Orthodox and Eastern Christian wedding traditions
In the Orthodox and Eastern Christian churches, the wedding is a mystery, or sacrament, in which the couple are crowned.
In the Orthodox and Eastern Christian churches, the wedding is a mystery, or sacrament, in which the couple are crowned. The service has two parts, the betrothal and the crowning, and is sung rather than read. It is among the oldest wedding services in Christianity.
Crowning, stefana and the common cup
The priest places crowns, stefana in Greek, on the heads of the couple, who are joined by a ribbon in the Greek tradition. In Slavic churches the crowns are held over their heads by the groomsmen. The couple drink from a common cup of wine, and they are led three times around the table in the dance of Isaiah. The koumbaros exchanges the crowns three times and holds a central place. Rings are exchanged at the betrothal.
Variation
Greek weddings have the koumbaros and the sugar-almond koufeta. In Russia and Ukraine the rushnyk, an embroidered cloth, is stood upon. Georgian weddings crown the couple with wreaths, and Armenian weddings have the crossing of heads and the crowning with a wreath. Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox traditions have their own rites, with a long Ethiopian service and a procession.
Remarriage and fasts
Orthodox weddings are not held in Lent or other fast periods. A second marriage uses a penitential service. Mixed marriages with other Christians are often allowed by a bishop, and with non-Christians more rarely. Local practices differ among the churches.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Orthodox and Eastern Christian (faith). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇷🇺 RussiaEastern Orthodox marriage
The Byzantine Rite ceremony where a priest crowns the couple to seal their union in Christ.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreMantilla
A lace or silk veil worn over the head and shoulders by women in Spain and Latin AmericaAttire · The weeks before
🇮🇷 Shiraz, Iran and 5 moreUlulation
A high-pitched trilling sound made by women to celebrate weddings and share good news across many cultures.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreKolachколач (kolach), калач (kalach), kołacz, colac, kalács
A braided or ring-shaped bread that marks weddings and major holidays across Eastern Europe.Feast custom · Engagement and betrothal
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreBread and salt
A traditional welcome offering of bread and salt to guests or newlyweds in Slavic, Baltic, and Balkan cultures.Feast custom · The weeks before
🇺🇸 United StatesUnity candle
A modern wedding ritual where a couple lights a central candle from two tapers to symbolize their union.Rite · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreWedding vow renewal ceremony
A service where a married couple repeats their marriage promises to reaffirm their commitment.Vow · After the wedding
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreCare cloth
A linen or silk cloth held over the heads of a bride and groom during a Christian wedding blessing.Attire · The ceremony
🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreMystery of Crowning
The crowning ritual in Eastern Christian weddings that marks the couple as king and queen.Rite · The ceremony
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreWedding veil
A cloth covering the head or face worn by brides and grooms to mark marriage.Attire · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreAnastenariaΑναστενάρια (Greek), Нестинарство (Bulgarian)
A barefoot firewalking ritual performed by Orthodox Christian communities in Greece and Bulgaria.Rite · The weeks before
🇺🇦 UkraineMnohaya litaМногая літа
A Ukrainian song sung at weddings to wish the couple many years of life.Performance
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Care cloth: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Korovai: Olli Niemitalo, CC0, source
- Mnohaya lita: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Unity candle: Dvillasmil, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mystery of Crowning: Shakko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mantilla: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
- Eastern Orthodox marriage: VitVit, CC BY 3.0, source
- Anastenaria: Artkostov, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kolach: Лобачев Владимир, CC BY-SA 3.0, source