Types of Wedding Ceremonies: Ukrainian Orthodox

Among Ukrainians, the Orthodox Church is fairly common. At the entrance, before walking down the aisle, members may cross themselves three times, each time touching the tips of their fingers to their forehead, heart, right shoulder, and left shoulder (slightly different from the Roman Catholic blessing, where the order is the forehead, heart, left shoulder, and right shoulder). Often, people will pick up a candle and take it to the candle stand at the front to be lit. After guests go into the pews, some may kneel on the bench, cross themselves again, and say a silent prayer before sitting down. Guests who are not members of the Orthodox Church do not need to follow any of these procedures, instead going directly to their pews and sitting down.

While there may be a choir to provide music, there are no musical instruments at all. "The main theological reason," explains Father Bohdan Hladio of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Hamilton, Ontario, "is that of all the musical instruments, only the voice was created by God." The concept is to maintain "God-centeredness as opposed to man-centeredness."

There is no Communion served at an Orthodox Church wedding ceremony. Communion would have been served the day or week before the wedding. No marriage vows are exchanged either.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is very similar to the Greek Orthodox Church. "The essential text and the faith are the same," says Father Bohdan. In the Ukrainian ceremony, the best man participates in the exchange of the rings. "The rings are the sign of betrothal. The crowns are the sign of the marriage." A major part of the ceremony is the wearing of the crowns by the bride and groom. "This is the central moment of the service," says Father Bohdan. "The crowns signify the formation of a new royalty – a new family unit. They also represent the crowns of the martyrs. The martyrs give their lives for God; likewise, the married couple is called upon to give their lives for each other." While the bride and groom are wearing the crowns, the circumambulation takes place: the couple walks around the table (where items for the service, such as the gospel book and the crowns, have been placed) three times. "This action signifies the centrality of God in the life of the new couple as their first steps are taken literally around the gospel, which is on the table. The circumambulation also signifies the passage of time. In the old days, crowns were left on for eight days."