Marriage Within Christian Denominations

Marriage Within Christian Denominations

Marriage, within any chrisitian denominations consists of these three

main purposes:

· Lifelong companionship

· Ability to have sex

· Children

Within the denominations of the Anglican and Orthodox Church,

traditions vary between the wedding services, but the principles

remain the same for both of them.

In the Orthodox marriage service, it is split into two parts; the

Betrothal and the actual wedding ceremony.

The Betrothal Service includes a series of petitions, a few small

prayers, the exchange of the rings, and a lengthy prayer.

"Blessed be our God both now and ever and unto the ages of ages.”

Many Orthodox prayer services begin with this doxology, which is a

form of prayer. It simply calls both partners – together with all who

are in attendance - to acknowledge and glorify God.

Petitions begin with some general requests asking God to bless those

in attendance with peace and salvation. The priest then asks God to be

mindful of our world, the Church and our leaders. After these opening

petitions, the list quickly turns its concerns to the couple about to

marry. The prayers will ask God to bless the couple with peace, love,

harmony and oneness of mind. God is also asked to bless the couple

with children, while promoting fidelity and mutual trust within their

lives across the life cycle.

The priest will read two short prayers. They remind the couple that

God’s love has brought them together, and will sustain them in “peace

and oneness of mind” across the marital life cycle. They also remind

the couple that they are standing before God, their family and the

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...r, Son and Holy Spirit.'

Finally, the priest will announce the couple as “husband and wife”.

As shown above, there are many differences between wedding services in

the two denominations;

During the Orthodox service, there isn’t a question asked to the

congregation if they know of any reason why the couple should not be

married, like there is in the Anglican service.

Also, the couple in an Anglican Wedding service, do not once drink

from a common cup, get crowned or walk round the altar three times in

a circle, like they do during the Orthodox service.

Although the two ceromonies have many differences, they also share

many of the same traditions, such as.

During both denominations, and every other Christian wedding service,

God is believed to be present and is seen as the third member of the

couple.