The Rite of Crowning

The second part of the marriage ceremony, the Rite of Crowning, is longer and more complex. The ceremony includes the joining of hands, the partaking of blessed wine from a common cup, and a solemn-joyous procession. The most distinct act is that of placing crowns on the heads of the couple. Prayers accompany each action. And there will be readings from the New Testament.

Candles

At the beginning of this part of the service, Hope and Brian are given candles to hold. These remind us that Christ is the light of the world and illumines the steps of the couple.

The Joining of Hands

After a series of prayers the priest joins the right hands of Brian and Hope with the words, “O Sovereign Lord, stretch forth Your hand from Your holy dwelling place and join together Your servant Brian and Your servant Hope, for by You is a wife joined to her husband. Join them together in oneness of mind; crown them with wedlock into one flesh; grant to them the fruit of the womb and the gain of well-favored children….” This act is the sign of their unity as a couple. They will hold hands until the very end of the service when the priest will separate them.

The Crowning

The priest places crowns, usually of flowers, on the heads of Hope and Brian, after first blessing them. In Greek practice, the crowns are tied with a ribbon in the back, another sign of their union. They are now the “king and queen” of their home church. Three times, the priest says, “The servant of God Brian is crowned for the servant of God Hope in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” He repeats this action, this time beginning with Hope. Once the crowns are placed on their heads, the brief hymn, “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor” is sung. There is a custom by which the koumbaro/koumbara of the couple will exchange the crowns on their heads three times.

The Scripture Readings

There are two readings from the New Testament. The first is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (5:20-33), where he exhorts married couples “to be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The second reading is from the Gospel of John (2:1-11) relating the miracle of Christ at the wedding at Cana.

The Common Cup

After the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, the couple will sip from a “common cup” of wine, offered by the priest. This is a sign that they will share all things in life.

The Procession, the “Dance of Isaiah”

The priest, holding the Book of the Gospels, will lead the couple around the table three times, singing three hymns. The first begins, “O Isaiah, dance for joy….” Giving this procession its name. Originally, this procession was a procession of the couple to their first home. Today, the Word of God leads them in their first steps together as a married couple.

The Final Blessing and Removal of the Crowns

In ancient times, a married couple would wear their crowns for eight days. Today, the priest removes the crowns at the end of the ceremony, blessing Hope and Brian, saying, “Accept their crowns in Your kingdom unsoiled and undefiled, and preserve them without offense to the ages of ages.” This final action reminds the couple of meaning of marriage: whatever happens to them in their life together, their crowns are a symbol of the Kingdom of God.

In the Greek community, there is a customary greeting at the wedding, “Na sas zisei!” (Na sas zeesee!) or “Na zisoune!” (Na ZEEsoune!), which means essentially “May you have a long life!” or “May they have a long life!” Also, small favors, called “bonboniéres, containing either five or seven white Jordan almonds, are given to the every guest at the wedding (sometimes only the female guests), either at the church or at the reception.