Orthodox Weddings

Marriage is a Holy Mystery of the Orthodox Church in which a man and woman are united in Christ and receive God's blessing for their life together.

If you are considering an Orthodox wedding at Saint Anne’s, please contact the parish priest well in advance of your proposed wedding date.

Arranging a Wedding

The first step is to speak with the priest.

He will discuss your circumstances and explain the requirements of the Orthodox Church.

There may be requirements concerning:

• Orthodox membership

• Previous marriages

• Baptism and Chrismation

• The Orthodox faith of the couple

• Church permissions

• Civil marriage requirements

• Witnesses and sponsors

These matters should be discussed with the priest before a date is confirmed.

If One Person Is Not Orthodox

An Orthodox wedding involving a non-Orthodox Christian may be possible in certain circumstances, subject to the requirements of the Orthodox Church and the blessing of the appropriate ecclesiastical authority.

Please discuss this with the priest before making arrangements.

Preparing for Marriage

The priest will normally want to meet with the couple before the wedding.

This provides an opportunity to discuss the meaning of Christian marriage, prayer, family life and the responsibilities of married life.

The Wedding Service

The Orthodox Wedding Service consists of two principal parts: the Betrothal and the Crowning.

During the service, the couple receive the Church's prayers and blessing as they begin their married life together.

Practical Arrangements

Please speak with the priest about:

• The proposed date

• Civil registration requirements

• Church documents

• Sponsors

• Music

• Photography

• Flowers

• Reception arrangements

• Any other practical matters

Fees

There is no fee for the Sacrament of Marriage, and the parish priest does not receive payment for celebrating the sacrament.

Saint Anne’s does, however, have ongoing costs involved in maintaining and operating the church, including heating, lighting, candles, maintenance and other parish expenses.

If one of the couple is a subscribing member of Saint Anne’s, no parish contribution is requested.

Couples who are not subscribing members are asked either to become subscribing members of the parish or to make a gift of £300 towards the life and work of the parish.

This gift is not a charge for the Sacrament of Marriage.

Additional costs may apply for arrangements such as a choir, flowers, photography or reception, and these should be discussed with the parish priest when making the arrangements.

If you have any questions about the arrangements or are unable to meet the suggested contribution, please speak with the parish priest. We would be happy to discuss your circumstances with you.

Days when weddings are not permitted

The Sacrament of Marriage is not normally celebrated on fast days or during the fasting seasons of the Orthodox Church.

These include:

Great Lent and Holy Week

August 1–15

August 29 – Beheading of St John the Baptist

September 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross

December 13–25

The day before and the day of the Great Feasts of the Lord, including Christmas, Epiphany and the Presentation of Christ to the Temple

The movable feasts of Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, and the days immediately preceding them

The Sacrament of Marriage may only be celebrated on these dates in cases of extreme necessity and with the appropriate ecclesiastical dispensation.

Important: because the exact dates and rules can depend on the Church calendar and current ecclesiastical practice, couples should always confirm the proposed date with the parish priest before making arrangements.