www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Orthodox Wedding Service: with or without Divine Liturgy

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I have a quick question: What is the preferred / most ancient / most theologically-defensible tradition regarding weddings in the Eastern Church -- is the rite of crowning to be celebrated alone or with the Divine Liturgy?

When my wife and I were crowned in marriage almost eight years ago, it was as part of a full Divine Liturgy. From an Eastern Christian perspective, it seemed to me then -- and still seems so today -- that the mystery of holy matrimony, like those of baptism, chrismation, etc., ought be celebrated as part of, or with, the Divine Liturgy. Marriage is not a private matter between two people, but a union of man and woman by and through Christ, and, as such, constitutes a true Church event, even (or especially) a cosmic event.

I know of many Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic jurisdictions in which the rite of crowning is celebrated on its own. My question, I suppose, is whether this is an innovation or an historically well-established praxis?

In Christ,
Theophilos

Perhaps one of our good priests can tell us?

Fr. Serge, Fr. Anthony, Fr. Thomas, etc., where are you when we need you???

Please see Meyendorff's book: Marriage:An Orthodox Perspective.

I think you are asuming things out of historical context. Please note that in the early church, the marriage "ceremony" was civil. "Until the nineth century the Church did not know any rite of marriage separate from the eucharistic Liturgy. Normally, after entering a civil marriage, the Christian couple Partook of the Eucharest, and this communiion was according to Terullian-the seal of marriage..." see pages 27-56 for further discussion.

Miller:

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Thanks for reminding me of Meyendorff's excellent book. Yes: no rite of marriage "separate from the eucharistic Liturgy."

I could be wrong, but does he not note there that the rite of crowning was performed DURING the liturgy since at least the fourth century? I don't have the book in front of me, but does anyone know what his evidence for this claim is?

In Christ,
Theophilos

Theophilos,
Glory to Jesus Christ!

Normally, the Rite of Marriage is to be celebrated with the Divine Liturgy. As the two are crowned in marriage and united, the unity is exemplified by the reception of the Eucharist.

However, if one of the couple is not Catholic (or Orthodox, as the case may be), then the Rite of Marriage is to be celebrated without the Divine Liturgy. It would be a source of disunity for one spoure to receive Eucharist and the other not be able to receive at the celebration in which they were crowned.

Hope this helps,
Deacon El

Glory to Him forever!

Yes, I agree. But my agreement is largely based on an intuition.

What I'm looking for is the basis for treating this as the norm. Do any of the Fathers assert this? Are there local councils that explored the issue and made this particular judgment? Is this part of the Orthodox Church's canonical tradition (broadly understood)?

In Christ,
Theophilos

The following is a quote from Meyendorff's book:
Marriage an Orthodox Perspective.
�Until the ninth century the Church did not know any rite of marriage separate from the eucharistic Liturgy. Normally, after entering a civil marriage, the Christian couple partook of the Eucharist, and this communion was-according to Tertullian-the seal of marriage...
However, since the fourth century a specific solemnization of the sacrament is mentioned by Easter Christian writers: a rite of crowning, performed during thee Eucharistic Liturgy. ..From a letter of St. Theodore Studite (826) we learn that crowning was accompanied by a brief prayer read �before the whole people� at the Sunday Liturgy, by the bishop or the priest.
The appearance of this brief rite of crowning does not mean, however, that it immediately became required for all Christians contracting marriage�The decisive step in this direction was taken at the beginning of the tenth century, and this measure coincided with the appearance of a rite of crowning separate from the eucharist.�
Pp. 27-28

Please note that all of the above is based only on a 1903 article in the old Russian "Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia by A. Zavialov. I remember seeing this encyclopedia online on a Russian web site but have lost it. For all scholars know, there might have been great variety among the churches. When Meyendorff was writing his book in 1975 it was the age before computer and greater access to sources via microfiche or CDs or online. It is obviously, a topic that needs to be researched by serious scholars.
Since the 10th century there has been a marriage ceremony. I know of no Orthodox Church that conducts a marriage service as integrated into the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Meyendorff in his book advocates this but that is his personal opinion.
You as a Catholic, have different rules regarding the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and are not limited to specific times and days, so it could be done and has been done.
In Orthodox churches, the marriage ceremony is celebrated after the Divine Liturgy is completed on Sundays.

As far as I know the Sacrament of Matrimony is conducted after the betrothal service and there is no Divine Liturgy. If one is added it is an option not the norm in the Eastern Church.