Chapter 42

The Rite of Holy Matrimony

THE BETROTHAL SERVICE

After the Divine Liturgy, the Priest being in the Temple, those who desire to be joined together take their stand before the lectern . The two rings lie on 4he righthand side of the Holy Altar. The Priest maketh, thrice, the sign of the cross over the heads of the bridal pair; andgiveth them lighted tapers, (i) And the Deacon saith :

Bless, Master.

Priest Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For the servant of God, N., and for the handmaid of God, N., who now plight each other their troth, and for their salvation : Ifc

That there may be granted unto them children for the continuation of their race, and all their petitions which are unto salvation : R

That he will ‘send down upon them perfect and peaceful love, and succour : I£

That he will preserve them in oneness of mind, and in steadfastness of faith : 1$

That he will bless them with a blameless life : 1$

That the Lord our God will grant unto them an honourable marriage, and a bed undefiled : %

That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity: Tfc

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

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Appendix B, VII.

O eternal God, who hast brought into unity those who were sundered, and hast ordained for them an indissoluble bond of love; who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and didst make them heirs of thy promise : Bless also these thy servants, N. and N., guiding them unto every good wort For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be with you alL

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir To thee, O Lord.

Priest. O Lord our God, who hast espoused the Church as a pure Virgin from among the Gentiles : Bless this Betrothal, and unite and maintain these thy servants in peace and oneness of mind.

For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen. • .

Then taking the rings, the Priest blesseth the bridal pair therewith, making the sign of the cross with the ring of the Bride over the Bridegroom, and with that of the Bridegroom over the Bride, sqying’to the Man ; (2)

The servant of God, N., is betrothed to the handmaid of God, N.: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And to the Woman :

The handmaid of God, N., is betrothed to the servant of God, N.: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And when he hath spoken thus to each one thrice, he piaceth the rings on their right hands. Then the bridal pair exchange the rings, and the Priest saith the following Prayer:

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord our God, who didst accompany the servant of the patriarch Abraham into Mesopotamia, when he was sent to espouse a wife for his lord Isaac ; and who, by means of the drawing of water, didst reveal unto him that he should betroth Rebecca: Do thou, the same Lord, bless also the betrothal of these thy servants, N. and N., and confirm the word which they have spoken. Establish them in the holy union which is from thee. For thou, in the beginning, didst make them male and female, and by thee is the woman joined unto the man as a helpmeet, and for the procreation of the human race. Wherefore, O Lord our God, who hast sent forth thy truth upon thine inheritance, and thy covenant unto thy servants our fathers, even thine elect, from generation to generation : Lookthou upQn thy servant, N., and upon thy handmaid, N.,

and establish and make stable their betrothal in faith, and in oneness of mind, in truth and in love. For thou, O Lord, hast declared that a pledge should be given and confirmed in all things. By a ring was power given unto Joseph in Egypt ; by a ring was Daniel glorified in the land of Babylon ; by a ring was the uprightness of Tamar revealed ; by a ring did our heavenly Father show forth his bounty upon his Son ; for he saith : Put a ring on his hand, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and eat, and make merry. By thine own right hand, O Lord, didst thou arm Moses in the Red Sea ; by the word of thy truth were the heavens established, and the foundations of the earth were made firm ; and the right hands of thy servants shall be blessed also by thy mighty word, and by thine upraised arm. Wherefore, O Lord, do thou now bless this putting-on of rings with thy heavenly benediction : and let thine Angel go before them all the days of their life.

For thou art he who blesseth and sanctifieth all things, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

THE ORDER OF MARRIAGE, OR OF CROWNING (3)

Priest and Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord our God ; glory to thee.

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, ft

All they who walk in his paths, ft

Thou shalt eat of the fruit of thy labours, ft

blessed art thou, and happy shalt thou be. ft

Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house, ft Thy children like a newly-planted olive-orchard round about thy

table, ft

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord, ft

The Lord in Zion shall so bless thee, that thou shalt see the good

things of Jerusalem all thy life long, ft

Yea, that thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon

Israel, ft

Then the Priest shall make them an exhortation^ telling them wherein the Sacrament of Marriage consislelh, and how they ought to live godly and uprightly in the wedded state. And when his exhortation ts finished^ the Priest snalTinqvire of the Bridegroom^ saying :

Hast thou, N., a good, free and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take unto thyself to w\fe this woman, N., whom thou seest here before thee ?

And the Bridegroom maketh answer :

1 have, reverend Father.

Priest Thou hast not promised thyself to any other bride ? The Bridegroom. I have not promised myself, reverend Father.

And straightway the Priest, looking at the Bride, shall inquire of her, saying:

Hast thou, N., a good, free and unconstrained will and a firm intention to take unto thyself to husband this man, N., whom thou seest here before thee ?

And the Bride maketh answer, saying :

I have, reverend Father.

Priest Thou hast not promised thyself to any other man ?

The Bride, I have not promised myself, reverend Father.

Then the Deacon saith :

Bless, Master.

Priest. Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For the servants of God, N. and N., who are now being united to each other in the community of marriage, and for their salvation : ft

That he will bless this marriage, as he blessed that in Cana of Galilee: ft

That he will grant unto them chastity, and of the fruit of the womb as is expedient for them : ft

That he will make them glad with the sight of sons and daughters : ft

That he will grant unto them the procreation of virtuous offspring, and an upright life : ft

That he will grant to them and to us all our petitions which are unto salvation : ft

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Then the Priest reciteth, aloud, the following Prayer :

O God most pure, the Creator of every living thing, thou didst

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transform the rib of our forefather Adam into a wife, because of thy love towards mankind, and didst bless them, and say qnto them : Increase, and multiply, and have dominion over the earth; and didst make of the twain one flesh : for which cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh : and what God hath joined together, that let no man put asunder. Thou who didst bless thy servant Abraham, and opening the womb of Sarah didst make him to be the father of many nations ; who didst give Isaac to Rebecca, and didst bless her in child-bearing; who didst join Jacob unto Rachel, and from that union didst make known the twelve Patriarchs; who didst write Joseph and Asenath, giving unto them as the fruit of their procreation Ephraim and Manasses ; who didst accept Zacharias and Elizabeth, and didst make their offspring to be the Forerunner ; who, from the Root of Jesse according to the flesh, didst bud forth the ever-Virgin One, and wast incarnate of her ; and wast born of her for the redemption of the human race; who, through thine unutterable gift and manifold goodness didst come to Cana of Galilee, and didst bless the marriage there, that thou mightest make manifest that it is thy will that there should be lawful marriage and the begetting of children : Do thou, the same all-holy Master, accept the prayer of us thy servants. As thou wert present there, so likewise be thou present here, with thine invisible protection. Bless this marriage, and vouchsafe unto these thy servants, N. and N., a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, mutual love in the bond of peace, long-lived seed, gratitude from their posterity, a crown of glory which fadeth not away. Graciously grant that they may behold their children’s children. Preserve their bed unassailed, and give them of the dew of heaven from on high, and of the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, and wine, and oil, and with every beneficence, that they may bestow in turn upon the needy; granting also unto those who are here present with them all those petitions which are for their salvation.

For thou art the God of mercies, and bounties, and love towards mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Then the Priest reciteth, aloud, the following Prayer :

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the Priest of mystical and pure marriage, and the Ordainer of the law of the marriage of the body, the Preserver of immortality, and the Provider of good things ; do thou, the same Master, who in the beginning didst make man and set him to be, as it were, a King over thy creation, and didst say : It is not good for man to be alone on the earth; let us make a helpmeet for him ; and taking one of his ribs didst fashion Woman, which when Adam beheld,

he said : This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh ; she shjH be called Woman, for she was taken out of man ; for this cause shali a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and th<e twain shall be one flesh ; and those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder : — Do thou now also, O Master, our Lord and our God, send down thy heavenly grace upon these thy servants, N. and N. ; and grant that this thy handmaid may, in all things, be subject unto her husband ; and that this thy servant may be the head of his wife, that they may live according to thy wilL Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Abraham and Sarah : Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Isaac and Rebecca : Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Jacob and all the patriarchs : Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Joseph and Asenath : Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Moses and Sepphora: Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Joachim and Anna: Bless them, O Lord our God, as thou didst bless Zacharias and Elizabeth : Preserve them, O Lord our God, as thou didst preserve Noah in the ark : Preserve them, O Lord our God, as thou didst preserve Jonah in the belly of the whale : Preserve them, O Lord our God, as thou didst preserve the three Holy Children from the fire, sending down upon them dew from heaven ; and let that gladness come upon them which the blessed Helena had when she found the precious Cross. Remember them, O Lord our God, as thou didst remember Enoch, Shem, Elijah : Remember them, O Lord our God, as thou didst remember thy Forty Holy Martyrs, sending down upon them crowns from heaven : Remember them, O Lord our God, and the parents who have nurtured them ; for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of houses. Remember, O Lord our God, thy servants the groomsman and the bridesmaid of the bridal pair,-who are come together in this joy. Remember, O Lord our God, thy servant, N., and thy handmaid, N., and bless them. Grant them of the fruit of their bodies, fair children, concord of soul and of body : Exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon, like a luxuriant vine. Give them seed in number like unto the full ears of grain ; that, having sufficiency in all things, they may abound in every work that is good and acceptable unto thee. And let them behold their children’s children, like a newly-planted olive-orchard, round about their table; that, obtaining favour in thy sight, they may shine like the stars of heaven, in thee, our God. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Qwir. Lord, have mercy.

And again the Priest pray eth^ aloud, as followeth :

O holy God, who didst create man out of the dust, and didst fashion his wife out of his rib, and didst yoke her unto him as a helpmeet ; for

it Seemed good to thy majesty that man should not be alone upon earth : Do thou, the same Lord, stretch out now also thy hand from tJiy holy dwelling-place, and conjoin this thy servant, N., and this thy handmaid, N. ; for by thee is the husband united unto the wife Unite them in one mind: wed them. into one flesh, granting unto them of the fruit of the body and the procreation of fair children.

For thine is the m*ajesty, and thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.

And after the Amen, the Priest taketh the crowns (4), and crowneth first the Bridegroom, saying :

The servant of God, N., is crowned unto the handmaid of God, N. : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Choir. Amen.

In like manner he then crowneth the Bride, saying : ‘ The servant of God, N., is crowned unto the servant of God, N. : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Choir. Amen.

Then he blesseth them thrice, saying, thrice :

O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all

Reader. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom !

Reader. The Gradual {Prokimen\ in Tone VIII. Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones ; they asked life of thee, and thou gavest it them.

Verse: For thou wilt give them thy blessing forever and ever: thou wilt make them to rejoice with gladness through thy presence.

Deacon. Wisdom !

Reader. The Lesson from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Reader. (Eph. v. 20-33.) Brethren : Give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church : and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it ; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives, as their

own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh ; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church : for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery : but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself : and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Priest* Peace be unto thee.

Reader. And to thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom !

Reader. Alleluia.

Deacon. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Priest The Lesson from the holy Gospel according to John.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord ; glory to thee.

Deacon. Let us attend. .

{John ii. 1-12.) And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine ; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse : but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory ; and his disciples believed on him.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord ; glory to thee.

Deacon. Let us all say, with all our soul and with’ all our mind let us say : flfe

O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we beseech thee : hearken, and have mercy : flfe

Have mercy upon us according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee : hearken, and have mercy : IJs

Furthermore we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation for the servants of God, N. and N. {and he also maketh mention of whomsoever else he wilt) : $

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Priest. For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the ifloly Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. / Choir. Amen.

And the Priest recite th this Prayer.

O Lord our God, who in thy saving providence didst vouchsafe by thy presence in Cana of Galilee to declare marriage honourable : Do thou, the same Lord, now also maintain in peace and concord thy servants, N. and N., whom it hath pleased thee to join together. Cause their marriage to be honourable. Preserve their bed blameless. Mercifully grant that they may live together in purity ; and enable them to attain to a ripe old age, walking in thy commandments with a pure heart.

For thou art our God, the God whose property it is to show mercy and to save, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon. A day all-perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless : ft

An Angel of Peace, the faithful guide and guardian both of our souls and bodies : ft

The forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions : ft

All things which are good and profitable to our souls, and peace to the world : ft

That we may pass the residue of our life in peace and penitence: ft

A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defence before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ: ft

The unity of the faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit let us beseech of the Lord : and let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

And the Priest maketh the Exclamation :

And vouchsafe, O Lord, that boldly and without condemnation, we may dare to call upon thee, God, the heavenly Father, and to say :

And the People recite the Lord’s Prayer to the end.

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who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from the Evil One :

Priest For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Priest Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Then the Common Cup (5) is brought, and the Priest blesseth it, and recite th this Prayer ;

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

O God, who hast created all things by thy might, and hast made fast the round world, and adornest the crown of all things which thou hast made : Bless now, with thy spiritual blessing, this common cup, which thou dost give to those who are now united for a community of marriage.

Aloud: For blessed is thy Name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then, taking the Cup in his hand, the Priest giveth it thrice to them : first to the Man, ana then to the Woman. Then immediately the Priest taketh them, the groomsmen behind them holding their crowns, and leadeth them in a circle (6) round about the lectern. And the Priest, or the People, sing the following Hymn, in Tone V. :

Rejoice, O Isaiah ! A Virgin is with child, and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel, both God and man : and Orient is his name ; whom magnifying we call the Virgin blessed.

Another, in Tone VII.

O Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns : Entreat ye the Lord that he will have mercy on our souls. Glory to thee, O Christ our God, the Apostles’ boast, the Martyrs* joy, whose preaching was the Consubstantial Trinity.

Then, taking the crown of the Bridegroom, he saith :

Be thou exalted, O Bridegroom, like unto Abraham ; and be thou blessed, like unto Isaac ; and do thou multiply like unto Jacob, walking in peace, and keeping the commandments of God in righteousness.

Then, taking the crown of the Bride, he saith :

And thou, O Bride : Be thou exalted like unto Sarah ; and exult thou, like unto Rebecca ; and do thou multiply, like unto Rachel :

and rejoice thou in thy husband, fulfilling the conditions of the law : for so is it well-pleasing unto God.

Deacon, Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

The Priest prayeth :

O God, our God, who didst come to Cana of Galilee, and didst bless there the marriage feast : Bless, also, these thy servants, who through thy good providence are now united together in wedlock. Bless their goings out and their comings in : replenish their life with good things : receive their crowns into thy kingdom, preserving them spotless, blameless, and without reproach, unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

And the Priest prayeth :

May the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial and life-giving Trinity, one Godhead, and one Kingdom, bless you ; and grant unto you length of days, fair children, prosperity of life, and faith : and fill you with all abundance of earthly good things, and make you worthy to obtain the blessings of the promise : through the prayers of the holy Birth-giver of God, and of all the Saints. Amen.

And the Deacon saith : Wisdom ! More honourable than the Cherubim, . . . (See page 303.)

Then the Priest bestoweth the final Benediction. May he who by his presence at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee did declare marriage to be an honourable estate, Christ our true God ; through the prayers of his all-holy Mother; of the holy, glorious and alllaudable Apostles ; of the holy, God-crowned Kings and Saints-equalto-the- Apostles Constantine and Helena; of the holy Great Martyr, Procopius ; (7) and of all the Saints, have mercy upon you and save you : for he is good, and loveth mankind.

Then the Priest maketh an exhortation to the newly-married pair. And the People come and congratulate them ; and they kiss each other.

PRAYER AT THE REMOVAL OF THE CROWNS ON THE EIGHTH DAY (8)

O Lord our God, who hast blessed the crown of the year, and permittest these crowns to be laid upon those who are united to one another by the law of marriage, and thus grantest unto them, as it were

a reward of chastity ; for they are pure who are united in the marriage which thou hast made lawful : Do thou bless also in the removal of these crowns those who have been united to one another, and preserve their union indissoluble; that they may evermore give thanks unto thine all-holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir To thee, O Lord.

Priest These thy servants having come together in concord, O Lord, and having accomplished the compact of marriage, as at Cana of Galilee, and contracted the pledges thereof, ascribe glory unto thee, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And the Dismissal.

Wisdom !

Choir O most holy Birth-giver of God, save us.

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. {Thrice.) Bless.

And the Priest bestoweth tJu Benediction. (Seepage 302.)

THE ORDER OF SECOND MARRIAGE (9)

The Priest beginneth :

Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. {Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. {Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . .

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from the Evil One :

Priest For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the servants of God, N. and N., and for the protection which is from God ; and for their life together : let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

That they may dwell together uprightly and in oneness of mind : let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us,.0 God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever- Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir, Lord, have mercy.

The Priest saith this Prayer :

For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

The Priest prayeth ;

O Lord our God, who hast espoused the Church as a pure Virgin from among the Gentiles : Bless this Betrothal, and unite and maintain these thy servants in peace and oneness of mind.

For unto thee are due all honour, glory and worship, to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then the Priest, taking the rings, gtveth one first to the Man, and to the Woman another, and saitk to the Man :

The servant of God, N., is betrothed to the handmaid of God, N. : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And in like manner to the Woman :

The handmaid of God, N., is betrothed to the servant of God, N : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then he maketk with the rings the sign of the cross over their heads, and putteth the rings on the fingers of their right hands. The Sponsor of the bridal pair exchangeth them. Then the Deacon :

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Priest. O Master, Lord our God, who showest pity upon all men, and whose providence is over all thy works ; who knowest the secrets of man, and understandest all men : Purge away our sins, and forgive the transgressions of thy servants, calling them to repentance, granting them remission of their iniquities, purification from their sins, and pardon of their errors, whether voluntary or involuntary. O thou who knowest the frailty of man’s nature, in that thou art his Maker and Creator ; who didst pardon Rahab the harlot, and accept the contrition of the Publican : remember not the sins of our ignorance from our youth up. For if thou wilt consider iniquity, O Lord, Lord, who shall stand before thee? Or what flesh shall be justified in thy sight? For thou only art righteous, sinless, holy, plenteous in mercy, of great compassion, and repentest thee of the evils of men. Do thou, O Master, who hast brought together in wedlock thy servants, N. and N., unite them to one another in love : vouchsafe unto them the contrition of the Publican, the tears of the Harlot, the confession of the Thief; that, repenting with their whole heart, and doing thy commandments in peace and oneness of mind, they may be deemed worthy also of thy heavenly kingdom.

For thou art he who ordereth all things, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Priest. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

The Priest saith this Prayer :

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who wast lifted up on the precious and life-giving cross, and didst thereby destroy the handwriting against us, and deliver us from the dominion of the Devil : Cleanse thou the iniquities of thy servants ; because they, being unable to bear the heat and burden of the day and the hot desires of the flesh, are now entering into the bond of a second marriage, as thou didst render lawful by thy chosen vessel, the Apostle Paul, saying, for the sake of us humble sinners, It is better to marry in the Lord than to burn. Wherefore, inasmuch as thou art good and lovest mankind, do thou show mercy and forgive. Cleanse, put away, pardon our transgressions ; for thou art he who didst take our infirmities on thy shoulders ; for there is none sinless, or without uncleanness for so much as a single day of his life, save only Thou, who without sin didst endure the flesh, and bestowest on us passionlessness eternal.

For thou art God, the God of the contrite in heart, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Then the Priest saith the Prayer; O holy God, who didst create man out of the dust, . . .

And the rest, as in the First Rite of Marriage % page 297.