Congratulations on your upcoming nuptial! We are delighted that you have chosen ZoodohosPeghe to celebrate your Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. May the Lord bless you with His Grace to live together in love! We look forward to welcoming and assisting you to prepare for your sacrament, as we are dedicated to making your planning easy and your celebration most meaningful and memorable. The following are your sacrament contacts:

OFFICE SECRETARY/SACRAMENTS DIRECTOR

Our Office secretary/Sacraments Director will be directing you through the preparation of your sacrament and is responsible for: booking your sacrament date and time; communicating with the Priest, processing your sacrament documents; and scheduling your pre-marital meeting with the priest. Upon receipt of your Marriage Request form, the Office Secretary/Sacraments Director will send you a confirmation letter along with additional information regarding your Ecclesiastical Marriage License. You may then schedule a meeting with our priest and proceed with your wedding plans.

CLERGY

You will be welcomed by our priest for a pre-marital counseling meeting to discuss personal and ecclesiastical details. Our priest will be available for you to spiritually guide you during your engagement and through your Christian walk of married life as Parishioners of our church. It is your responsibility to

make the appointment directly with the office secretary.

PLANNING FOR THE SACRAMENT PUNCTUALITY

The punctual arrival of your wedding party is not only a requirement, but also an expression of respect to the House of God, the clergy, and other sacraments scheduled following your sacrament. We kindly emphasize that your wedding party is required to arrive half hour prior to the scheduled sacrament time, as the sacrament must begin at its scheduled time.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Greek Orthodox Church The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is one of the seven sacraments observed by the Orthodox Church. The beauty and richness of this service is steeped in tradition and symbolism and has remained unchanged through the centuries. The rituals you will observe have special meaning and significance. Each is performed three times to honor the mystical presence of the Holy Trinity. Within the Orthodox theology of the Sacrament, it is God who unites the couple to become one and, in mutual love and understanding, live a Christian life together. Thus, there is no exchange of vows; rather, the conjugal union is blessed by Christ through the church. God’s grace is imparted to them to live together in his love, mutually fulfilling and perfecting each other. The sacrament is divided into two distinct parts: The Service of Betrothal and the Service of Crowning.

THE SERVICE OF THE BETROTHAL

The Betrothal Service is comprised of petitions, prayers and the exchange of rings. The service begins with a litany of petitions for the peace of the world and for the spiritual welfare of the bride and groom. The Priest petitions God for His blessings of the rings and thrice blesses the couple with the rings, saying “The servant of God, (groom’s name,) is betrothed to the handmaiden of God, (brides’s name,) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The blessing alternates between the bride and groom symbolically entwining their lives. The Exchange of Rings He then places the rings on the right hands of the bride and groom. While the final prayer is being read, the Koumbaro (sponsor) exchanges the rings three times, witnessing the expression of the two lives being entwined as one by the Grace of the Holy Trinity. The rings are placed onto the fingers of the right hand. As a closing prayer is offered, the agreement is sealed, and the rings assume new meaning in that God Himself has decreed the marriage.

THE SERVICE OF THE CROWNING

The Service of the Crowning is the wedding proper. It is comprised of five major elements: The Prayers; The Crowning; The Scripture Readings; The Common Cup; and The Dance of Isaiah. The bride and groom are handed candles, which they hold throughout the ceremony. The candles symbolize the spiritual willingness of the couple to receive the light of Christ, who will bless them through this sacrament and guide them throughout their life together. The Prayers The Great Litany is offered by the priest, followed by three prayers. The prayers ask God to place the bride and groom into the company of holy couples from the Old and New Testaments and to “bless them... protect them... and remember them.” The right hands of the couple are joined and the Priest asks God to join them in one mind and one flesh. Their hands are kept joined throughout the service to symbolize their unity.

The Crowning

The crowns (Stefana) symbolize the glory and honor that God will bestow upon the couple during the sacrament. The Stefana are joined by a ribbon that symbolizes the unity of the bride and groom in the presence of Christ, who joins them together. The Priest places the crowns on bride’s and groom’s heads, then the Koumbaro exchanges the Stefana three times over the couple as a symbol of complete union. The bride and groom are crowned as the king and queen of their own kingdom, the home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice and integrity.

The Scripture Readings

There are two readings from the New Testament. An excerpt from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (5:20- 33) is read, expressing the strength and sacrifices required of a husband and wife, advising them to have unconditional love and service to one another and a marriage “holy and without blemish.” The second reading from the Gospel of St. John (2:1–11) relates the story of Christ at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when Christ blessed the institution of marriage and performed the first of His miracles, transforming water into wine.

The Common Cup

In remembrance of this miracle, the priest brings a common cup of wine which the bride and groom sip three times, promising thereafter to share everything in life. The “Common Cup” symbolizes that the couple will share every joy and sorrow and that their joys will be doubled and their sorrow halved. They will always drink from the same cup of life, with faith in God, and honor and fidelity to one another.

The Dance of Isaiah

The Priest, holding the Holy Gospel in the right hand, leads the couple in a ceremonial walk circling the center table on which the Cross is placed. They are now taking their first steps as husband and wife. The Church, in the person of the Priest, leads them, representing that they will walk through life with the Gospel and the Cross as their center. They are accompanied by their Koumbaro who will support them throughout their married life. The procession is accompanied by the singing of three hymns, the first of which is known as the Dance of Isaiah. This hymn recalls the joy that the Prophet Isaiah felt when he envisioned the coming of the Messiah.

The Blessing

In a final prayer, the Priest blesses and removes the crowns, beseeching to God to grant the newlyweds a long, happy and fruitful life. He then lifts the Holy Gospel and brings it down between the bride and groom, separating the couple’s joined hands, thus symbolizing that only the word of God should come between them.

The Tradition of Koufeta

The sugar-coated almonds, or “koufeta,” which are placed on the tray with the crowns and given to the guests at the reception, are symbolic of an ancient tradition. The hard bitterness of the almond represents the endurance of marriage and the sweetness of the sugar symbolizes the sweetness of future life. The guests are given an odd number of almonds which is indivisible, just as the newlyweds will remain undivided.

Must we be members of Zoodohos Peghe Church to be married here?

Yes. We require that at least one member of the couple be a baptized and professing Greek Orthodox Christian.

One of us is Greek Orthodox Christian and the other comes from another Christian denomination. Can we be married at ZP?

Interfaith marriages require special care and counsel. If a couple is considering such a marriage, they should seek the counsel of their religious leaders long before attempting to plan a marriage service. If the pastor at ZP is confident that in marriage the couple can continue to live and express their faiths while fulfilling the expectations of Christian marriage, he will be glad to officiate at the service.

Does the church permit divorced persons to remarry?

Yes. The gospel is not about punishing people for past failures, but about inviting them to new life. However, before the church will marry a divorced person, it is essential that an honest assessment of the former marriage be taken. The Greek Orthodox Church allows you to marry up to three times. It is implied that both a civil and an ecclesiastical divorce has been granted for the previous marriage. If either of you petitions for a second marriage you must have in hand both the civil and the ecclesiastical divorce. If you do not have the ecclesiastical divorce you must contact your local pastor immediately. An ecclesiastical divorce process may take as long as six months. We advise you to start early. Your wedding request will be denied if you do not have all the necessary documentations.

Who can serve as officiating pastor?

Each wedding at ZP will be officiated by our pastor or in his absence by a member of the clergy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. You may request the presence of a specific visiting pastor. Please have that pastor contact the pastor of ZP. If you are interested in having a non-Orthodox pastor participate in the service, you should indicate that to the ZP officiating pastor during your first meeting. Ecumenical weddings have long been welcomed at ZP. Clergy of non-Christian traditions can be invited to participate in the service only after the approval of the officiating pastor.

Can we include family and friends in service leadership?

It is very appropriate for family and friends to be invited to participate in the leadership of the service, often being asked to read passages of Scripture. We ask that you keep in mind, however, that in the same way that weddings are times of great joy, they can also be times of considerable stress. Children are particularly vulnerable to these pressures and are often not well served by being expected to be a part of the wedding party. We discourage the inclusion of children younger than 10 years of age as flower girls, ring bearers, junior bridesmaids or groomsmen.

How long is a typical service?

Services range in length from forty-five minutes to an hour. Because of the complexities of traveling within the city and the difficulty out-of-town guests may have finding the church, we suggest that the bridal party be in church twenty minutes prior to the start of the wedding and the bride five to ten minutes before the start of the wedding service.

Is the church accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes. ZP has been officially designated an "Accessible Congregation" by the Council on Disabilities. There is wheelchair accessibility from the side of the church, and several places within the sanctuary accommodate people with walkers or wheelchairs. ADA bathroom facilities are also available.

How do we obtain a wedding license?

A New York State license is required for marriage, though it need not be secured in New

York City. It is always advisable to check the hours of operation at the Office of Marriage

Licenses at City Hall if the license is being obtained in Manhattan. The license is good for

60 days, but not for the first 24 hours after it has been issued. A blood test is not

necessary. If one or both of you has been divorced, it is necessary to present a copy of all

pertinent official court divorce papers to obtain a marriage license. After the ceremony

the wedding license needs to be signed by you, two witnesses (often the Best Man and

Maid/Matron of Honor) and the officiating pastor. It will then be mailed by the Church Office to the Clerk of the City of New York for registration purposes. Thereafter you may secure a copy of your marriage license from the City. (Please note, the city does not automatically mail a copy of the signed license to you after the license is registered.) If you need proof of your marriage immediately following the wedding, please indicate that to the officiating pastor, who can make a photocopy of the completed license and give it to you before you leave the church.

What about the language used during the wedding?

The ceremony may be performed in both Greek and English or whatever combination is comfortable to you. Let the officiating pastor know of your decision at the pre-marriage conference.

What about a printed program for our wedding?

Couples often enjoy having a printed program, especially if the service will include non-Orthodox Christian participation. Programs can be produced and an outside printer can be engaged. A copy of the order of service will be provided at the pre-marriage conference.

Will the pastor attend the rehearsal dinner and reception?

Though the pastor appreciates the hospitality of such invitations, his schedules do not permit him to participate in the festivities that follow rehearsals and the wedding service. If there is no wedding or other official event following your service, the pastor will happily join you at your reception and offer a blessing as the dinner begins. He will then ask to be excused – Saturdays and Sundays are workdays for him! Please do not plan on including him for dinner.