THE ORTΗODOX WEDDING SERVICE IN CYPRUS

THE ORTΗODOX WEDDING SERVICE IN CYPRUS
Postato da: Nikos Lekkos


THE ORTHODOX WEDDING SERVICE IN CYPRUS

Most Cypriots are Greek Orthodox, there are a few that are Catholic. The Bride and Groom sometimes arrive at the church together; usually the groom waits outside the church, with the bride's bouquet. In a village they will arrive on foot, but in a town it is likely they will arrive in a car and walk the last few yards.
Parents of the bride give the bride away outside the church.
Guests wait outside for the couple to arrive. The bride's father often walks his daughter to the church. The bride and groom walk up the aisle together, both sets of parents stand with the couple.
The chief bridesmaid is called koumera, the best man, Koumbaros. The koumbaros, traditionally the groom's godfather, is an honored guest who participates in the wedding ceremony. Today, the koumbaros is very often the best man, who assists in the crowning of the couple, and in the circling of the alter three times. Other attendants may read Scripture, hold candles, pack the crowns in a special box after the ceremony. To be sure of a "sweet life", a Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar in her glove on wedding day.
Most things happen in threes; this is to symbolize the God, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Service of Betrothal
The priest starts by blessing the rings and the couple. The cause the rings are placed on the right hand is because it is the right hand of God that blesses, and to which Christ ascended.
The Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage
the Priest joins the right hands together of the Bride and Groom, and they stay joined until the end of the ceremony to signify the union of the couple.
The Crowning
The bride and groom wear headbands called stefana, the Koumbaro or Koumbara also plays a part by interchanging the crowns on the couples heads.
These along with the wedding rings, which are worn on the right hand, forth finger and are exchanged three times.
In traditional Greek Cypriot weddings wreaths were made with olive tree branches because of the belief that through this wreath God's blessings were transmitted to the couple.
The Common Cup
They drink from the common cup three times, followed by the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel. The Gospel reading describes the marriage of Cana at Galilee, which was blessed by Christ and where he performed his first miracle. (Converted water into wine.)
The Ceremonial Walk
The Priest will lead the couple round the table table 3 times on which are placed the Gospel and the Cross. The Koumbaro or Koumbara walks behind the married couple holding the Stefana in place. Often called the dance of Isaiah.
The Removal of the Crowns
The priest blesses the couple. The priest then removes the crowns and asks God to grant the couple a long, happy life together. He then separates the couples joined hands, reminding them that only God can separate the couple from one another.
This concludes the ceremony and the Bride and Groom are officially married.
During the service the priest will say "woman shall fear her husband" (but in Greek) the first one, bride or groom to put their foot on top of the others will run the house, that is the theory, the truth might be somewhat different. Some nifty footwork can be witnessed at this moment.

The ceremony consists of two parts which are distinct and separate from each other: The service of the Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage.

The candles, Lambades each held by the bride and groom during the service, symbolizes the warmth of their faith in Jesus Christ and their true love for each other, which they pledge to uphold forever.
When then couple is lining the church the guests are throwing them roses with rise.