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
🇮🇷 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
🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWedding customs in Ethiopia
A collection of diverse marriage rites across Ethiopian tribes and the Orthodox Christian community.Rite · Finding a match
🇪🇸 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
🇰🇷 South Korea and 5 moreBlessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchHoly Marriage Blessing Ceremony (축복결혼식)
A large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United StatesUnity candle
A modern wedding ritual where a couple lights a central candle from two tapers to symbolize their union.Rite · The ceremony
🇮🇸 IcelandIcelandic weddings
A blend of church ceremony and multi-day feasting that marks the union of two people in Iceland.Feast custom · The ceremony
🇮🇸 IcelandSame-sex marriage in Icelandsamkynja hjónaband
The legal union of two people regardless of gender, established in Iceland in 2010.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreWedding ring
A metal circle worn on the finger to show that a person is married.Attire · Engagement and betrothal
🇵🇱 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
🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreArab weddingزفاف or فرح or عرس
A series of family-centered rites and processions that mark marriage across the Arab world.Rite · Finding a match
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreWedding superstitions
Traditional beliefs about luck and omens that shape wedding rituals across culturesAttire · The weeks before
🇬🇧 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
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreGroomsman
A male attendant who supports the groom and assists guests at a wedding.Family role · Finding a match
🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreAssyrian wedding
Marriage ceremonies blending ancient Assyrian rites with modern cultural practices among the Assyrian people.Rite · 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
🇷🇺 RussiaRussian wedding traditionsРусская свадьба
A multi-day celebration blending Orthodox crowning, ransom games, and lively toasting in Russia.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreWhite wedding
A formal Western ceremony marked by a white bridal gown and traditional Christian rituals.Attire · Engagement and betrothal
🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in Denmarkægteskab mellem personer af samme køn
The legal recognition of same-sex unions in Denmark since 2012, following a pioneering partnership law from 1989.Modern · 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
🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreMystery of Crowning
The crowning ritual in Eastern Christian weddings that marks the couple as king and queen.Rite · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreRing fingerdigitus annularis
The fourth digit of the hand where wedding and engagement rings are traditionally worn.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
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
- Interfaith marriage in Christianity: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Iceland: Stanko Gruden/STA/Predsednik Republike Slovenije, CC0, source
- Mystery of Crowning: Shakko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ring finger: RAPMOODDE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Denmark: PavelStotsko, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Eastern Orthodox marriage: VitVit, CC BY 3.0, source
- Groomsman: Jenny Mealing, CC BY 2.0, source
- Assyrian wedding: Yucalyptus, CC0, source
- Traditional Ukrainian wedding: Пимоненко, Николай Корнильевич, Public domain, source
- Russian wedding traditions: GeorgeLouis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wedding ring: CLW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Kolach: Лобачев Владимир, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Arab wedding: 13th century artist, Public domain, source
- Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
- Mantilla: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Anastenaria: Artkostov, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wedding superstitions: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Unity candle: Dvillasmil, CC BY-SA 4.0, source