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{{spirituality}}
'''Marriage''' (also '''matrimony''') is one of the [[holy mysteries]] (sacraments) in the Orthodox Church, as well as many other [[Christian]] traditions. It serves to unite a woman and a man in eternal union before God with the purpose of following Christ and His [[Gospel]] and, when possible, raising up a faithful, holy family through their holy union. It is referred to extensively in both the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s. Christ declared the essential indissolvibility of marriage in the [[Gospels|Gospel]].
==Holy Matrimony==
At the Betrothal service, the chief ceremony is the blessing and exchange of rings. The rings are blessed by the [[priest]] in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The couple then exchange the rings, taking the bride's ring and placing it on the groom's finger and vice-versa. Then they exchange them again, symbolizing that each spouse will constantly be complementing and enriching the other by the union. This is also an outward symbol that the two are joined in marriage of their own free will and consent. It is celebrated in the [[Narthex|vestibule]] of the church building before their procession into the [[nave]] of the church.
===Office of crowningCrowning===
The second part of the service is the ceremony of coronation, in which the heads of the bridegroom and bride are crowned by the priest. In the Russian tradition, the crowns are gold or silver, while the Greek tradition uses crowns of leaves and flowers.
==Divorce==
Orthodoxy regards the marriage bond as indissoluble, and it condemns the breakdown of marriage as a sin and an evil. The Orthodox Church does permit remarriage after divorce in some cases, as an exception, a necessary concession to human sin. While condemning sin, the Church desires to help the sinners and to allow them another chance, with an act of ''[[oikonomiaeconomy]]'' . When a marriage has ceased to be a reality, the Orthodox Church faces the reality with ''[[philanthropy | philanthropia]]'' (loving kindness).
==Second and third marriage==
==Family Life==
* [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16180_1.html Raising Children With Christ, Compassion, and Commitment] by Fr. [[Peter Gillquist|Peter E. Gillquist]] (''Again Magazine'' and ''Beliefnet'')
==Further reading==
*''The Experience of God: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, vol. 5: The Sanctifying Mysteries'' by [[Dumitru Staniloae]] (Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2012.) ISBN 978-1-935317-29-6
*''The Sacrament of Love'' by [[Paul Evdokimov]]. (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2011.) ISBN 9780881413977
*''The Experience Attending to Your Marriage: A Resource for Christian Couples'' by Fr. Charles Joanides. (Minneapolis: Light and Life Publishing Company, 2006.) ISBN 1880971992*''Christianity and Eros: Essays on the Theme of GodSexual Love'' by [[Philip Sherrard]]. (Limni, Evia, Greece: Orthodox Dogmatic TheologyDenise Harvey, vol2002. 5) ISBN 9607120108*''Marriage: The Sanctifying MysteriesAn Orthodox Perspective'' by Fr. [[Dumitru StaniloaeJohn Meyendorff]] . (BrooklineCrestwood, New York: Holy Cross Orthodox St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 20122000.) ISBN 978-1-935317-29-69780913836057*''After the Honeymoon: How to Maintain a Happy Marriage'' by Dr. Peter M. Kalellis. (Pittsburgh: Syndesmos, 1999.)
*''On Marriage and Family Life'' by St. [[John Chrysostom]]. (Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997.) ISBN 9780913836866
*''Preserve Them, O Lord'' by Fr. John Mack. (Ben Lomond, California: Conciliar Press, 1996.) ISBN 1888212012
*''Preparing for Marriage'' (Marriage in the Orthodox Church, v. 1) by Dr. Peter M. Kalellis. (Westfield, New Jersey: Ecumenical Publications, 1984.)
*''Holy Matrimony'' (Marriage in the Orthodox Church, v. 2) by Dr. Peter M. Kalellis. (Westfield, New Jersey: Ecumenical Publications, 1984.)
==External links==
*[http://www.holyghost-oca.org/orthodoxy/practices/wedding.htm The Right of Betrothal and Crowning] - Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/liturgical_texts/betrothal.asp The Service of Betrothal] and [http://goarch.org/en/chapel/liturgical_texts/wedding.asp The Service of the Crowning (The Service of Marriage)] ([[GOARCH]])
*[httphttps://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=56 orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/marriage Marriage (sacramental)] - ''The Orthodox Faith'' by Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]], Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY. *[httphttps://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=202 orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/sexuality-marriage-and-family/marriage1 Marriage (Christian life)] - ''The Orthodox Faith''
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/marriage.aspx Marriage: The Great Sacrament] by Archimandrite [[Aimilianos (Vafeidis)|Aimilianos]] of [[Simonopetra Monastery (Athos)|Simonopetra]], [[Mount Athos]]
*[http://www.oca.org/DOCencyclical.asp?SID=12&ID=4 Encyclical Letter of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America on Marriage]
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