Liturgy of Union

Holy Matrimony

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Matt. 19:5; Gen. 2:24.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a mystery in which a man and a woman are spiritually united together. The grace of God is bestowed upon them so that together they are able to fulfill and perfect each other in the hope of the resurrection. Marriage is neither simply the satisfaction of a natural human instinct nor the fulfillment of a search for earthly happiness. It goes beyond even the newly married couple to Christ Himself, for two members of His church are united together within the church which is the Body of Christ.

The marriage liturgy is broken into two parts. The first is the Service of Betrothal. It is here that we ask God to bless the couple with salvation, children, perfect and peaceful love, oneness of mind, a steadfast faith, blamelessness, fidelity, and deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity. With these blessings the couple exchanges rings. The second part is the Service of Crowning, which symbolizes the glory and honor of marriage as well as the self-sacrifice it requires.