Mystery of Crowning – Abridged Version
– 23 Minutes –
Mystery of Crowning – Full Video
– 38 Minutes –
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Note: the service is in Ukrainian, created by a professional videographer for the bride and groom who shared it with the Diaconate Formation Program. The quality is excellent, but parts of the ceremony were not included: The marriage vows, readings, Angel of Peace Litany, and dismissal. Where parts were removed, photos and the audio instructions are inserted. The video nevertheless covers the complete ceremony. When an English wedding occurs, these videos will br updated and have the missing pieces added.
Mystery of Crowning Video Deacon Notes
100 The Betrothal
101 The couple to be married and their attendants assemble in the Narthex in front of the entry doors of the church. If it is customary, the clergy wear dark vestments – the priest only with his epithrachial. The royal doors are opened and the clergy go to meet them. If it is the custom, the priest gives them candles to hold. The priest signs them with the cross three times. The deacon begins the service by intoning, “Master give the blessing”.
105 The Betrothal continues with the blessing of the rings, the exchange of vows and the placing of the rings. The deacon intones, “let us pray to the Lord” at the required times.
110 At the conclusion of the betrothal, the clergy leads the bridal party into the church. The attendants place the rushnyk on the floor before the tetrapod then step aside. The couple takes their place on the rushnyk. The deacon incenses the icons, the bridal party and all who are present, then returns the censer and rejoins the priest at the tetrapod at the east side of the tetrapod.
200 The Declaration of Consent
201 The priest now asks the questions of consent. At the conclusion, the deacon turns to the priest, receives his blessing and proceeds to his usual place before the royal doors. He then intones, “Master give the blessing”.
210 The deacon prays the Great Litany of Peace which includes special petitions for the betrothed. At the conclusion of the litany, the deacon returns to the tetrapod and takes his place next to the priest on the groom’s side.
215 There are a series of three prayers. The priest may take all or a part of them. Before each prayer, the deacon intones, “Let us pray to the Lord”.
300 The Crowning
301 At the conclusion of the prayers, the marriage vows are exchanged and the crowning takes place. The deacon has no formal role except to be ready to lend a hand with candles, books etc.
305 As the crowning concludes, the clergy return to the sanctuary. The epistle is read in the usual manner with the deacon intoning, “Let us be attentive”, the priest, “Peace be to all” the deacon, , “Wisdom let us be attentive”, etc. The prokimenon is chanted followed by the usual intonations, then the epistle. At the conclusion, the deacon performs the usual incensation before the Gospel reading while the alleluia is sung.
310 The priest will read the Gospel, therefore the responsibility for the intonations change. The deacon does not ask for the blessing as in the Divine Liturgy. The deacon intones, “Wisdom, Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel”, the priest, “Peace be to all, then a reading from the Holy Gospel according to John”, the deacon, “Let us be attentive”.
315 At the conclusion of the Gospel, a homily may take place. After the homily, the priest will give the deacon the blessing. The priest will return to the tetrapod with the couple and the deacon will take his usual place before the royal doors and begin the Litany of fervent supplication with additional petitions for the couple.
320 When the litany has concluded, the deacon remains in place and intone, ”Let us pray to the Lord”. The priest says his prayers and then the deacon continues with the Angle of Peace Litany. At the conclusion of the litany, the deacon rejoins the priest and couple at the tetrapod. The Lord’s prayer is sung and at the end the priest will bless with “Peace be to all”, the choir, “And with your spirit”, the deacon, “Bow your heads to the Lord”.
325 For the ceremony of the Common Cup, the Procession around the tetrapod, known as the Dance of Isiah, and the removal of the Crowns, the deacon has no formal responsibilities.
330 After the Crowns are removed, the deacon intones, “Let us pray to the Lord”, and the priest says the prayer. After the choir responds, “Amen”, the priest will bless with “Peace be to all”, the choir, “And with your spirit”, the deacon, “Bow your heads to the Lord”. The priest then prays and blesses the couple.
335 The deacon initiates the dismissal by intoning, “Wisdom”. The dismissal concludes in the usual manner.
Blessing of the Bride
340 If the bride chooses to have a blessing in front of the icon of the Theotokos, the deacon should be prepared with the holy water. The intones, “Let us pray to the Lord” before the blessing prayers that the priest says.