The Order for Marriage
§Having ascertained that there
exists no religious or civil impediment to the Marriage at hand, and
having completed the documentation required by the civil authority, a
priest or deacon may bless the union of husbands and wives on any day
outside of the fast days of the Church. It is important that the couple
be counselled before the wedding about their duties to each other, to
God and to the Church. If they are found, or find themselves,
unsuitable to each other or to marriage itself, it is their duty to
refrain from this marriage.
First Qauma
† IN THE NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One
God, to Whom be glory and upon us, weak and sinful, be mercy and
compassion in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons.
Amen.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Tzevaoth,
heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. † Blessed is He that comes in the Name of
the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
O Christ, hear us! O Christ, our God,
hear us and have mercy! O Christ, our God and King, hear us and have
mercy and compassion on us! Barekhmar!
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 tresspasses as we
forgive those who tresspass against us. And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil, for †
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Peace be with thee, Virgin Mary, full
of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blest
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us
sinners in both worlds. Amen.
The Proper of the Betrothal
ETERNAL God, Thou that dost unite that which was divided; flesh with
spirit and Thy divinity with our humanity; and Who hast ordained for
these two the indissoluble bond of love, Thou that didst bless Isaac
and Rebecca and declare them to be the inheritors of Thy promise; do
Thou Thyself bless Thy servants (Groom) and (Bride), directing them in
every good work, for Thou art the merciful and compassionate God and to
Thee do we ascribe glory unto the Aeon of aeons.
Amen.
ARE you, (Name), promised in marriage to any other?
I am not.
DO you, (Name), pledge yourself in free and good will to (Name)?
I do.
Diptych
Barekhmar! For the servants of God, (Name) and (Name), who are now
being betrothed and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That their life may be fruitful and given every blessing, let us pray
to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That there may be for them perfect love, peace and assistance, let us
pray to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
Help us, save us, have mercy and compassion upon us and keep us, O God,
by thy grace.
Amen.
The Blessing of the Rings
BLESSED is He that causeth the inhabitants of heaven to rejoice, and
satisfieth them that are on earth. As Thy Holy Church was betrothed to
Thee by Thy taking upon Thee our flesh, so may Thy servants here
present take unto themselves each other's life and become a single life
in and with Thee. O Christ our Saviour, stretch forth Thy right hand
and bless by Thy grace the ring which these Thy servants bring before
Thee
† in the Name of the Father
Amen.
† and of the Son
Amen.
† and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
§The Groom places the ring on
the finger of the Bride, and the Bride on the finger of the Groom in
turn, saying:
Thus do I pledge thee my life forever.
Dismissal of the Betrothal
MAY the Lord our God, who has perfected the joy of His Holy Church by
Christ, replenish these our children, now betrothed, with truth and
righteousness, and give them heavenly blessings with the rings they
have received. May He clothe them with humility and perfect their
marriage through length of days in righteousness. May He direct their
whole mind in humility, rescue them from malicious and wicked people,
and defend them from the evil which destroys the Holy Mystery of
marriage. O Lord God, hear the supplications of Thy weak and sinful
servant that stands before Thy majesty, and grant them blessed
offspring and joyful seasons. Enrich them with good works, establish in
them true faith and cause them to continue in it, and their children
also. Multiply thy goodness and blessing and defend this bridegroom and
bride and all of us with thy victorious Cross, for unto Thee is due all
glory, honor, and worship, † Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God, in
both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons.
Amen.
The Proper of the Crowning
FIT us, O Lord God, for the endless marriage feast and for the
everlasting bridal chamber, and invite us also to Thine eternal
happiness that we, together with all them that please Thee, may offer
praise and glory to † Thee, and Thy Father, and Thy Living Holy Spirit,
One God, in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons.
Amen.
Diptych
Barekhmar! For the servants of God, (Name) and (Name) who are now being
married and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That their life may be fruitful and given every blessing, let us pray
to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That there may be for them perfect love, peace and assistance, let us
pray to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That they may be preserved in peace and unanimity, let us pray to the
Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
That they may remain steadfast in the faith, blameless and honorable,
let us pray to the Lord!
Kyrie eleison!
Help us, save us, have mercy and compassion upon us and keep us, O God,
by thy grace!
Kyrie eleison!
The Blessing of the Crowns
BLESSED art Thou, O God, that didst bless the wedding at Cana of
Galilee by the miraculous change of ordinary water to the finest wine;
that didst ordain marriage from the time of our first parents, Adam and
Eve; that didst reward Thy friend Abraham with Sarah and comfort Isaac,
who feared Thee, with Rebecca and didst recompense Jacob with Rachel's
unfailing love. O Thou that hast taken Thy people as Thy bride, do Thou
bless these crowns with the blessing of the fulfillment of Thy
commandment and the foretaste of the mysteries of Thy Bridal Chamber,
† in the Name of the Father
Amen.
† and of the Son
Amen.
† and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Crowning
THE servants of God, (Bride and Groom), are crowned for each other, for
blessing, peace and assistance
† in the Name of the Father
Amen.
† and of the Son
Amen.
† and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Blessing of the Cup
BLESSED art Thou, O God, Lord of the two worlds. Blessed in heaven art
Thou by angel hosts and blessed in earth by the assembly of Thy people.
Blessed art Thou by every work of Thine and blessed be Thou in the
works of Thy righteous ones. Even as Thou bringest forth the fruit of
the vine so do we bring forth wine from it by our effort; even as Thou
givest us life so do we lift up our living to Thee for Thy blessing, †
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God, in both worlds unto the Aeon of
aeons.
Amen.
The Dismissal of the Crowning
MAY the Lord, who has pleasure in the life of man, take delight in your
life also and bless your union. May Christ, the heavenly bridegroom,
seal your marriage with His own true seal. May you be happy in each
other, as Christ delights in His Church. May the right hand of mercy
come upon you, remain with you and defend you from all affliction. May
the angel of peace accompany you and deliver you from the devices of
the deceiver. May God redeem you from malice which causeth slaughter,
and cause you to please each other. May the Lord remove sorrow from
you, and grant you righteous generations, in order that ye may rejoice
as Abraham did in Isaac, and Isaac in Jacob, and Jacob in Joseph. May
the blessing of God, who blessed Noah and his seed, saying, "Increase
multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it," be upon you also. May you
obtain the blessing with which God blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
May God grant you the dew of heaven and all good things which earth
produces. May the blessing with which Jacob blessed his son Joseph,
saying, " The God of thy Father will help thee," be upon you. May you
attain the blessing of those who believed in God, and were counted
worthy to hope in Him. May all nations rejoice at the crown placed this
day on your heads, and sing praise because the name of the Lord is
called on you. May God enrich you with great riches and all happiness,
and pardon your transgressions and sins. May you also be heirs of the
heavenly kingdom, as the thief on the right hand, and also all our
dead. May the Most High, who descended on Mount Sinai to make a
covenant with the bride which was brought out of Egypt, bless you, and
all our congregation.
Amen.
The Second Qauma
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† HOLY art Thou, O God!
Holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
O Christ, hear us! O Christ, our God,
hear us and have mercy! O Christ, our God and King, hear us and have
mercy and compassion on us! Barekhmar!
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 tresspasses as we
forgive those who tresspass against us. And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil, for †
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Peace be with thee, Virgin Mary, full
of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blest
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us
sinners in both worlds. Amen.
† GLORY be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, One
God,
in both worlds unto the Aeon of
aeons. Amen.
Dismissal of the Marriage
MAY Christ our Heavenly Bridegroom, hear our prayer and have mercy and
compassion on us and bring us to everlasting life in His Kingdom.
Amen.