Welcome to A Luxx Guide to Greek Weddings!
Whether you have been directed here as the lucky guest of an upcoming Greek Wedding or just interested in learning more about the deeply beautiful symbolisms of the tradition, you’ve come to the right place!
This comprehensive guide will cover the steps and symbols of a traditional Christian Orthodox Wedding service, alongside some Luxx Inspiration for the special day!
Before we begin there are some things to know:
– The couple does not say “I do”
– The couple does not exchange vows
– The couple does not get pronounced husband and wife
– The wedding rings are worn on the right hand
– Crowns are worn by the couple
– All symbolism are performed in threes to symbolise the the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit
A Wedding ceremony in the Christian Orthodox Church is an ancient service in which a man and woman are united “In Faith, and in Oneness of Mind, in Truth and in Love“. Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church. It is the Sacrament during which the bride and the groom give a solemn promise before God and the Church to love each other and to be true to each other. The marriage ceremony includes all the elements of marriage: Love, Mutual Respect, Equality and Sacrifice. The service consists of two parts: The Service of the Betrothal and The Service of the Crowning.
The Service of the Betrothal consists of several beautiful prayers that ask God to bestow onto the betrothed peaceful and perfect love, salvation and abundant children.
The Priest blesses the rings over the Bride and Groom’s heads three times. The rings are then placed on the fourth finger of the right hand. During the final prayer, the Best Man/Woman (Koumbaros/as) exchanges the rings three times to symbolise the intertwining of the couple and unbreakable bond of Christian Marriage. The Betrothal then ends with a prayer that reiterates faith, truth, love and the creation of one mind.
Why does the ring go on the right hand? It was to the Right Hand of the Father that Jesus Christ Ascended to Heaven, after His Death on The Cross. It is to the Right that those people will Inherit Eternal Life after they die.
The Sacrament of Marriage begins immediately following the Betrothal Service.
Two candles are present at the ceremony, most commonly resting on stands near the alter. These candles are lit within the service and represent the purity of their lives, which should shine with the light of virtue and their willingness to receive Christ.
We create a range of Lambathes that can include tulle, dried flowers, ribbon, crosses and more! Contact us for more information and see the images below for some Luxx Inspiration!
During the Service of the Crowning, three longer prayers are read to grant the couple a long and peaceful life, mutual love and help, happiness and health. These prayers portray humanity as one continuous fabric, in which is interwoven everyone from the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to the present generation of believers. The right hands of the couples are then joined to further symbolise the union.
The Crowning is the highlight and focal point of the Sacrament of Holy matrimony. The Greek wedding crown is called a Stefana and symbolises the honour and glory being bestowed upon the couple. Stefana Crowns come in many different designs and styles that can suit all aesthetics. Whether you prefer pearls, sparkles or metallics there are many Luxx options to choose from. Take a look here!
The Stefana Crowns are also tied together by a long ribbon that represents the unity of the couple. The Priest then makes the sign of the cross three times before bestowing the crown on the head of the Bride and Groom. The Best Man (Koumbaros) then steps behind the couple and interchanges the crowns to signify his witnessing of the union.
The bride and groom are crowned as King and Queen of their home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity. The crowns are the symbol that the newly married couple receives the grace of the Holy Spirit to be the founders of a new generation and are crowned with virtue and holiness to serve all their lives to the glory of the Almighty God. Some interpret the crowns used in the Orthodox wedding ceremony to refer to the crowns of Martyrdom since every true marriage involves immeasurable self-sacrifice on both sides.
During The Crowning, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (5: 20-33) is read by the Priest alongside Saint John’s Gospel on Christ’s miracle at the Marriage of Cana (2: 1-12). It was at this wedding that Jesus performed His first miracle, changing water into wine, which was then given to the married couple, symbolising a transformation from old into new, a passage from death into life.
The Common Cup is the tradition of passing a cup filled with a small amount of wine that has been blessed by the Priest. The Husband and Wife drink from the cup three times each. The act of drinking from this cup serves as witness that from this moment on the couple must share every aspect of their lives with one another. Every sorrow and every joy.
The Priest will then take the hands of the couple and lead them around the small table, three times. Three Hymns are chanted whilst this takes place. This tradition is considered as their first steps as Husband and Wife, lead by the Priest as he represents their lives being lead by Church and God. The Circle represents eternity whilst the three repetitions give praise to the Holy Trinity.
At the conclusion of the Ceremonial Walk, the priest removes the crowns from Bride and Groom and beseeches God to grant to the newlyweds a long, happy and fruitful life together. He then separates their hands whilst lifting the Gospel and reminds them that only God can seperate the couple from one another, thus ending the ceremony.
The Koufeta is a type of wedding favour traditionally seen in the Greek Orthodox Church. They consist of an odd number of white, sugar coated almonds.
The white sugar coating represents purity and the egg shape of the almond represents fertility and new life. The hardness of the sugar coating represents strength within the marriage whilst the sweetness similarly wishes for sweetness in the life of the newlyweds.
The odd number given (three, five or seven) is representative of the inability to seperate or divide the couple. Traditionally, the bride and groom would give five almonds in each bag to represent five pillars in their marriage; health, happiness, fertility, wealth and a long life.
The Koufeta can also be paired with other items for beautiful gifts for the guests. This can include symbols such as crosses or medallions or even sweet treats such as macarons or chocolates.
If you have any enquiries on different options on how to present this special tradition at your own event, we can help you find something Luxx to suit any aesthetic.
There are many other traditions that can be involved in the lead up to the Wedding Ceremony or even the service itself. To Krevati, is a tradition in which the marital bed of the couple is freshly made by unmarried women in the family before money, rice, gifts and even young children are placed upon it. This is done to promote prosperity and fertility. Other traditions include spitting at the couple (not literally!) to ward off any evil spirits of energies. Guests will also throw rice to promote fertility and happiness for the newlyweds.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the meaning & symbols of Greek Orthodox weddings.
For any further questions about how we can be part of your special day please contact us at [email protected]
Love,
The Luxx Co Team xo
