The wedding ceremony is a great sacrament, bestowing a new family blessing on union. Many couples who have entered into a formal marriage, go to get married in church. There are also situations where the bride passes this ceremony, being in an interesting position.
When can you get married?
Unknowing people believe that it is impossible to get married during pregnancy, as the child was conceived without official marriage registration. And if the new life originated when the parents were already legitimate husband and wife, then they continue to assert that intimate communication is a sin, and it’s not worth putting it on public display, especially to go to church and take part in any ceremonies.
In fact, a pregnant woman is considered to be already blessed, if a new man could be born in her womb. Therefore, to pay attention to the opinions of others is not worth it. A representative of any church will approve the marriage decision of the spouses without delay if the woman is in an interesting position.
It is better to appoint the wedding as soon as possible, if by that time it will be possible to have time to prepare well for it. It is worth remembering that over time it becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to go out once more, and even more so to stand for a long time (the wedding ceremony lasts at least 60 minutes). Therefore, the defining date for the wedding will be the one when the woman feels good and finds the strength to hold the wedding ceremony according to all the canons of the Orthodox Church. This means that, apart from the ordinance itself, the spouses will have to participate in the Divine Liturgy, which can last up to 4 hours.
Not every woman in a position due to toxemia, aching pain in the lower back, legs and head is able to withstand such a long procedure. Therefore, before deciding to get married while pregnant, you need to assess your physical strength.
You can and should get married if both spouses who entered into a formal union (having a marriage certificate) are true believers, show mutual respect for each other and both want to be married.
Inherent requirement: before performing the rite, you must confess and take communion, and then observe a three-day fast. But for pregnant women, the latter requirement is canceled, as they need to eat well so that the baby gets all the substances he needs.
Confession is obligatory for anyone who wants to be married. Some people are embarrassed to tell the priest some stories from their lives, however, a representative of the church will always listen attentively to the person being confessed and find the right words to support him and inspire his future life according to the law of God. After that you can take communion.
In a number of organizational moments, representatives of the church discuss how many people will be present at the wedding ceremony, the exact date and time of its holding. While waiting for the fulfillment of the sacrament, a woman should pray to the Mother of God that the wedding be held on time and according to all church rules.
The question of whether to hold a wedding ceremony, when the family is expected to replenish, each couple decides for themselves independently. There are no canonical prohibitions to perform the sacrament during pregnancy. Modern young people in general often register relationships only after they learn about the imminent appearance of the baby or when the child has already been born.Therefore, the wedding during pregnancy is now quite common.
Believers partners usually want to get married. If one of the spouses is a representative of another faith, but sincerely wishes to be married, the priest will give the nod to conduct the ceremony. In this case, a non-Christian will pray for the welfare of his soulmate. Such a family, in terms of church canons, is also full-fledged.
When you can not do this?
You can not perform a wedding ceremony, if one of the spouses against. Wedding under duress, under pressure from the second half, parents, paying tribute to fashion, are not allowed. Both men and women must agree to a wedding only on the basis of their personal voluntary motives. The priest will ask about free will during a preliminary conversation. Also, you can not get married when you want it for you. There are days when wedding ceremonies are not held. These include: fasting, Christmas Eve big holidays, Wednesday and Friday (fasting days), Christmas time.
For more information about the days allowed for the wedding, you can specify in the temple where you are going to hold the sacrament. Only Orthodox baptized spouses can get married.
The wedding ceremony is not allowed:
- representatives of other beliefs;
- persons who have not officially registered their marriage (exception - the official registration is scheduled the next day after the wedding sacrament);
- unbelievers;
- relatives;
- minors;
- people who are in an undissolved marriage;
- unbaptized;
- people getting married, fourth and subsequent times;
- people with mental disorders.
In exceptional situations, a church representative may agree to conduct a wedding ceremony with a representative of a different faith if children born in this marriage are baptized and raised according to the laws of the Orthodox faith.
Preparation for the sacrament
Approach to all church sacraments (including the wedding ceremony) should be as serious and responsible as possible. Preparing for the wedding, conditionally, divided into two stages.
The first stage is organizational. These include: the appointment of the date of the wedding, the choice of clothes for the ceremony, Purchase of all necessary attributes:
- wedding rings (gold male and silver female, wedding wedding rings can also be used, but the priest must sanctify them before the ceremony);
- candles;
- the icon of the Savior and the Mother of God;
- two snow-white towels.
Spouses must have on their body crosses.
Second stage of preparation - internal self-improvement. At this stage, it is assumed that both spouses before the wedding will go to confession, and then partake. At the confession, everyone should tell the priest about his sins before the Savior and loved ones, sincerely repent of them. Before taking the sacrament, you must observe the fast (as far as possible) and read the prayers.
The severity of fasting is determined individually for each individual, taking into account the person’s proximity to the church, his state of health, particular living conditions, and other factors. For pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, fasting is not as strict as prescribed in church rules.
How will the wedding be held?
Wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church, conditionally, is divided into two stages: the introductory and the action itself.
The introductory stage implies the betrothal of the spouses as confirmation of mutual promises. The betrothal is performed after Divine Liturgy. The meaning of this action: the husband takes his spouse from the Lord. Accordingly, as soon as the priest brought the couple into the church, their new life together according to divine laws is considered to have begun. After this, the minister of the church blesses the couple three times (in turn). Those, in turn, are baptized, and then receive lighted candles from the father.Such an attribute has several symbolic meanings: a symbol of pure love, chastity, God's grace.
The priest walks with a censer and reads a prayer for those who are engaged: about blessing for posterity and doing good deeds, about the execution of petitions related to the salvation of the soul. At this time, all who are in the church bow their heads. Next, the priest alternately puts the spouses on the rings and divides them three times with the flag of the cross. Then the husband and wife exchange these attributes three times (the symbol of the Most Holy Trinity). The priest reads a prayer for giving the crowning couple a blessing and sending them a Guardian Angel who will protect them and guide them on the right path in a new clean life. The first stage of the wedding at this is complete.
The second part of the wedding begins when the young people stand in the middle of the church with candles in their hands. The priest goes with the censer, and the chorus sings Psalm No. 127. Newlyweds stand on the towel and answer the questions of the priest, related to the voluntary expression of the rite and the lack of promises about marriage, given to third parties. The priest dawns on the young (in turn) the cross with the help of crowns. After that, the groom kisses on his dress the image of the Savior, and the bride in his - the image of the Mother of God. The crowns are put on the heads of the spouses. The priest reads the prayer 3 times and blesses the new family. Then a passage from the Gospel of John is read, concerning the newly formed union, a prayer for harmony in mutual relations, honesty in relation to each other, and life according to church commandments.
Then all those present together with the young people read the prayer “Our Father” (you should know by heart). The priest brings the cup with Cahors, blesses her. First husband drinks wine, he does it three times. Then similar actions are repeated by the spouse. The priest takes the right hands of the young, covers them with the stopper and puts a palm over them, which symbolizes the transfer of the wife from the church to the man. Three times the young pass around the lectern - a symbol of a common destiny for two.
The crowns are removed from the young. A church representative congratulates spouses. Prayers are read, listening to them, spouses bow their heads. When the priest finished reading, as a symbol of the birth of a new Christian family, the spouses give each other a brief kiss. At the end of the wedding, young people are brought to the royal gates, where everyone should kiss their icon (the husband is the Savior, the bride is the mother of God), and then change. Then the couple kisses the cross, brought by the representative of the church, and receive for life storage two icons, which are considered the main family amulets.
On whether you can get married pregnant, see the following video.
