PRIEST
Blessed is everyone that fears the Lord.
After each verse the choir shall sing:
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
That walks in his ways.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine on the sides of thy house.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Thy children like young olive plants around thy table.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Behold! the man shall be blest that fears the Lord.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion, and thou shalt see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Yea! thou shall see thy children’s children, and peace be upon Israel.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
DEACON: Master, give the blessing.
PRIEST
Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON
In peace let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition
For the peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray unto the Lord.
For the peace and union of the whole world, and for the good estate of the holy churches of God, let us pray unto the Lord.
For this holy temple and for them that enter therein with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray unto the Lord.
For our Archbishop (Name), for the honourable order of priesthood; and for the diaconate which is in Christ; for all the clergy and the people, let us pray unto the Lord.
For the servants of God (Name) and (Name), who are now being joined to one another in the community of marriage, and for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord.
That this marriage may be blessed, as was that of Cana of Galilee, let us pray unto the Lord.
That there may be granted unto them integrity, and fruit of the womb as may be most expedient for them, let us pray unto the Lord.
That they may rejoice in the beholding of sons and daughters, let us pray unto the Lord.
That there may be granted unto them the joy of abundant fertility, and a course of life blameless and unashamed, let
us pray unto the Lord.
That there may be granted unto them and unto us, all supplications that are unto salvation, let us pray unto the Lord.
That both they and we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord.
Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us O God, by Thy grace.
Mindful of our Most Holy and undefiled, Most Blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary; and of all the saints; let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit; now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
O God most pure, and author of all creation, who for the love of mankind didst transform a rib of our forefather Adam into a woman, and blessing them Thou didst say, “Be fruitful and multiply, and subdue the earth;” and by this joining together didst declare them both to be one member, for because of this shall a man forsake his father and his mother, and the two shall be one flesh, and whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder: who didst also bless Thy servant Abraham and opened Sara’s womb, and made him the father of many nations: who bestowed Isaac upon Rebecca, and blessed her offspring: who joined Jacob and Rachel, and from him didst make manifest the twelve patriarchs: who didst yoke Joseph and Asenath together, and as the fruit of their procreation, didst bestow upon them Ephrem and Manasse: who accepted Zacharias and Elizabeth, and didst make manifest their offspring John the Baptist: who from the root of Jesse didst bring forth according to the flesh, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and from her wast Thou incarnate and born for the salvation of the human race: who through Thine unspeakable grace and manifold goodness wast present in Cana of Galilee, and didst bless the marriage there, that Thou might show that a lawful union and the childbearing therefrom is according to Thy will. Do Thou Most Holy Lord and Master accept the supplications from us who now beseech Thee, and as Thou wast present there, be present also here with Thine invisible protection. Bless (+) this marriage and grant unto these Thy servants (Name) and (Name) a peaceful life, length of days, integrity, love for one another in a bond of peace, offspring long-lived , grace by reason of their children, and an unfadeable crown of glory. Account them worthy to see their children’s children. Preserve their bed from every hostile scheme; give them of the dew from heaven above, and the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, wine and oil and with every good thing that they may give to them that are in need. Bestow also on them that are here assembled with us, all their prayers that are unto salvation.
For Thou art the God of mercies, of compassions, and of loving-kindness, and to Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father, and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Thou that art the Celebrant of mystical and undefiled marriage, and the lawmaker governing our bodies: Thou that art the guardian of incorruption, and the good administrator of the means of life: Thou, O Lord and Master, who from the beginning didst create man and appointed him as the king of creation, and didst say; “It is not good for man to be alone upon the earth; let Us make a help meet for him”, thus, taking one of his ribs Thou didst make woman, whom when Adam saw didst say; “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of her Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh”: and “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”.
Do Thou now, O Lord and Master, our God, send down Thy heavenly grace upon these Thy servants (Name) and (Name) and grant unto this Thy handmaiden to be in all things subject unto her husband, and unto this thy servant, to be at the head of his wife, that they may live according to thy will. Bless (+) them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Abraham and Sara. Bless (+) them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Isaac and Rebecca. Bless (+) them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Joseph and Asenath. Bless (+) them, O Lord our God, as Thou dist bless Moses and Zipporah. Bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Joachim and Anna. Bless (+) them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst bless Zacharias and Elizabeth. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve Noah in the Ark. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve Jonah in the whale’s belly. Preserve them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst preserve the Three Holy Children from the furnace by sending down upon them dew from heaven. And may that joy come upon them which the blessed Helen had when she found the Precious Cross. Remember them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst remember Enoch, Shem and Elias. Remember them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst remember the holy Forty Martyrs, sending down upon them crowns from heaven. Remember them, O Lord our God, and the parents who have reared them, for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of houses. Remember, O Lord our God, the wedding company that hath gathered here to be present at this rejoicing. Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servant (Name) and Thy handmaiden (Name), and BLESS THEM (+).
Give to them fruit of the womb, fair children, harmony of soul and body. Exalt them as the cedars of Lebanon, as well cultured vine. Bestow upon them a rich store of sustenance, so that having a sufficiency of all things for themselves, they may abound in every good work that is pleasing unto Thee. Let them behold their children’s children as newly planted olive trees around their table; that being pleasing in Thy sight, they may shine as stars in heaven, in Thee our Lord: unto whom belongs all glory, power, honour and worship, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
O Holy God, Thou who didst form man from the dust, and from his side didst fashion woman, and joining her to him as a helpmate for him, for thus was it seemly unto Thy Majesty that man should not be alone upon the earth. Do Thou also now, O Lord and Master, stretch forth Thy hand from Thy holy dwelling place, and join (the Priest joins their right hands) together this Thy servant (Name) and this Thy handmaiden (Name), for by Thee is a wife joined to her husband. Unite them together in oneness of mind; crown them together as one flesh, grant unto them the fruit of the womb and the pleasure of well-favoured children.
For Thine is the might, and Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
The Priest shall now bless the crowns over the Gospel Book and then with the crowns shall touch the man’s forehead, then the woman’s, then make the sign of the Cross between them all the while saying the following:
The servant of God (Name) is crowned to the handmaiden of God (Name), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (3)
CHOIR: Amen. (3)
And having done this thrice he shall do the same starting first with the woman’s forehead.
The handmaiden of God (Name) is crowned to the servant of God (Name), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (3)
CHOIR: Amen (3).
And placing the crowns upon their heads the Priest shall chant
O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour.
The choir also shall repeat the verse twice.
READER: Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones.
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER: They asked life from Thee and Thou didst give them length of days.
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (5: 20-33)
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER
Brethren, give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
PRIEST: Peace unto thee (that readest).
CHOIR: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Thou, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
DEACON: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: Peace unto all.
CHOIR: And unto thy spirit.
PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (2: 1-11)
DEACON: Let us give heed
CHOIR: Glory be to Thee, O Lord, glory be to Thee.
PRIEST
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her: Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And He saith unto them: draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him: every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.
CHOIR: Glory be to Thee, O Lord, glory be to Thee.
DEACON: Let us all say with all our soul, and with all our mind, let us say.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy.
We beseech Thee also for mercy, life, peace, health and salvation for Thy servants (Name) and (Name) and for all the people here present who await Thy bountiful mercy.
For Thou art a merciful God, and a lover of mankind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
O Lord our God, who by Thy saving dispensation didst vouchsafe to show, by Thy presence in Cana of Galilee, marriage to be honourable: do Thou also now preserve in peace and harmony these Thy servants (Name) and (Name) with whom Thou art well pleased should be joined to one another. Declare their marriage honourable: preserve their bed undefiled: grant that their life together be without spot of sin: and vouchsafe that they may attain unto a ripe old age, keeping Thy commandments with a pure heart.
For Thou art our God, the God of mercy and salvation, and to Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father, and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON
Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
DEACON
That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us entreat the Lord.
CHOIR: Grant us, O Lord. And after each petition
DEACON
For an angel of peace, faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us entreat the Lord.
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us entreat the Lord.
For things good and profitable to our souls, and peace for the world, let us entreat the Lord.
That we may pass the remainder of our lives in peace and repentance, let us entreat the Lord.
For a Christian ending to our life, painless, without shame and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord.
Having besought the unity of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
And vouchsafe, O Lord, that boldly and without condemnation we may dare to lift our voices unto Thee, O heavenly God and Father, and say:
CHOIR
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Peace unto all.
CHOIR: And unto thy spirit.
DEACON: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
The Priest shall bless the cup whilst saying the following prayer:
O God, who by Thy might didst create all things, making firm the universe and adorning the crown of all things created by Thee: Do Thou also bless (+) with Thy spiritual blessing this common cup given to them that are joined in the community of marriage.
For blessed is Thy Name, and glorified is Thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR: Amen.
The Priest shall now give them to drink of the cup three times, first to the man, and then to the woman.
CHOIR
I will drink of the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord.
The Priest shall then take the bridal pair and lead them around the table three times chanting the following verses:
TONE 5
O Isaiah rejoice, the virgin was indeed with child, and brought forth a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man; Dayspring is His Name: And by magnifying Him we hail the Virgin as blest.
TONE 7
O Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and thus received crowns of victory, intercede unto our Lord, that He may have mercy upon our souls.
Glory to Thee, O Christ our God, the prideful boast of the Apostles; the joy of the Martyrs, who preached unto all; the consubstantial Trinity.
The Priest shall then take up the crowns: And taking that of the bridegroom he shall say:
Be magnified, O Bridegroom, as was Abraham, and be blest, as was Isaac, and be multiplied, as was Jacob: Go thy way in peace, performing in righteousness the commandments of God.
And taking that of the bride he shall say:
And thou, O Bride, be magnified as was Sarah, and be rejoiced as was Rebecca, and be multiplied as was Rachael, being glad in thine own husband, keeping the ways of the law; for thus is God well pleased.
DEACON: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
O God, our God, who was present in Cana of Galilee, and blessed the marriage there: Do Thou also bless (+) these Thy servants, who by Thy providence are joined in the community of marriage. Bless them when they come in and when they go out. Replenish their life with all good things. Receive their crowns in Thy kingdom, preserving them spotless, undefiled and without reproach, unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Peace unto all.
CHOIR: And unto Thy spirit.
DEACON: Let us bow down our heads before the Lord.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the all Holy and Consubstantial and Life-giving Trinity; One Godhead and kingdom; Bless (+) you and grant unto you long life; well favoured children; progress in life and in faith; replenish you with all the good things of the earth; and account you worthy to know the joy of the promised blessings; through the prayers of the holy Mother of God and of all the saints.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Glory be unto Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be unto Thee.
DEACON
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Holy Father give the blessing.
PRIEST
May He, who by His presence in Cana of Galilee, did declare marriage to be honourable, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His Most Holy Mother; of the holy and all glorious Apostles; of the holy God-crowned Kings and equal to the Apostles Constantine and Helen; of the holy Greatmartyr Procopius and all the saints: have mercy upon us and save us; for He is good and loving-kind and a merciful God.
By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.
CHOIR: Amen.
