Significance of Wedding Crowns in an Orthodox Christian Marriage Ceremony

The use of Orthodox wedding crowns dates back several centuries. The crowns are a visible reminder of the God’s Kingdom that awaits the newly married couple in Heaven. They also symbolize that enjoined in holy matrimony, the bride and groom have become the king and queen of a newly created family. They are entrusted by God to carry out their responsibilities with faith, love and in harmony with God’s teachings.

Taking place after exchanging of rings, the crowning ceremony is lovely. During the ceremony, the priest places the groom’s crown on the groom’s head while reciting the crowning prayer three times. The same procedure is followed while placing the bride’s crown on the bride’s head. The priest then lifts the crowns and exchanges them over the groom and bride’s head three times while reciting a prayer. This is followed by a reading of the Epistle and Gospel, after which there is a little procession around the altar.

Traditionally, Orthodox wedding crowns are to be worn by the bride and groom for a week before they are removed in a quick ceremony. If purchased by the couple, the wedding crowns are displayed in the couple’s home to remind them that God has united them in holy matrimony and bestowed His Grace on them. Because lavishly decorated wedding crowns are expensive, now-a-days it’s a common practice for couples to use the Church’s wedding crowns for the marriage ceremony and not purchase their own.

Wedding crowns are available in different traditional styles, including Russian, Serbian, and Greek to name a few. Traditionally, they are made from brass but can have gold or nickel gilding. Featuring arcs and velvet lining, Russian style wedding crowns are sold in pairs and are reminiscent of crowns worn by erstwhile kings and queens. They are more expensive than other styles but they include exquisite details such as colorful stones, engravings and painting rendered by hand. They are topped by a cross and feature icons. Greek style wedding crowns are simpler and incorporate the ringlet style.

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