We're so often asked if we are familiar with different religious ceremonies and the answer is: YES! We've performed for almost 600 weddings, many of which have been beautiful Greek Orthodox Church ceremonies. When hiring your wedding musicians (and ceremony vendors like videographers, photographers, and planners), it's important that they are fully versed and know not only what to expect, but also can guide you too!
Today, we'll be breaking down the Traditional Greek Wedding Ceremony.
The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is abundant with the symbols that reflect marriage: love, mutual respect, equality, and sacrifice. The ceremony consists of two parts: The Service of the Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage.
Everything in the ceremony has significance, especially the repetition of each act (three times) to symbolize and invoke the presence of the Holy Trinity. The wedding begins as white candles are handed to the bride and groom. The lighted candles remain present throughout the service, symbolizing the light of Christ and the willingness of the couple to receive Christ.
The Service of the Betrothal
The Blessing of the Rings
The Priest blesses the rings and then places them on the couple's right hands. Then, The Koumbaro exchanges the rings three times which symbolizes the couple's mutual love and respect for each other.
The Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage
The Joining of Hands
The couple joins their right hands to symbolize their oneness.
The Crowning
The crowns are a sign of the glory and honor with which God crowns the couple during the sacrament of marriage. The Priest will bless the crowns (also known as the stefana) and then places them on the couple. then, The Koumbaro interchanges the crowns three times as a witness to the sealing of their union.
The Common Cup
The bride and groom drink wine from the common cup, which symbolizes their mutual sharing of joy and sorrow.
The Ceremonial Walk
The Priest leads the couple in a walk, encircling the ceremonial table three times. This symbolizes their first steps on their journey as a married couple.
The Removal of the Crowns
The Priest removes the crowns from the couple's heads, symbolizing an invitation to earn them through their daily commitment to live according to God's will.
What about Music?
Wondering which AS music ensemble would be best for your Greek Wedding Ceremony? The nice thing is, *all* of them are a great fit. We've performed as:
String Quartet
Violin & Guitar Duet
Violin & Cello Duet
and Solo Violinist
You're welcome to include classical wedding music favorites as well as pop instrumentals (though, double-check with your Priest, as each church has different rules!) If your heart is set on including classical wedding music (like "Here Comes the Bride" and Pachelbel's Canon in D), opt for the larger ensemble like the string quartet to get those beautiful layers to really fill the church.
