Orthodox Christianity from Birth to Death (p.3)
The next great event in the lives of most Christians is marriage. In the Orthodox faith, marriage is not a civil contract or even a contract blessed by God; it is a sacrament, in which the couple receive an abundance of God's grace so that their lives together may be fruitful and may lead them both into the Kingdom of God.
![[ Orthodox Wedding ]](../images/wedding.jpg)
The ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage reflects this view. There are no vows per se; the couple is asked whether they enter into marriage with a "free and unconstrained will," and then a multitude of prayers are said, asking God to bless the new couple with prosperity, health, long life, and many children. After the exchange of rings, which is called the "betrothal," the couple is "crowned." Crowns made of precious metal and jewels, or sometimes of flowers, are placed on the heads of the bride and groom. These crowns have a double significance: they show that the couple are the king and queen of their new family, and they signify martyrdom. In marriage, one must give one's life for the other person just as a martyr gives his life for Christ.
Two Scriptures are read in the wedding ceremony: Ephesians 5:22-33, in which St. Paul compares marriage to the relationship between Christ and the Church; and John 2:1-11, in which Christ performs His first miracle at the wedding at Cana, thus blessing the Sacrament of Marriage.
There is one major sacrament that relatively few ever receive: the Sacrament of Ordination. In this sacrament, a candidate is ordained to the office of deacon, priest, or bishop by the laying on of hands of a bishop (or, for the office of bishop, three bishops), through which the candidate receives the Holy Spirit. This sacrament was instituted by Christ in John 20:21-23, when He breathed on the Apostles that they might receive the Holy Spirit and granted them the authority to forgive sins. Orthodox clergy are ordained within the apostolic succession to preach the Word, administer the sacraments and lead the Church.
There are a number of lesser sacraments in which the believer may participate throughout his life, including blessings of homes, water, churches, wine, bread, oil, and so forth, and-for a few-monastic profession. Many ordinary acts of the Christian are also considered sacramental, such as prayer, the giving of alms or charity, the veneration of icons and relics of the saints, and hearing the Word of God preached. All these are actions through which we commune with God.