DEACON: Master, give the blessing.
PRIEST
Blessed is our God always, 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.
DEACON
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 (…..), 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 servant of God (…..) and the handmaiden of God (…..), who now plight their troth to one another, and for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord.
That there may be promised unto them children for the continuation of their race, and granting unto them all their prayers unto salvation, let us pray unto the Lord.
That there may be sent down upon them love perfect and peaceful, and assistance, let us pray unto the Lord.
That they may be preserved in oneness of mind, and in a sure and steadfast faith, let us pray unto the Lord.
That they may be blest in harmony and perfect trust, let us pray unto the Lord.
That the course and manner of their lives may be preserved blameless and without spot, let us pray unto the Lord.
That the Lord our God may grant unto them an honourable marriage and a bed undefiled, let us pray unto the Lord.
That 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 eternal, Thou who didst bring together into unity the things which before had been separate, and in so doing didst impose on them an indissoluble bond of love, who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, declaring them to be the inheritors of Thy promise: do Thou (+) bless these Thy servants guiding them into every good work.
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.
PRIEST: Peace unto all.
CHOIR: And unto thy spirit.
DEACON: Bow down your heads before the Lord.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
O Lord our God, who didst from out of the Gentiles espouse the Church as a pure virgin, bless this Betrothal (+) uniting these Thy servants, keeping them in peace and oneness of mind.
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.
The Priest shall now bless the rings over the Gospel Book and then with the rings shall touch the man’s forehead, then the woman’s, then make the sign of the Cross over the man all the while saying the following:
The Servant of God (…..) is betrothed to the handmaiden of God (…..) 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 and making the sign of the Cross over the woman.
The handmaiden of God (…..) is betrothed to the servant of God (…..) in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (3)
CHOIR: Amen. (3)
And having done this he shall place the rings on their third finger of the right hand. The Best Man and Maid of honour shall now change the rings on the Bride and Grooms hands.
PRIEST: Let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleison.
PRIEST
O Lord our God, who didst accompany the servant of the Patriarch Abraham to Mesopotamia, when he was sent to espouse a wife for his Lord Isaac, and didst reveal unto him a sign by the drawing of water to betroth Rebecca; do Thou bless the betrothal of these Thy servants (…..) and (…..) and preserve the word that has been spoken by them. Confirm them in Thy holy unity, for Thou didst from the beginning create male and female and by Thee is a woman joined to a man for assistance and for the continuation of the human race. Therefore, O Lord our God, who didst send forth Thy truth to Thine inheritance and Thy covenant to Thy servants, our fathers, whom from each generation to generation were Thine elected; look down upon Thy servant (…..) and Thy handmaiden (…..) and preserve their betrothal in faith and harmony, truth and love: for Thou, O Lord, hast declared that a pledge should be given and confirmed in all things. For by a ring Joseph was given authority in Egypt; by a ring Daniel was exalted in Babylon: by a ring the truth of Thamar was made manifest: by a ring our heavenly Father showed compassion upon His prodigal son, for He said, “Put a ring upon his right hand, kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and be merry”. Thine own right hand, O Lord, armed Moses in the Red Sea. Yea, by Thy truthful word were the heavens established and the earth set upon her sure foundation; and the right hands of Thy servants shall be blest by Thy mighty word, and by Thine arm on high. Wherefore, O Lord and Master, bless this putting on of rings with Thy heavenly blessing; and may Thine angel go before them all the days of their lives.
For Thou art that blesses and sanctifies all things, 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.
