Greek Orthodox Wedding

Greek Orthodox Wedding

Our cultural wedding for this week is the Greek Orthodox Wedding.  The Greek Orthodox ceremony is very traditional and has not changed much in many years.  It is a very unique event, full of symbolism and tradition.  Watch the video at the end of this depicting a Greek Orthodox Wedding.

Ceremony:
Prior to the ceremony, the guests and groom stand outside the church, awaiting the arrival of the bride.  The groom usually holds a bouquet of flowers to give to his bride.  The ceremony itself takes place in two parts.

• First is the Service of Betrothal.  The priest will bless the rings, which are then exchanged by the bride and groom.  The Koumbaro  (the couples sponsor best man, maid of honor) may then swap the rings three times from the bride to groom.
• Next is the Sacrament of Marriage.  This part of the ceremony consists of several prayers.  The bride and groom join hands throughout this part of the ceremony, symbolizing their union.

In a Greek Orthodox wedding, the bride and groom do not exchange vows.  Their presence is considered to be enough proof of their intention. There is also much symbolism throughout the ceremony.  Actions are often repeated three times to symbolize the holy trinity.

After the Sacrament of Marriage, the couple is crowned (the crowns are exchanged three times by the Koumbaro) symbolizing that the two are now one.  Once the couple is crowned, the priest chants several Bible verses about the duties, responsibilities and holiness of marriage.

The bride and the groom then drink three sips from a glass of wine symbolizing that they will share the cup of life together.  The priest then lead the couple around the altar three times signifying that they will be following the word of God as they start their lives together.  The circle also signifies the eternity of marriage.

At the end of the ceremony, the crown is lifted from the heads of the newly weds indicating the end of the marriage ceremony and the beginning of their life together as husband and wife.

Traditions:
Koufetta is a popular Greek Orthodox wedding tradition.  Koufetta are fresh almonds, which are bittersweet to the taste.  This symbolizes both the good and bad in any marriage.  The almonds are coated in sugar, however, to emphasize the good.  Traditionally, the wedding bed is sprinkled with these almonds.  Each guest is then given an odd number of almonds to symbolize that the two are now one.  The more popular name for these sugar coated almonds is Jordan Almonds.  Unmarried women will place these almonds under their pillow that night in hopes of dreaming of their future husband.

Menu and Reception:
The most important consideration when planning a Greek Orthodox wedding is the timing.  The wedding cannot be held during any fasting holiday because food is such an important part of the wedding celebration.  Sourdough breads are an especially common inclusion.  These breads will be decorated, and some may have coins and rings baked into them.  The menu may feature Greek dishes such as lamb kabobs, orzo, and stuffed grape leaves.  The wedding cake is traditionally made with honey and quince.  The reception is usually a huge party with lots of food, drinks, and dancing that may last well into the night.

Here a short video that depicts a Greek Orthodox Wedding

Photo Credit: Agni Travel