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OLYMATRIMONYisaSacramentoftheHolyOrthodoxChurchinwhichamanandwomanareunitedbytheHolyTrinity.x0eirconjugalunionisblessedbyourLordJesusChristthroughtheChurch.GodsgraceisimpartedtothemtolivetogetherinHislovemutuallyfulx1llingandperfectingeachother.InboththeBetrothalandMarriageServicesitisGodwhoisthecelebrantanditisGodwhounitesandmarriesthebrideandgroom.x0ePriestisGodx19sinstrument.x0eMysteryofMarriageoftheHolyOrthodoxChurchissteepedinritualandsymbolism.Eachoftheactshasspecialmeaningandsignix1cance.Hx0eBetrothalServiceTHERINGSx0eringsareblessedbythepriestwhotakestheminhishandandmakingthesignofthecrossovertheheadsofthebrideandthegroomsaysx0eservantofGodNathanJohnisbetrothedtothehandmaidofGodLucyElizabethinthenameoftheFatheroftheSonandoftheHolySpirit.x0ecouplethenexchangestheringstakingthebridesringandplacingitonthegroomsx1ngerandvice-versa.x0eringsofcoursearethesymbolofbetrothalandtheirexchangesignix1esthatinmarriedlifetheweaknessesoftheonepartnerwillbecompensatedforbythestrengthoftheothertheimperfectionsofonebytheperfectionsoftheother.Bythemselvesthenewly-betrothedareincompletetogethertheyaremadeperfect.x0ustheexchangeofringsgivesexpressiontothefactthatthespousesinmarriagewillconstantlybecomplementingeachother.Eachwillbeenrichedbytheunion.x0eMarriageServiceTHECANDLESx0eWeddingServicebeginsimmediatelyfollowingtheBetrothalService.x0ebrideandgroomarehandedcandlestoholduntiltheprocessionaroundthetableatwhichtimetheyarehandedtothewitnessestocarry.x0ecandlesarelikethelampsofthex1vewisemaidensoftheBiblewhobecausetheyhadenoughoilinthemwereabletoreceivetheBridegroomChristwhenHecameinthedarknessofthenight.x0ecandlessymbolizethespiritualwillingnessofthecoupletoreceiveChristwhowillblessthemthroughthisMystery.THECROWNINGx0eserviceoftheCrowningwhichfollowsistheclimaxoftheWeddingservice.x0ecrownsaresignsofthegloryandhonorwithwhichGodcrownsthemduringtheMystery.x0egroomandthebridearecrownedasthekingandqueenoftheirownlittlekingdomthehome-domesticchurch-whichtheywillrulewithfearofGodwisdomjusticeandintegrity.Whenthecrowningtakesplacethepriesttakingthecrownsandholdingthemabovethecouplesaysx0eservantsofGodNathanJohnandLucy