should christians pray in a circle joining hands

The priest hands the bride and groom white candles that symbolize the couple's spiritual willingness to receive Christ in their life. The Sacrament of Marriage begins immediately following the Betrothal Service. The Service of Crowning / The Sacrament of Marriage Lighting of Candles The couple is now engaged to be married before God. The rings are then exchanged three times on the fingers of the bride and the groom by the Sponsor A final prayer is read, sealing the putting on of the rings, which then take on the added meaning that the agreement was sealed and that the marriage was enacted by God Himself. Apart, the newly betrothed are incomplete, but together they are made perfect.Ī final prayer is read which seals the couple's acceptance of the rings, and asks that this mutual promise of betrothal, officially given before the church, may prove in true faith, concord, and love. The exchange signifies that in married life, the weakness of one partner will be compensated by the strength of the other. The rings are then exchanged three times on the fingers of the bride and groom by the Best Man a further expression and witness that the lives of the two are being brought together. It is noteworthy that the right hands are used in the putting on of the rings, since according to all Biblical knowledge we have, it is the right hand of God that blesses it was to the right hand of the Father that Christ ascended it is to the right that those who will inherit eternal life will go. The priest then places the rings on the ring fingers of the right hands of the two. In this case, the agreement is that a man and a woman agree to live together in the fellowship of marriage as husband and wife. Double wedding bands are used, since according to Old Testament references, the placing of rings was an official act indicating that an agreement had been sealed between two parties. The back and forth movement can be interpreted to mean that the lives of the two are being entwined into one. He does this three times in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, first from the groom to the bride, and then from the bride to the groom. He then asks God's blessings upon the rings and proceeds to bless the bride and groom with the rings. In this service, the priest begins by offering petitions of prayer on behalf of the man and woman who are being betrothed. The Service of Betrothal (or Engagement/Espousal) There they are awaited for by the koumparo and koumpara, who will exchange the wedding rings and the wedding crowns. Bride and groom then walk together down the aisle, the groom on the right side of the bride. The groom offers the bouquet to her, and takes her right hand after her father. In the Greek Orthodox Tradition, the father accompanies the bride to the entrance of the church, where the groom awaits with her bouquet. The second is the Service of Marriage or Crowning, during which prayers are offered for the couple, the crowns of marriage are placed on their heads, the common cup is shared, and the ceremonial walk takes place around the table. The first is the Service of Betrothal, or Engagement ceremony, during which the rings are exchanged. In the Orthodox tradition, the wedding ceremony is actually composed of two services. These symbolic actions are often repeated three times stressing the belief in the Holy Trinity, in which God is represented as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Traditions observed today have special meanings and significance. The marriage ceremony is abundant with symbols that reflect the basic and important elements of marriage: Love, Mutual respect, Equality and Sacrifice. The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is an ancient and evocative service by which a man and a woman are united together 'In Faith, and in Oneness of Mind, in Truth, and in Love', acknowledging that their love is rooted in God, who is Love itself. Our Wedding Ceremony and its Symbolism Our Wedding Ceremony

Should christians pray in a circle joining hands