One of the first things mentioned in the Bible is God’s creation of Adam and Eve, how God made man and woman to love and support one another. This vision of the first humans in Paradise gives Orthodox Christians an understanding of the sacrament of marriage, for as the Bible itself states in this passage, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and bejoined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The great mystery of the Orthodox wedding ceremony is that two separate individuals can become one in Jesus Christ.
Unlike many weddings in Western churches where the bride and groom face each other, in the Orthodox wedding ceremony bride and groom stand next to each other, facing the altar together. This represents the fact that the bride and groom will be each other’s companions on their mutual journey towards Christ. Another notable and symbolic feature of the Orthodox wedding ceremony are the crowns placed upon the heads of the couple. These crowns represent the crowns of martyrdom received by those who died for their faith in Christ. Just as the martyrs were called to sacrifice themselves for Christ, so too in marriage are we asked to lay aside our own egotistical desires so that we can grow together in faith.
While marriage is a beautiful and joyous occasion, we also cannot deny the fact that every marriage will face challenges along the way. The Orthodox perspective is that marriage is an opportunity for spiritual growth, if we choose to live a Christ-centered life and make an effort to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Doing so can be our gateway to Heaven, for as Saint John Chrysostom writes, “for our human marriage is the counterpart of the marriage in heaven between Christ and the Church, where there is absolute freedom.” For those who would like to get married at Holy Cross Church, we offer an annual marriage seminar during the Lenten season, as well as pre-marriage counseling. Please contact Father Michael for further details.
