The Service of the Crowning

The Service of Marriage

If the Coronation follows the Betrothal immediately, then after the "Amen" of the Ekphonesis ("For You areHe that blesses and sanctifies ... ), the Priest censes in front of the Altar, and goes out and censes the Ikonostasion. The Processional Psalm is then sung.

The Processional Psalm

Blessed is everyone that fears the Lord.

The Choir sings after each stikhos:

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You. That walks in His ways,

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You. For you shall eat the labor of your hands.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Blessed are you, and it shall be well with you.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine on the sides of your house.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Your children like young olive plants around your table.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Behold! The man shall be blessed that fears the Lord.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

The Lord shall bless you out of Zion, and you shall see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Yea! You shall see your children's children, and peace be upon Israel.

Glory to You, O our God, Glory to You.

Turning towards the East and raising the Holy Gospel, the Priest says:

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

During the Easter season "Christ is risen" is sung thrice.

The Priest says the Synapte, and the Choir responds to each petition by singing "Lord have mercy.

Priest:

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace from above; for the salvation of our souls; let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace of the whole world; for the stability of the holy Churches of God; and for the union of all; let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy House; and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter therein; let us pray to the Lord.

For our Most Reverend Archbishop (Name), for the venerable Priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the Clergy; and for all the people; let us pray to the Lord.

For the servants of God (Name) and (Name), who are now being joined to one another in the community of Marriage, and for their salvation; let us pray to the Lord.

That this marriage may be blessed as was that of Cana of Galilee; let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be given unto them soberness of life, and fruit of the womb as may be most expedient for them; let us pray to the Lord.

That they may rejoice in the beholding of sons and daughters; let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be granted unto them the happiness of abundant fertility, and a course of life blameless and unashamed; let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be granted unto them and unto us all prayers that tend unto salvation; let us pray to the Lord

That both they and we may be delivered from tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity; let us pray to the Lord.

Help us; save us; have mercy on us and keep us, O God by Your Grace.

Calling to remembrance our all‑holy, immaculate, exceedingly blessed glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever‑Virgin Mary, with all the Saints; let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life to Christ our God.

Choir:

To You, O God.

Priest

For to You are due all Glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Choir:

Amen.

Priest

Let us pray to the Lord.

People:

Lord have mercy.

And the Priest says aloud the following:

O God most pure, Author of all creation, Who through Your manbefriending love transformed a rib of Adam the forefather into a woman, and blessed them and said, "Increase and multiply, and have dominion over the earth," and, by the conjoining, declared them both to be one member, for because of this a man shall forsake his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh‑and whom God has joined together let not man put asunder; Who did also bless Your servant Abraham, and opened the womb of Sara, and made him the father of many nations; Who bestowed Isaac upon Rebecca, and blessed her offspring; Who joined Jacob and Rachel, and from them made manifest the twelve patriarchs; Who yoked Joseph and Asenath together, and as the fruit of generation did bestow upon them Ephrem and Manasse; Who accepted Zacharias and Elizabeth, and declared their offspring the Forerunner; Who out of the root of Jesse, according to the flesh, produced the Ever‑Virgin Mary, and from her were Incarnate-born for the salvation of the human race; Who through Your unspeakable Grace and plentiful goodness were present in Cana of Galilee, and blessed the marriage there, that You might show a lawful union, and a generation there from, is according to Your Will; do You Yourself, O Most Holy Master, accept the prayer of us, Your servants; and as You were present there, be present also here with Your invisible protection. Bless (+) this marriage and grant unto these Your servants (Name) and (Name) a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, love for one another in a bond of peace, offspring long‑lived, fair fame by reason of their children, and a crown of glory that does not fade away. Account them worthy to see their children's children. Keep their wedlock safe against every hostile scheme; give them of the dew from the Heavens above, and of the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with bountiful food, and with every good thing, that they may have to give to them that are in need, bestowing also on them that are here assembled with us all their supplications that are unto salvation. For a God of mercy and of compassion, and of manbefriending love are You, and to You do we send up Glory: as to Your eternal Father and Your All‑Holy, Good, and Life‑creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Priest:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:

Lord have mercy.

The Priest says aloud the following:

Prayer

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Holy Celebrant of mystical and pure marriage, Maker of the laws that govern earthly bodies, Guardian of incorruption, Kindly protector of the means of life: do You Yourself now, O Master, Who in the beginning created man, and appointed him as the king of creation, and said, "It is not good for man to be alone upon the earth; let us make a helpmate for him‑" then, taking one of his ribs, made woman, whom when Adam saw, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, for she was taken out of her man. For this cause shall a man forsake his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife, and two shall be one flesh‑" and "whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder." And now, O Master, Lord our God, send down Your heavenly Grace upon these Your servants, (Name) and (Name), and grant unto this woman to be in all things subject unto the man, and to this Your servant to be at the head of the woman that they live according to Your Will. (+) Bless them. O Lord our God, as you blessed Abraham and Sara. (+) Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Isaac and Rebecca. (+) Bless them, O Lord our God, as you blessed Jacob and all the Prophets. (+) Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Joseph and Asenath. (+) Bless them O Lord our God, as You blessed Moses and Zipporah Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Joakim and Anna. (+) Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as You preserved Noah in the Ark. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as You preserved Jonah in the jaw of the sea beast. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as You preserved the holy Three Children from the fire, when You sent down upon them the dew of the Heavens. And may that joy come upon them which the blessed Helen had when she found the Precious Cross. Remember them, O Lord our God, as You remembered Enoch, Shem, and Elias. Remember them, O Lord our God, as You remembered Your holy Forty Martyrs, sending down upon them the crowns from the Heavens. Remember them, O Lord our God, and the parents who have reared them, for the prayers of parents confirm the foundation of houses. Remember, O Lord our God, the wedding company that here have come together, to be present at this rejoicing. Remember, O Lord our God, Your servant (Name) and Your servant (Name), and bless them. Give to them fruit of the womb, fair children, concord of soul and body. Exalt them as the cedars of Lebanon, and as well‑cultured vine; bestow on them a rich store of sustenance, so that having a sufficiency of all things for themselves, they may abound in every good work that is good and acceptable before You. Let them behold their children's children as newly planted olive trees round about their table; and, being accepted before You, let them shine as stars in the Heavens, in You, our Lord, to Whom are due all Glory, honor, and worship as to Your eternal Father, and Your All‑Holy, Good, and Life‑creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Priest:

Let us pray to the Lord.

People:

Lord have mercy.

Holy God, Who fashioned man from the dust, and from his rib fashioned woman, and joined her to him as a helpmate for him, for it was seemly unto Your Majesty for man not to be alone upon the earth, do You Yourself, O Sovereign Lord, stretch forth Your hand from Your holy dwelling place, and join* together this Your servant (Name) and Your servant (Name), 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, for Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

*When this is said, the priest joins their right hands.

People: Amen.

After the Amen, the Priest, taking up the Crowns, crowns first the Bridegroom, saying:

The servant of God (Name) is crowned for the servant of God, (Name), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

And he crowns the Bride, saying:

The servant of God (Name) is crowned for the servant of God (Name), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

 The Priest takes the Crown of the Groom in his right hand, and the Crown of the Bride in his left, and places them on their heads while he intones:

O Lord, our God, crown them with glory and honor.

The Epistle

Priest:

Let us attend.

Reader:

Prokeimenon, in Tone 8

You have set upon their heads crowns of precious stones.

They asked life of You, and You gave it to them.

Priest:

Wisdom!

Reader:

The Reading from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. (5:20‑33)

Priest:

Let us attend.

Reader:

Brethren, give thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be also subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one." This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Priest:

Peace be to you who read.

Reader:

And with your spirit.

Choir:

    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

O Lord, You shall keep us and You shall preserve us from this generation forth and forever.

The Holy Gospel

Priest:

Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Peace be to all. (+)

People:

And to your spirit.

Priest:

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (John 2: 1 ‑11)

People:

Glory to You, O Lord, Glory to You.

Priest:

At that time there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Choir:

 Glory to You, O Lord, Glory to You.

The Priest gives the Book of the Gospels to the Bride and the Groom to be kissed, and then continues with the following petitions. After each, the Choir responds thrice with "Lord have mercy. "      

Let us say with all our soul and all our mind, let us say:

O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, listen and have mercy.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray You, listen and have mercy.

Again let us pray for the servants of God, (Name) and

 (Name), that they may have mercy, life, health, peace, safety, salvation, pardon and remission of their sins.

Priest:

For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You do we send up Glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Choir:

 Amen.

Priest:

Let us pray to the Lord.

People:

Lord have mercy.

Priest (facing the married couple):

O Lord our God, Who in Your saving Providence did promise in Cana of Galilee to declare marriage honorable by Your presence, do You Yourself preserve in peace and oneness of mind these Your servants (Name) and (Name), whom You are well pleased should be joined to one another. Declare their marriage honorable. Preserve their bed undefiled. Grant that their life together be with be without spot of sin. And assure that they may be worthy to attain unto a ripe old age, keeping Your commandments in a pure heart.

For You are our God, the God to have mercy and save, and to You do we send up all Glory, as to Your Eternal Father, and Your All‑Holy, Good, and Life‑creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Choir:

Amen.

Priest:

Help us; save us; have mercy on us, and keep Us, O God, by Your Grace.

Choir:

Lord have mercy.

Priest:

That the whole day may be kept perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless; let us ask of the Lord.

Choir responds to each petition saying: O Lord, grant this prayer.

An Angel of Peace, a faithful Guide, a Guardian of our souls and bodies; let us ask of the Lord.

Pardon and remission of our sins and offenses; let us ask of the Lord.

All things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the whole world; let us ask of the Lord.

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance; let us ask of the Lord.

A Christian ending to our life, painless, without shame, peaceful; and a good defense before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ; let us ask of the Lord.

Asking for the unity of the Faith and the Communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life to Christ our God.

And account us worthy, O Sovereign Lord, with boldness and without condemnation to dare call on You, the Heavenly God, as Father, and to say:

People:

Our Father, Who are in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name; Your Kingdom come.

Your 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 evil.

Priest:

For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Priest:

Peace (+) be to all.

People:

And to your spirit.

Priest:

Let us bow our heads before the Lord.

People:

To You, O Lord.

Then the common cup is offered.

Priest:

Let us pray to the Lord.

People:

Lord have mercy.

The Priest blesses the cup saying this prayer:

O God, Who by Your might create all things, and confirm the universe, and adorn the crown of all things created by You, do You, with Your spiritual blessing (+), bless also this common cup given to them that are joined in the community of marriage.

For blessed is Your Holy Name, and glorified is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Then the Priest gives them to drink thrice from the cup, first to the man, then to the woman, chanting:

I will drink from the cup of salvation; I will call upon the name of the Lord.

Then he takes the Bridal Pair, while the Groomsman holds the Crowns behind and above them, and leads them in a circle around the Analogion thrice. The people sing:

The Dance of Isaiah, in Tone 5

O Isaiah, dance your joy, for the Virgin was indeed with child; and brought to birth a Son, that Emmanuel, Who came as both God and man; Day‑at‑the‑Dawn is the Name He bears, and by extolling Him, We hail the Virgin as blessed.

Hear us, you martyred Saints, who fought the good fight, gaining crowns: entreat the Lord to shed His tender mercy on our souls.

Glory to You, O Christ our God, Your Apostles' proudest boast and treasure of Your Martyrs' joy, Who to all proclaimed the Consubstantial Trinity.

Then the Priest removes the Crowns, taking first that of the Groom and saying:

Be magnified, O Bridegroom, as Abraham, and blessed as Isaac, and increased as was Jacob. Go your way in peace, performing in righteousness the commandments of God.

He takes the Crown of the Bride and says:

 And you, O Bride, be magnified as was Sarah, and rejoiced as was Rebecca, and increased as Rachel, being glad in your husband, keeping the paths of the Law, for so God is well pleased.

Priest:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:

 Lord have mercy.

Now the Priest says this prayer:

O God our God, Who was present in Cana of Galilee and blessed the marriage there, do You (+) also bless these' Your servants, who, by Your Providence, are joined in the community of marriage. Bless their comings‑in and their goings‑out. Replenish their life with all good things. (Here the priest lifts the crowns from the heads of the bride and groom and places them on the table.) Accept their crowns in Your Kingdom unsoiled and undefiled; and preserve them without offense to the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Priest:

Peace be to all.

People:

And to your spirit.

Priest:

Let us bow our heads before the Lord.

Choir:

To You, O Lord.

Priest:

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the All‑Holy, Consubstantial and Life‑creating Trinity; One Godhead and Kingdom; bless (+) you; grant to you long life, well-favored children, progress in life and in Faith; replenish you with all the good things of the earth, and count you worthy of the promised blessings, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, and of all the Saints.

People:

Amen.

Priest:

Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope: glory to You.

Reader:

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

   Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy. Holy Father, Bless.

Priest:

He, Who by His presence in Cana of Galilee declared marriage to be honorable, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all‑pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all‑praiseworthy Apostles, of the holy, God‑crowned and Equal‑to‑the‑Apostles Constantine and Helen, of the Holy, great Martyr Procopios, and of all the holy Saints, have mercy on us and save us, as our good and loving Lord.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ Our God, Have Mercy on us and save us.

People:

Amen.

Liturgical Texts courtesy and copyright of Holy Cross Press, Brookline, MA