woman and blessed them saying, ‘Increase and multiply and have dominion over the earth’, and declared them both to be one through wedlock, ‘for because of this a man will abandon his father and mother and be attached to his own wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ and ‘those whom God has joined together, let no human separate’.
You blessed Your servant Abraham and opened Sarah’s womb, making him the father of many nations.
You gave Isaac to Rebecca and blessed her offspring.
You joined Jacob with Rachel and from him revealed the Twelve Patriarchs.
You yoked together Joseph and Aseneth and gave them as the fruit of their union Ephraim and Manassee.
You accepted Zechariah and Elisabeth and declared their offspring to be the Forerunner.
You made the Ever-Virgin spring from the root of Jesse according to the flesh, and from her You became incarnate and were born for the salvation of the human race.
Through Your ineffable gift and great goodness You were present in Cana of Galilee and blessed the marriage there, to show that lawful wedlock and the begetting of children that comes from it is Your will.
All-holy Master, accept the entreaty of us, Your suppliants, and, as You were present there, be present here also with Your invisible protection. Bless this marriage and grant to these servants of Yours, [name] and [name] , a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, love for each other in the bond of peace, long-lived offspring, grace in their children and an unfading crown of glory.
Grant that they may see their children’s children. Preserve their marriage bed unassailed. Give them of the dew of heaven from on high and of the richness of the earth.
Fill their houses with wheat, wine and oil and every good thing, so that they may also share them with those in need. Grant also to those here with them all their requests that are for salvation.
For You are a God of mercy and compassion and love for mankind, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who has no beginning, and Your All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Second Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Blessed are You, Lord our God, sacred Celebrant of the mystical and most pure marriage, Lawgiver of bodily marriage, Guardian of incorruption, loving Steward
of our livelihood. In the beginning, Master, You fashioned man and established him as king of creation, and said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone on the earth. Let us make him a helper like himself.’ And taking one of his ribs, You fashioned a woman. When Adam saw her he said, ‘Now this is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called ‘woman’ because she was taken from her man. For this reason a man will leave behind his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’. And ‘Those whom God has joined together, let no human separate’.
Now, Master, Lord our God, send down Your heavenly grace also on these servants of Yours, [name] and [name] , and grant that this handmaiden of Yours may be subject in all things to her husband and that this servant of Yours may be the head of his wife, so that they may live in
accordance with Your will.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Abraham and Sarah.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Isaac and Rebecca.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Jacob and all the Patriarchs.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Joseph and Aseneth.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Moses and Sepphora.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Joachim and Anna.
Bless them, Lord our God, as You blessed Zechariah and Elisabeth.
Preserve them, Lord our God, as You preserved Noah in the Ark.
Preserve them, Lord our God, as You preserved Jonah in the belly of the whale.
Preserve them, Lord our God, as You preserved the three holy Youths from the fire, by sending down on them dew from heaven. And let the joy come upon them that the blessed Helen had when she found the precious Cross.
Remember them, Lord our God, as You remembered Enoch, Shem and Elijah.
Remember them, Lord our God, as You remembered the holy Forty Martyrs, sending down on them crowns from heaven.
Remember also, Lord our God, the parents who have brought them up, for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of households.
Remember, Lord our God, Your servants the groomsmen and bridesmaids, who have come together to share this joy.
Remember, Lord our God, Your servant [name] and Your handmaiden [name] , and bless them.
Give them the fruit of the womb, fair children, concord of soul and body.
Exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon, like a well-cultured vine.
Grant them rich harvest, so that, having all sufficiency for themselves, they may overflow into every good work that is also well-pleasing to You, and that they may see their children’s children like newly planted olive trees all around their table. And, having been well pleasing to You, may they shine like beacons in heaven, in You our Lord;
To whom belong all glory, might, honour and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Third Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Holy God, who fashioned man from dust, and from his rib built up a woman and yoked her to him as a helper like himself, for it was not pleasing to Your greatness for man to be alone on earth, do You, Master, now send forth Your hand from Your holy dwelling, and link Your servant [name] and your handmaiden [name] , [according to one custom, the priest at this point joins their right hands together with an embroidered towel.] because it is by You that a wife is linked to her husband. Yoke them together in likeness of mind. Crown them into one flesh. Grant them fruit of the womb, enjoyment of fair children.
For Yours is the might, and Yours the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

After this the Priest takes the Crowns and first crowns the Bridegroom, saying:

Priest: The servant of God, [name] , is crowned unto the handmaiden of God, [name] : in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

And he blesses the Bridegroom with the crown, offering it to him to venerate with a kiss, and placing it on his head.

Then the Priest crowns the Bride, saying:

Priest: The handmaiden of God, [name] , is crowned unto the servant of God, [name] : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

And he blesses the Bride with the crown, offering it to her to venerate with a kiss, and placing it on her head.

He then blesses the bridal couple with his right hand thrice, chanting each time:

Priest: Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour. (thrice)

The Epistle Reading

Deacon: Let us attend.

Priest: Peace be unto all.
Reader: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Reader: The Prokeimenon in Tone 8. (Ps. 20:4-5,7)

You have placed upon their head crowns of precious stones. They have asked You for life, and You have given them length of days.
Verse: For You shall give them blessing unto the ages of ages; You shall fill them with the joy of Your presence.

Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (pericope 230 – Eph. 5:20-33)

Deacon: Let us attend.

Reader: Brethren, 20. give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21. submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. 24. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26. that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27. that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Priest: Peace be to you.
Reader: And to your spirit.

The Holy Gospel Reading

Reader: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse: You, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation and forever. (Ps. 11:8)
Deacon: Wisdom. Stand upright.
Let us listen to the holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be unto all.
Faithful: And to your spirit.

Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. John. (pericope 6 – Jn. 2:1-11)
Faithful: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Deacon: Let us attend.

Priest: At that time, 1. there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6. Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from – but the servants who had drawn the water knew – the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11. This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Faithful: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Litany

Deacon: Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers: We pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great loving-kindness: we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Deacon: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, God’s visitation and the forgiveness and remission of sins for the servants of God [name] and [name] , and for the people here present, who await Your great and rich mercy.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Priest: For You, O God, are merciful, and love mankind, and to You we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Fourth Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord, our God, who in Your saving dispensation were pleased in Cana of Galilee to declare marriage honourable by Your presence, now too preserve in peace and concord Your servants, [name] and [name] , whom You have been well-pleased to be joined to each another. Declare their marriage honourable; keep their marriage bed undefiled; be well pleased for their life together to be without spot; and grant that they may reach a ripe old age, carrying out Your commandments with a pure heart.
For You are our God, a God of mercy and salvation, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who has no beginning, and Your All-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Litany before the Lord’s Prayer

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: All that is good and beneficial for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: A Christian end to our life: painless, blameless and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Faithful: To you, O Lord.

Priest: And make us worthy, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to dare to call on You, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:

If this had not been done already, the Priest joins the hands of the Bridal Pair together with an embroidered towel at the Lord’s Prayer.

Faithful: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto all.
Faithful: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.

The common Cup is brought, the Priest blesses it, and offers this prayer:

Fifth Prayer: of the Common Cup

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O God, who made all things by Your strength, who made the inhabited world firm and adorned the crown of all that had been made by You, bless too with Your spiritual blessing this common Cup, which You grant to those who have been joined in the communion of marriage.
For blessed is Your name and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Taking the Cup in his hands, the Priest gives the couple to drink from it three times; first to the husband and then to the wife:

Priest: I will take the cup of salvation and I will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 115:4)

And placing his epitrachelion over their joined hands, the Priest leads them thrice around the Tetrapod; the Best Man and Maid of Honour following the Bridal Pair, holding the crowns over their heads. They proceed from the right to the left, i.e., “against the sun,” as always.

Meanwhile the Faithful chant the following Troparia:

Troparion, Tone 5

Faithful: Isaiah dance: the Virgin has conceived and given birth to a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man. Orient is His name, whom we magnify as we call the Virgin blessed.

Troparia, Tone 7

Faithful: Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and were crowned, intercede with the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

Glory to You, Christ God, boast of Apostles, joy of Martyrs whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.

And the Priest unties the hands of the Bridal Pair. He removes the crown from the Bridegroom and blesses him, saying:

Priest: Bridegroom, be magnified like Abraham, blessed like Isaac and multiplied like Jacob, as you go your way in peace and carry out in righteousness the commandments of God.

And he places the crown on the Tetrapod. He then takes the crown from the Bride and blesses her, saying:

Priest: And you, Bride, be magnified like Sarah, and rejoice like Rebecca and be multiplied like Rachel, rejoicing in your own husband, keeping the limits of the law, according to the will of God.

Sixth Prayer

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: God, our God, who were present in Cana of Galilee, and blessed the marriage there, bless these servants of Yours also, who by Your providence have been joined in the communion of marriage. Bless their goings out and their comings in. Fill their life with good things. Take up their crowns in Your Kingdom, unspotted and unblemished, and keep them without offence to the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto all.
Faithful: And to your spirit.

And the Priest says this prayer (facing the Bridal Pair):

Seventh Prayer: at the Bowing of Heads

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.
Priest: May Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial Trinity, origin of life, the one Godhead and Kingship, bless you and grant you long life, fair children, progress in life and faith, and fill you with every good thing on earth, and count you worthy of the promised blessings, at the prayers of the Mother of God and of all the Saints.
Faithful: Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom.
Priest: Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Faithful: More honourable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption You gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify You.

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God, our Hope, glory to You.
Faithful: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (thrice)

Give the blessing. (“Master, bless”, in a cathedral church or when a bishop is present.)

Priest: May He who by His presence at Cana of Gallilee declared marriage honourable, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his all-pure Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles, of the holy Sovereigns crowned by God and Equals of the Apostles, Constantine and Helen, of the holy great Martyr Prokopios and all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.
Faithful: Amen.

Following this, the Priest offers a congratulatory word to the newly-crowned couple and their parents.

And then, the Polychronion is intoned:

Polychronion

Priest: To the newly-crowned servants of God [names] grant, O Lord, peace, health and salvation and keep them for many years.
Faithful: For many years! (thrice)

And he offers the Cross to the Bride and Bridegroom, their parents, and the members of the Bridal Party for veneration.

Priest: Lord our God, who blessed the crown of the year and granted that the present crowns be placed on those who are joined with one another by the law of marriage and apportion to them, as it were, the reward of chaste living, for those who have been joined together in the marriage which You have ordained are pure, do You Yourself, by the untying of these present crowns, also bless those who have been joined to each other and keep their union indissoluble, that they may at all times give thanks to Your all-holy Name, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.

Reader: To You, O Lord.

Priest: We Your servants, Lord, having coming come together in concord, accomplished the office of the marriage in Cana of Galilee and removed the symbols concerning it, give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

And the Dismissal.