Rules for preparing for the sacrament of the wedding in the Orthodox Church. Wedding ceremony - how to prepare for it, conducting

Natalya Kaptsova

Reading time: 11 minutes

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The Christian family appears exclusively with the blessing of the Church, which unites lovers into one whole during the sacrament of the wedding. Unfortunately, for many, the sacrament of the wedding today has become a fashionable necessity, and before the ceremony, young people think more about finding a photographer than about fasting and soul.

Why is a wedding really needed, what does the rite itself symbolize, and how is it customary to prepare for it?

The meaning of the wedding ceremony for a couple - is it necessary to get married in a church, and can the sacrament of a wedding strengthen relationships?

“Here we are getting married, and then no one will definitely separate us, not a single infection!” Many girls think when choosing a wedding dress for themselves.

Of course, to some extent, a wedding is a talisman for the love of spouses, but first of all, the Christian family is based on the commandment of love. A wedding is not a session of magic that will ensure the inviolability of the marriage, regardless of their behavior and attitude towards each other. The marriage of Orthodox Christians needs blessing, and it is consecrated by the Church only during the sacrament of the wedding.

But the realization of the need for a wedding should come to both spouses.

Video: Wedding - how to?

What does marriage give?

First of all, the grace of God, which will help the two to build their union in harmony, give birth and raise children, live in love and harmony. Both spouses must clearly understand at the time of the sacrament that this marriage is for life, “in sorrow and joy.”

They symbolize the eternity of the union of the rings that the spouses put on during the betrothal, and walking around the lectern. The oath of allegiance, which is given in the temple before the face of the Almighty, is more important and more powerful than the signatures on the marriage certificate.

It is important to understand that it is realistic to dissolve a church marriage only in 2 cases: upon the death of one of the spouses or the deprivation of his mind.

Who can't get married in an Orthodox church?

The Church does not marry couples who are not legally married. Why is the stamp in the passport so important for the Church?

Before the revolution state structure there was also the Church, whose functions also included the registration of acts of birth, marriage, and death. And one of the duties of the priest was to conduct a study - is the marriage legal, what is the degree of relationship of the future spouses, are there any problems with their psyche, and so on.

Today, registry offices are dealing with these issues, so the future Christian family carries a marriage certificate to the Church.

And this certificate should indicate exactly the couple that is going to get married.

Are there reasons for refusing to marry - absolute obstacles to church marriage?

A couple will definitely not be allowed to marry if ...

• Marriage is not legalized by the state. Such relationships the Church considers cohabitation and fornication, and not marriage and Christian.
• The couple is in the 3rd or 4th degree of lateral consanguinity.
• The husband is a clergyman, and he took holy orders. Also, nuns and monks who have already taken vows will not be allowed to get married.
• The woman is a widow after her third marriage. The 4th church marriage is strictly forbidden. It will also be forbidden to marry in the 4th civil marriage, even if the church marriage will be the first. Naturally, this does not mean that the Church approves the entry into the 2nd and 3rd marriages. The Church insists on eternal fidelity to each other: two and three marriages do not publicly condemn, but they consider them “impurities” and do not approve. However, this will not be an obstacle to the wedding.
• The one entering into a church marriage is guilty of a previous divorce, and the cause was adultery. Re-marriage will be allowed only upon repentance and the fulfillment of the imposed penance.
• There is an inability to marry (note - physical or spiritual), when a person cannot express his will freely, is mentally ill, and so on. Blindness, deafness, the diagnosis of childlessness, illness are not reasons for refusing to marry.
• Both - or one of the couple - did not reach the age of majority.
• The woman is over 60 and the man is over 70. Alas, the highest limit for the wedding also exists, and such a marriage can only be approved by the bishop. Age over 80 is an absolute barrier to marriage.
• There is no consent to marriage from Orthodox parents on both sides. However, the Church has long been condescending to this condition. In the event that it is not possible to secure a parental blessing, the couple receives it from the bishop.

And a few more obstacles to church marriage:

1. Man and woman are related to each other.
2. There is a spiritual relationship between those entering into marriage. For example, between godparents and godchildren, between godparents and godchildren's parents. Marriage between the godfather and the godmother of one child is possible only with the blessing of the bishop.
3. If the adoptive parent wants to marry the adopted daughter. Or if the adopted son wants to marry the daughter or mother of his adoptive parent.
4. Lack of mutual agreement in a couple. Forced marriage, even church marriage, is considered invalid. Moreover, even if the coercion is psychological (blackmail, threats, etc.).
5. Lack of common faith. That is, in a pair, both must be Orthodox Christians.
6. If one of the couple is an atheist (even if he was baptized in childhood). Just "standing" next to the wedding will not work - such a marriage is unacceptable.
7. The bride's period. The wedding day must be chosen in accordance with your cycle calendar so that you do not have to reschedule it later.
8. Period equal to 40 days after birth. The Church does not prohibit getting married after the birth of a baby, but you will have to wait 40 days.

Well, besides, there are relative obstacles to getting married in each particular church - you should find out the details right on the spot.

When and how to organize a wedding?

What day should you choose for the wedding?

Pointing your finger at the calendar and choosing the number that you have is "lucky" - most likely, it will not work. The Church conducts the sacrament of the wedding only on certain days - in Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, if they don't come out...

• On the eve church holidays- great, temple and twelfth.
• to one of the posts.
• For January 7-20.
• On Maslenitsa, on Cheese and Bright Week.
• On September 11 and on the eve of it (note - the day of memory of the Beheading of John the Baptist).
• On September 27 and on the eve of it (note - the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross).

They also do not marry on Saturday, Tuesday or Thursday.

What do you need to organize a wedding?

1. Choose a temple and talk to the priest.
2. Choose a wedding day. The most favorable are the days of the autumn harvest.
3. Make a donation (it is made in the temple). A separate fee is paid for the singers (if desired).
4. Choose a dress, a suit for the groom.
5. Find witnesses.
6. Find a photographer and arrange a shoot with a priest.
7. Buy everything you need for the ceremony.
8. Learn the script. You will swear your oath only once in your life (God forbid), and it should sound confident. In addition, it is better to clarify for yourself in advance how exactly the ceremony takes place in order to know what follows what.
9. And the most important thing is to prepare for the sacrament SPIRITUALLY.

What will you need for the wedding?

• Neck crosses. Of course, consecrated. Ideally, if these are crosses that were received at baptism.
• Wedding rings. They must also be consecrated by a priest. Previously, a gold ring was chosen for the groom, and a silver ring for the bride, as a symbol of the sun and the moon, which reflects its light. Nowadays, there are no conditions - the choice of rings lies entirely with the couple.
• Icons : for the spouse - the image of the Savior, for the wife - the image of the Mother of God. These 2 icons are the amulet of the whole family. They should be kept and passed down from generation to generation.
• wedding candles - white, thick and long. They should be enough for 1-1.5 hours of the wedding.
• Handkerchiefs for couples and for witnesses to wrap candles from below and not burn your hands with wax.
• 2 white towels - one for framing the icon, the second - on which the couple will stand in front of the lectern.
• Wedding dress. Of course, no “glamour”, an abundance of rhinestones and a neckline: we choose a modest dress in light shades that does not open the back, neckline, shoulders and knees. You can’t do without a veil, but it can be replaced with a beautiful air scarf or hat. If the shoulders and arms are left bare due to the style of the dress, then a cape or shawl is required. Pants and uncovered head of a woman in the church are not allowed.
• Scarves for all women present at the wedding.
• A bottle of Cahors and a loaf.

Choosing guarantors (witnesses).

So the witnesses must be...

1. People close to you.
2. Baptized and believers, with pectoral crosses.

Divorced spouses and couples who live in an unregistered marriage cannot be called witnesses.

If the guarantors could not be found, it does not matter, you will be married without them.

Wedding guarantors - it's like God-parents at baptism. That is, they take "patronage" over the new Christian family.

What should not be at the wedding:

• Bright makeup - both the bride herself and the guests, the witness.
• Bright outfits.
• Extra items in the hands (no mobile phones, bouquets are also postponed for a while).
• Defiant behavior (jokes, jokes, conversations, etc. are inappropriate).
• Excessive noise (nothing should distract from the ceremony).

Remember, that…

1. Pews in the church are for old or sick people. Be prepared to be on your feet for an hour and a half.
2. Mobile phones will have to be turned off.
3. It is better to arrive at the temple 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
4. It is not customary to stand with your back to the iconostasis.
5. Leaving before the end of the sacrament is not accepted.

Preparing for the sacrament of the wedding in the church - what to keep in mind, how to prepare correctly?

Main organizational issues we discussed preparation above, and now about spiritual preparation.

At the dawn of Christianity, the sacrament of the wedding was carried out for Divine Liturgy. In our time, communion is important, which takes place before the beginning of married Christian life.

What does spiritual preparation include?

• 3 day post. It includes abstaining from marital relations (even if the spouses have been living together for many years), entertainment and eating food of animal origin.
• Prayer. 2-3 days before the ceremony, you need to prayerfully prepare for the sacrament in the morning and evening, as well as attend services.
• Mutual forgiveness.
• Evening Service Attendance on the eve of the day of communion and reading, in addition to the main prayers, "for Holy Communion."
• On the eve of the wedding, starting from midnight, you can not drink (even water), eat and smoke.
• Wedding day begins with confession (be honest with God, you can’t hide anything from him), prayers at the liturgy and common communion.

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Ekaterina Kozhevnikova

Reading time: 2 minutes

When people who love each other want to legalize their relationship, they register their marriage in the registry office. This is an important and responsible step, but it makes them spouses only in the eyes of the state. For believers, the bonding of family ties in the face of God is of great importance - a wedding in Orthodox Church. Church marriage is a sacrament, the conduct of which is subject to strict rules, and in order to properly prepare for it, you need to know in advance what is needed for the wedding.

Without what can there be no wedding and when is it impossible at all?

For a wedding in the Orthodox Church, there are rules, without which it is impossible to enter into a Christian marriage. In order for the clergy to allow the couple to the wedding ceremony, the future spouses must meet certain criteria regarding both the laws of Orthodoxy and civil liability:

• Before entering into a Christian marriage, the couple must sign in the registry office. Without a marriage certificate, the wedding ceremony will not take place, so you must either take it with you for a conversation with the rector, or find out when you can submit this document (for example, if the wedding will be held immediately after the civil painting).
• There are no restrictions on the age of future spouses - it all depends on when they can provide a marriage certificate. By law, this is possible after they reach the age of 18, and if it is really necessary, then a wedding with a sixteen-year-old bride is allowed.
• Marriage between relatives up to the fourth degree is prohibited, i.e. A second cousin is not allowed to marry a brother. It is also impossible to get married to those who are in church kinship - godparents and godchildren. If there are more distant family ties, it is necessary to clarify this issue with the rector during preparation for the ceremony.
• For atheists, the sacrament of the wedding and participation in it are ordered - prerequisite is the baptism of both spouses and their witnesses.

If one of the newlyweds was not baptized in infancy, then this ceremony must be completed before a significant event, but only on condition of sincere desire and full acceptance of faith.

• The same applies to members of other faiths, including non-Orthodox Christians. In relation to the latter, an exception can be made, but this is possible only on the condition that the children born in this marriage will be brought up according to Orthodox canons.
• It is possible to dissolve a Christian marriage concluded in heaven only for an overly good reason - each such case is considered separately, but the clergy will not allow a wedding if one of the spouses already has three such ceremonies behind them.

The clergyman cannot conduct a wedding ceremony if one of the spouses indicates that he is forced to this ceremony. True, in this case, the rules do not specify what to do with the “civil” wedding that has already taken place.

Preparing for the wedding ceremony

It will not work just like that to come and enter into a church marriage - you need to prepare for the solemn date. According to the rules, the wedding in the church should be preceded by a strict fasting of the spouses - abstinence in food and other worldly concerns, prayers, fasting, attending services, confession and communion.

Creating a family is responsible and extraordinary important step in the life of every adult. Having decided to get married or get married, a young man and a girl confirm their spiritual maturity, realizing the complexity of the tasks that will radically change their lives in the future. Therefore, future spouses often ask the Lord God for help and support, which invisibly sends sacrament of marriage. How to properly prepare for a wedding to be worthy God's grace? Sincere Faith and Observance church rules- two main mate whales.

Spiritual cleansing is the most important principle before the wedding

Future spouses can be church people, but this is not so necessary. The most important thing is that they realize the need to receive a blessing from above, which is sent by the sacrament. What should be done in preparation for the wedding?

1. The bride and groom accompany spiritual cleansing with bodily cleansing. So before the wedding, you need to fast for several days. Meat, dairy dishes, products that contain eggs are excluded. This will help to change the direction of thoughts, to give purity to thoughts. You should also refrain from sexual intercourse and repent at confession in the case when they took place;
2. On the eve of the wedding, future spouses must attend Vespers, and then confess to the spiritual father. Participle the spouses receive in the morning, on the day of the wedding. A few days before the wedding, the priest conducts a confidential and instructive conversation with the young, in which he sets out the most important canons of the Christian family. There may be several such conversations, if the priest sees a need for them;
3. Prayer and Repentance– the most milestones preparation for the sacrament. After all, when entering into marriage, young people should be as pure and open as possible before God. Of course, no one will be able to discover any deception for the time being, but our Heavenly Father knows everything. We are all sinners, therefore, sincerely regretting our actions (whether fornication, premarital cohabitation, sinful acts), asking for forgiveness from God, through his servant, the holy father, we receive forgiveness, peace and grace;
4. It is unthinkable to hide anything in confession, because the Lord knows everything. And do not be afraid to open your soul, because the Lord God knows his children and rejoices more about one sheep that was lost, but returned, than about nine that are saved;
5. If the newlyweds are not familiar with the Bible and prayers, before the wedding they should definitely learn the Lord's Prayer "Our Father" and "Symbol of Faith" try to understand their spiritual essence. It will be very good if young people read at least the Gospel of the Apostle Mark.

The awe and excitement that future spouses experience before the wedding ceremony is quite understandable. During this period, they are overshadowed by the holy spirit, helping to purify the soul and body before the sacrament. Therefore, a sincere daily prayer for the blessing of well-being in the family being created is very important.

Some material and official aspects of the wedding

What should be the clothes that need to be purchased before the wedding? Church sisters or the priest himself will tell about this. We will also tell you about this:

• bride's clothing should not be provocative. So, the dress should be purchased closed, a large neckline, bare back and arms are not allowed. A veil and a headdress in the form of a wreath or hat are obligatory. If the dress is open, then you can cover your shoulders and back with a veil. The length of the wedding dress should not be above the knee. Important rule: after the ceremony, this dress must be kept in the family, so you can not rent it;
• According to church canons, husband should wear at wedding Golden ring , since it symbolizes the sun, as the main luminary in the family, the wife - silver (as a sign of the smaller luminary - the moon). But this is an old rule, now wedding rings are usually made of gold for both husband and wife. What rings to buy for young people is up to them to decide;
• Before the wedding should be purchased icons of the Mother of God or Father Almighty(if there is no family heirloom at home that is inherited). They are placed on the throne and after the wedding they become the home shrine of the newly created family;
• About wedding candles, a bottle of church wine or Cahors, a snow-white dress, which the newlyweds will become, also needs to be taken care of in advance. They can be bought in icon shops at temples or in special shops where properly consecrated products are sold.

There are some official rules that may prevent a wedding. Future spouses should know them:

1. In most temples, weddings are not held until a civil marriage has been concluded. By this the Church shows respect for state laws;
2. If one of the couple recognizes himself as an atheist, saying that he came to church at the insistence of his parents or soulmate, the wedding is not held;
3. It should be noted that marriages between relatives up to the fourth generation are also unacceptable, according to church canons. If one of the couple has even been in a civil registered marriage three times already, the church refuses to marry such people;
4. If the bride and groom are not baptized, then there is nothing to worry about: they can go through the sacrament of baptism at any time, listen to several spiritual conversations, and then get married.

All questions that arose before the wedding must be coordinated with the rector of the church where you plan to marry. There are no unresolved issues, so the spiritual father will always come to your aid by appointing repentance or fasting. The main thing before the wedding: go down the aisle with faith in a pure heart, the desire to create happy family, firmly and unwaveringly fulfill your marital duty until death do you part.

A wedding is a sacrament that takes place according to a strict canon, requiring the couple to make a balanced decision and realize what is needed for this ceremony. I want to talk about the important aspects that should be taken into account by the newlyweds when organizing the ceremony.

• Pectoral crosses
• Rings
• wedding candles
• wedding icons
• Towel
• Scarves
• Cahors
• Marriage certificate
• Dress and shoes

Each of these attributes must be given Special attention, therefore I will tell about each of them in detail.

Pectoral crosses – important rule wedding is that the bride and groom must be baptized, otherwise the priest will not perform the ritual.

Rings- according to ancient traditions, the groom's ring was gold, personifying the sun, while the bride's ring was silver, as a symbol of warmth and light in the house. V modern world this tradition is no longer mandatory and you can use both the same and different rings, it all depends on your personal preferences.

wedding candles- during the entire ceremony, the couple should have wedding candles in their hands. Throughout the ceremony, they should burn and not go out, thus personifying light and warmth for your family. Therefore, you need to pay attention to thick and large candles, because on average the duration of the ceremony takes 30 minutes, or even more. For convenience, there are also candle holders so that the wax does not drip onto your hands, creating discomfort.

wedding icons- you need to buy two icons in advance and consecrate them with the priest. Usually the couple is crowned with the images of the Savior and the Virgin Mary. After the ceremony, the icons remain with the newlyweds.

Towel- at the very beginning of the ceremony, young people should stand on a towel, which symbolizes the white sky. I want to warn you that it should not be with patterns and other decorations.

Scarves- if you decide not to use candle stands, then you will need small handkerchiefs so as not to burn your hands with hot wax during the ceremony. Witnesses will also need handkerchiefs to hold crowns during the ceremony.

Cahors- church wine, which are also an integral part of the process. During the ceremony, the bride and groom alternately drink it from the bowl.

Marriage certificate- Civil laws are important to the church, so before the ceremony, you need to provide a marriage certificate. An exception may be made if the marriage ceremony is announced the next day after the ceremony.

Dress and shoes- there are no categorical rules here, the bride can be at the wedding in a secular dress, but it must comply with certain standards, for example, a deep neckline should be covered with a cape or choose a more modest outfit. Shoes can also be chosen according to your taste, but I want to remind you that the ceremony takes place while standing and for quite a long time, so you need to choose not only beautiful, but also the most comfortable shoes.

wedding rules

1. The groom must be at least 18 years old and the bride 16;
2. Newlyweds must be Orthodox Christians;
3. Parental blessing must be obtained (this is not mandatory for people who have reached the age of majority);
4. The wedding takes place after state registration marriage
5. The couple must also prepare spiritually by taking the sacrament, fasting, and confessing.

Witnesses

One of important decisions When preparing the wedding, there will be a choice of witnesses. There are no too categorical rules here, but still there are things that you should pay attention to:

• Naturally, the witnesses, like everyone else who will be in the church at the time of the wedding, must be baptized and wear crosses
• An important feature that I would like to focus on is that, becoming witnesses, people acquire a certain spiritual connection with each other, which is equated to family ties. Therefore, couples who later want to marry are undesirable as witnesses, since during the ceremony they will bind themselves with spiritual threads close to family ties.

In what cases you can not hold a wedding

1. The procedure is not allowed blood relatives(up to 4 knees);
2. The second, third and fourth weddings are not approved by the church, but permission for the ceremony can be obtained by proving that both spouses are not married to other people or are widowers;
3. Unacceptable for people of other faiths or atheists;
4. If the young are not yet painted.

Here I would like to mention that the presence of pregnancy is not an obstacle to the wedding, the church, on the contrary, advocates that the child should be born to a family that is consecrated by the Lord.

How to choose a date

Choosing a wedding date can be a whole problem for a couple, because there are dates when it is forbidden to do this:

1. Orthodox fasts (both one-day and multi-day);
2. Easter;
3. Church holidays;
4. Solid weeks;
5. The Twelfth Passing and Non-passing Holidays.

Guests at the ceremony

Everyone who expresses such a desire can attend the wedding ceremony, but there are a number of requirements for guests

• All guests must wear crosses
• Women should not be wearing trousers, clothing is light and modest.
• Women's heads should be covered with headscarves.
• Men in festive costumes, if they are black, a light-colored shirt must be worn

Preparing for a wedding already married

As I said above, the wedding takes place only after the state registration of marriage, hence it follows that it does not matter whether the ceremony takes place the day after the painting in the registry office or after 20 years of marriage.

But in a situation where you have already been married for a long time, for the wedding, you need to foresee possible problems:

• If the blessing of the parents was not received in time, the priest may refuse
• A situation is possible when there are no unmarried people in close circle who could be witnesses
• By the way, a person should not be married again, this can also lead to the refusal of the church to hold the ceremony (but I want to note that in the modern world the church has become more loyal in these matters)

When planning a wedding, I strongly recommend that you take into account the tips and rules described earlier, then this exciting event will pass calmly and bring only good emotions. But the main thing to remember is that this is not just a festive ritual, it is a big responsibility!

A church wedding is a sacred rite that gives the husband and wife a church blessing for a happy family life, the birth of children. Many couples decide to hold this beautiful and touching event. But in order for the rite to be not just a tribute to fashion, but to become a serious deliberate step, it is worth knowing its features.

Important conditions for a wedding

It is allowed to get married on the wedding day or after a time: a week, a month, years. The main thing is that all conditions stipulated by the church are observed.

Who can get married

An important condition for the ceremony is the presence of a marriage certificate. In addition, spouses must be baptized Orthodox Christians. However, in some cases, a wedding may be allowed if the spouse is a non-Orthodox Christian, provided that the children born in marriage will be baptized in Orthodoxy. It is also important to match the age of marriage: the bride must be 16 years old, the groom - 18. Do not be afraid of rejection if the wife is pregnant, because, according to the church, children should be born in a married marriage. The wedding can be held even if the spouses have not received a parental blessing, since it can be replaced by the blessing of the confessor.

There are not so many restrictions for the sacrament of the wedding. The Church will not approve the rite between unbaptized, atheists, blood, as well as spiritual relatives, for example, between godparents of a child, between godfather and godson. This ceremony is allowed to be held no more than three times. It is also forbidden to get married if this will already be your fourth officially registered marriage.

When is the ceremony allowed?

Often, newlyweds decide to get married on the day with the official registration of marriage. But, given that such a sacrament of Orthodoxy is a rather serious step, you should not rush into the ceremony: it can be postponed until the birth of a child or carried out after several years of official marriage.

This ceremony is not performed every day. Newlyweds are crowned 4 days a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. However, it should be borne in mind that there are 4 fasts throughout the year, during which church marriages are not concluded:
- Christmas - lasts November 28 - January 6;
- Great - seven weeks before Orthodox Easter;
- Petrov - depends on the date of Easter, lasts from 8 to 42 days;
- Assumption - lasts August 14 - 27.

Also, the church will refuse to hold a wedding on significant days:
- September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist;
- September 27 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross;
- from January 7 to January 19 - Christmas time;
- on Maslenitsa;
- for Bright Week (the week after Easter).

Even if the day you have chosen does not fall on the dates listed, it is still better to go to church to clarify everything with the priest. In addition, the bride must calculate that on the chosen date there is no " critical days", since it is impossible to appear at this time in the church.

What should precede the wedding ceremony

It is necessary to prepare spiritually for this rite. This means that before the wedding, the bride and groom need to pray, confess, take communion, endure a three-day fast (it is necessary to refrain from food of animal origin). Newlyweds before marriage should not enter into carnal relations, and this condition also applies to a couple who decided to get married after several years of marriage. They need to refrain from close relationships for several days before the ceremony.

Preparing for the sacrament of the wedding

Choosing a church, communicating with a priest

To decide where to get married, you can walk through different churches and choose the church where you feel most comfortable. For a magnificent, solemn ceremony, a large cathedral is suitable, for a quiet, solitary ceremony - a small church. Since the priest is important actor rite, it is worth taking a responsible approach to his choice.

The wedding ceremony must be booked in advance (a few weeks in advance). It is also worth discussing all the questions with the priest in advance: the duration of the wedding, what you need to bring with you, whether it is possible to take photographs, etc. It is worth considering that this is a paid ceremony, but in some churches its exact cost is set, in others voluntary donations are provided. This issue should also be discussed with the priest. Moreover, it is often provided Additional services", eg, bell ringing, church choir.

Choice of guarantors

Two guarantors (witnesses) are chosen, as a rule, from relatives. It is worth considering that they must be baptized. It is not allowed to take divorced spouses as guarantors, a couple living in an illegal, "civil" marriage. Their spiritual duties are similar to the duties of godparents: they must spiritually lead the family they are creating. Therefore, it is not customary to invite young people who are not familiar with married life as guarantors. If there are difficulties in finding witnesses, it is allowed to conduct the sacrament of the wedding without them.

Choice of outfit

• Bride
  
  The bride's wedding dress should be no higher than the knees, should cover the shoulders and preferably the arms, should not have a deep neckline (you can use long gloves, a cape, a bolero, an openwork shawl, a stole, etc.). It is advisable to give preference along light colors, dark and bright (purple, blue, black) should be discarded. Sundresses and trouser suits are not suitable for the ceremony. The bride's head must be covered. Considering that church crowns (crowns) are worn on the young during the ceremony, it is not necessary to cover the bride's head big hat because it will look out of place.

  You can wear any shoes, but when choosing it, you should take into account that you will have to stand in it for quite some time, so it is better to refuse uncomfortable shoes with heels. To decide on a hairstyle, it is advisable to check with the priest in advance whether crowns will be worn on the head or guarantors will hold them. The bride's makeup should not be too noticeable, it is also worth remembering that it is forbidden to kiss a crown, cross, icon with painted lips.

  It is believed that a wedding dress cannot be given or sold. It must be stored together with baptismal shirts, wedding candles, icons.

• Groom

  For the wedding, the groom will suit a formal suit. There are no special prohibitions regarding the color of the suit. You should not come to church in casual, denim, sportswear. The groom should not have a headdress.

• Guests

  Guests entering the temple must comply with the requirements for all parishioners: for women - clothing closed type, hats, trouser suits are undesirable, for men - strict clothes, without a hat.

  In addition, all participants and those present at the wedding ceremony: the bride, groom, guarantors and guests must wear pectoral crosses.

What to prepare for the ceremony

For the wedding you will need:
- rings that must be given to the priest before the ceremony for consecration;
- wedding candles;
- wedding icons (images of Christ and the Virgin);
- a white towel-towel (young people will stand on it during the ceremony);
- two handkerchiefs (to hold candles).

The towel, on which the bride and groom stood during the wedding in the temple, symbolizes the path of life, so it must be kept and not given to anyone. You should also store wedding candles that can be lit during difficult births, illnesses of children.

Photographer's Choice

It is important to note that not all churches allow video or photography of the wedding ceremony. Therefore, it is worth discussing this issue with the priest in advance. Considering that the lighting in temples is specific, it is advisable to choose a professional photographer who will take into account the nuances of shooting, be able to choose the right angles, take high-quality pictures that convey the atmosphere of the temple and the grandeur of the wedding ceremony.

wedding ceremony

This ritual includes betrothal and wedding. It is worth considering that during the ceremony, the priest must call the newlyweds the names that were given to them at baptism (sometimes they differ from the names "in the world"). betrothal passes at the entrance to the church. The bride should stand to the left of the groom. The priest blesses the newlyweds and hands them lit wedding candles, which must be kept until the end of the service. After the prayer, he changes the wedding rings from the man's hand to the woman's hand three times. After that, they become a bride and groom.

Wedding is held in the center of the temple, where the bride and groom will stand on a white towel. During the ceremony, the priest reads prayers, the guarantors hold crowns over the heads of the newlyweds. After answering the priest’s questions, “Is the wedding performed out of good will?” "Are there any obstacles?" and reading prayers, the newlyweds become spouses before God. Now they can kiss the crowns and drink wine in three steps from the cup, which symbolizes family life with joys and sorrows. After the priest leads them around the lectern, brings them to the Royal Doors, the husband kisses the icon of Christ, and the wife - Mother of God. Now the guests can congratulate the newlyweds.

Remember that the wedding is not just a memorable, bright holiday, but also a very responsible step, which is worth taking once in a lifetime. Church divorce (dethronement) of spouses is possible only under serious circumstances, with the permission of the diocese. Therefore, the union of one's life before God and the very sacrament of the wedding should be taken seriously, with understanding and taking into account all traditions and rules.