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.
🇪🇸 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
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreWedding superstitions
Traditional beliefs about luck and omens that shape wedding rituals across culturesAttire · The weeks before
🇫🇮 Finland and 5 moreBanns of marriagekuulutukset avioliittoon (Finnish)
The public announcement of an impending marriage in church or town hall to allow for legal objections.Vow · The weeks before
🇷🇺 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 Kingdom and 5 moreGroomsman
A male attendant who supports the groom and assists guests at a wedding.Family role · Finding a match
🇺🇦 UkraineTraditional Ukrainian weddingТрадиційне українське весілля
A multi-day sequence of folk rites, bread baking and church vows that marks the transition from maidenhood to married liRite · Finding a match
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreAnastenariaΑναστενάρια (Greek), Нестинарство (Bulgarian)
A barefoot firewalking ritual performed by Orthodox Christian communities in Greece and Bulgaria.Rite · The weeks before
🇷🇸 Serbia and 3 moreLazariceлазарице (Serbian), лазаруване (Bulgarian)
A South Slavic procession of young unmarried women who bless homes before Palm SundayBlessing · The weeks before
🇬🇧 United KingdomWassailing
Singing and drinking to bless trees or homes during the Christmas seasonFeast custom · The weeks before
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreRadonitsaРа́доница (Russian), Прóводи (Ukrainian), Ра́даўніца (Belarusian)
The Orthodox memorial day that lifts fasting restrictions and officially opens the wedding season.Feast custom · The weeks before
🇵🇱 Poland and 3 moreŚmigus-Dyngus
The Easter Monday water splashing and willow whipping tradition of Central EuropeRite · The weeks before
🇷🇴 Ieud, RomaniaNunta mortului
A symbolic Romanian rite that dresses an unmarried dead person as a bride or groom to complete their life cycle.Rite · The weeks before
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreLenten veilFastentuch
A large painted or embroidered canvas that covers the altar during Lent to create a period of visual penance.Rite · The weeks before
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Śmigus-Dyngus: Nationwide Specialty Co., Arlington, Texas -- In Buffalo, N.Y., Stanle, CC BY 3.0, source
- Wassailing: Joss Smithson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Radonitsa: Perohanych, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Groomsman: Jenny Mealing, CC BY 2.0, source
- Banns of marriage: After William Hemsley, CC0, source
- Bread and salt: Olli Niemitalo, CC0, source
- Lazarice: Svetlina bov at Bulgarian Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Mantilla: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wedding superstitions: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Nunta mortului: Iosif Berman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lenten veil: Plutowiki, CC0, source
- Anastenaria: Artkostov, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Traditional Ukrainian wedding: Пимоненко, Николай Корнильевич, Public domain, source