Greek Orthodox Community of East Vancouver
GETTING MARRIED AT STS. NICHOLAS & DIMITRIOS CHURCH
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The Betrothal Service and Sacrament of Marriage in the Orthodox Church
Marriage is a Sacrament of the Eastern Orthodox Church in which a man and woman solemnly vow before Christ, along with the clergy and the congregation present, to be true to each other for life. Their conjugal union is blessed by Christ through the Church. God’s grace is imparted to them to live together in His love, mutually fulfilling and perfecting each other. The marriage ceremony of the Orthodox Church is steeped in ritual and symbolism. Each of the acts which you will observe solemnized today has special meaning and significance.
In order for you and your guests to better appreciate the service, the text for the marriage programs are in the right-hand side of this page to be downloaded.
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The Planning Stage - Booking, Paperwork and Rehearsal
To book your wedding date, please call our Office Administrator at the Church.
Please read over the Information Sheet (on the right-hand side of this page) to familiarize yourselves with the procedures for finalizing the Booking.
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To fill out the Ecclesiastical Wedding Application for the Metropolis Archdiocese, please contact Fr. Tim at frprattas@gmail.com to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. At this first meeting, a copy of the Baptismal Certificates of the groom and bride should be brought, along with the Information Sheet filled out.
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After meeting to complete your paperwork, the Rehearsal Time and Date will be booked. It usually takes place from one day to one week before the Sacrament, in the evening. A week before the rehearsal (at the latest), the Church should receive your Civil Marriage papers.
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If either party has been married before, they must present their Civil Divorce Certificate issued by the Province in which they were married, which states when their Divorce became effective. If the Orthodox party has been married previously in the Orthodox Church, they must also present their Orthodox Ecclesiastical Divorce Certificate, which is issued from the Holy Metropolis. Please inform Fr. Tim if you have been married before at least three months in advance of the Wedding, so the necessary paperwork can be completed in time for the wedding.
I am non-Orthodox. Can I get married in the Church?
One of the two parties must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church. The other must be a Christian that has been baptised in the Name of the Holy Trinity. Otherwise, please see Fr. Tim for further information.
Your Orthodox Religious Sponsor - The Koubaro/Koubara
The Koumbaro and/or Koumbara are the people who will exchange the rings and Wedding Crowns (stefana) in the Service). They will need to present a copy of their Baptismal Certificates (and, if married, a copy of their Church Wedding Certificate).
Any person serving as a Koumbaros or Koumbara must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church.
Your Choice of Language
At Sts. Nicholas and Dimitrios Church, we celebrate the service in both English and Greek. The Ceremony lasts for less than an hour, and the use of both languages does not lengthen the service.
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Photography/Videography
Everyone is welcome to take photos and video during the Sacrament. As there are a few places one cannot take pictuers or video from (for example, inside the Altar), please see Fr. Tim prior to the service.
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No Weddings during Lenten Periods
Weddings are joyous celebrations for families and for the Church. Consequently, no weddings are allowed during Lenten periods. These are times Orthodox Christians focus on fasting, rather than feasting. Please confirm your preferred date with the Church before you put a deposit on your hall, as it might not be a day that is permissible to have your wedding blessed in the Church. These dates include:
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For 2020:
- August 29: Beheading of St. John the Baptist
- September 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- December 13 to 26 inclusive: Christmas Fast, Christmas and Synaxis of the Theotokos
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For 2021:
- January 1: Feast of St. Basil the Great
- January 6: Feast of Theophany
- February 2: Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple (Ypapanti)
- March 15 to May 2 inclusive: Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha
- June 10: Ascension Thursday
- June 20: Pentecost (Trinity Sunday)
- August 1 to 15 inclusive: Fast of the Dormition (Koimisis)
- August 29: Beheading of St. John the Baptist
- September 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- December 13 to 26 inclusive: Christmas Fast, Christmas and Synaxis of the Theotokos
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I have another question...
No problem! Email Fr. Tim at frprattas@gmail.com and he'll get back to you soon.
