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The Liturgy of Holy Matrimony

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The Liturgy of Holy Matrimony طقظ عش اىضٗاج اىَقذط Rite of the Holy Matrimony Amir & Mary May 26,2008 INTRODUCTION By His Eminence Anba Pishoy Metropolitan Of Damietta, Kafr El Sheikh And The Wilderness Of St. Demiana The Holy Synod has studied the so-called “Contract of Possession” which was customarily performed before the “Rite of Crowning.” It was found that originally this rite was called the prayer of the “Matrimonial Pledge.” This rite of the “Matrimonial Pledge” was formerly performed independent of the rite of the “Crowning” as an alternative to the rite of the “Betrothal.” However, since the “Matrimonial Pledge” was not dissolvable, it was joined to the rite of the Crowning, and a separate rite for the Betrothal was instituted. This happened during the Papacy of Pope Cyril IV. A comparison with the rites of the Sacrament of Matrimony in the old Greek Churches revealed the fact that the rite of the Matrimonial Pledge” existed there too. However, it did not contain any special Biblical readings like a Pauline or a Gospel reading. It contained, however, an offering of Incense. Accordingly, the Holy Synod during its assembly on May 29, 1999 A.D. (Bashans 21, 1715 A.M.) headed by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, decreed that it is sufficient to include the three declarations of the wedding proclaiming the names of the Groom and the Bride, followed by the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the Offering of Incense and the Verses of the Cymbals. This is further followed by the first prayer from the rite of Matrimonial Pledge, together with the prayer for the blessing of the wedding garment, the exchange of wedding bands and the hymn “The Spiritual Garment.” 2 As concerning the rite of the Crowning, it was decided to add the following sentence to the “reception of the Bride by the Bridegroom” [So, you too, ought to recognize each other‟s rights, and submit yourselves to one another. Let each one of you be honest to the other, even as Saint Paul said, “The wife has no power over her own body but the husband, and likewise also the husband has no power over his own body but the wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:4)] It was further decided thaat all references to Jacob's marriage to Lea should be replaced by the expression, “Jacob in his marriage.” We thank the Church of St. Mark‟s, Toronto, Canada and the Church Of St. Mary, Kitchener, Canada for taking the initiative to publish this rite of the prayers of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony after diligently proofing the Arabic, Coptic and English texts, while complying with the modifications decreed by the Holy Synod headed by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III may the Lord prolong his life. Pishoy Metropolitan Of Damietta, Kafr El Sheikh And The Wilderness Of St. Demiana 3 THE LITURGY OF HOLY MATRIMONY The service begins with a procession from the west doors of the nave, towards the chancel. During this procession, the following hymn is sung: Christ has risen from the Ekhrestos anesty eknekron, dead, and by His death He thanato thanaton batee sas, ke trampled death. And those in tees entis emni masee, zo-een the tombs, He granted them kharee sa menos. the eternal life. Glory be to the Father, the Zoksa Patri ke Eyo ke agio Son, and the Holy Spirit. Epnevmaty, ke neen ke aa ee Both now and always, and ke yestos e-onas ton e-onon unto the ages of ages. Amen. ameen. O Christ our Savior, the Teen anasta-seen so-Ekhreste angels in heaven praise Your Soteer an-geli, emno-seen en Resurrection, therefore we o-ranees, ke emas tos epi ask You to make us worthy, (egi) e-gis kata-axeio-son en we who are on earth, to kathara karzeia se zoxazeen. glorify You forever with pure hearts. Blessed are You indeed, with Ek-esmaro-ot alee-thos, nem Your good Father and the Pekiot en-agha-thos, nem Pi- Holy Spirit, for You have epnevma eth-owab, je (akee) risen and saved us. aksoti emmon. Through the prayers: of our Hetini-evshe ente penyot honored father: the high ettayot en-arshee erevse papa priest Papa Abba (Shenouda), avva Shenouda, nem penyot and our father the Bishop en-epis-kopos (emit- (Metropolitan) Abba (…). ropolitees) avva (…). 4 طقش صش اىزٗاج اىَقذس (تثذأ اىصﻻج تاىزفح ٍِ اىثاب اىغشتً ىينٍْضح حتى خ٘سس اىشَاٍضح ٗفً أثْائٖا ٌشتو اىشَاٍضح ٗاىشعة اىيحِ اَخي: `<rictoc `anecty ek nekrwn ;anatw ;anaton patycac ke tyc en tic `mny maci zw`yn ,aricamenoc. Doxa Patri ke Ui`w ke `agi`w P=n=ati@ ke nun ke `a`i ke ictoc `e`wnac twn `e`wnwn `amyn. Tyn `Anactacin cou`<ricte Cwtyr aggeli@ `umnoucin en `ouranic@ ke `ymac touc `epi (`gu)`guc kata xi`wcon en ka;ara kardia ce doxazin. `K`cmarwout `aly;wc@ nem Pekiwt `n`aga;oc@ nem Pi`pneuma e;ouab@ je aktwnk akcw] `mmon. Hiten ni`eu,y `nte peniwt ettai`yout `nar,y`ereuc papa abba Senouda@ nem peniwt `n`epickopoc `mmytropolityc abba (...). 5 O Lord grant us the Epshois ari-ehmot nan empi- forgiveness of our sins. ko e-vol ente nen-novi. DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE After the procession, the bride sits at the right hand of the bridegroom (see Psalm45:9). Then the priest takes the wedding rings and blesses them as he declares the wedding: PRIEST: In the Name of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we declare the marriage of the blessed son of Orthodoxy, “Amir”, to the blessed daughter of Orthodoxy, “Mary”. He makes the sign of the cross upon himself, then upon the rings saying: In the Name of the Father and Qen `vran `m`viwt nem the Son and the Holy Spirit; ~`Psyri nem Pi`pneuma One God. `e;ouab ounou] `nouwt. Blessed be God the Father, `F`cmarwout `nje Vnou] the Pantocrator. Amen. `Viwt pipantokratwr. CONGREGATION: Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven..... 6 يا سب أّعٌ ىْا تَغفشج خطاياّا. P=o=c `ari`hmot nan `mpi,w` `ebol `nte nennobi. إعﻻُ اىزٗاج ٬ ٌٗششٌ راتٔ ثٌ اىذتيتٍِ تاىصيٍة ٌٗق٘ه: اىشعة: آٍيِ. "يا أتاّا اىزي في اىغَ٘اخ..." 7 PRIEST: In the Name of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we declare the marriage of the blessed daughter of Orthodoxy, “Mary”, to the blessed son of Orthodoxy, “Amir”. He makes the sign of the cross upon the rings saying: Blessed be His Only-Begotten `F`cmarwout `nje Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. pefmonogenyc `nsyri I=y=c Amen. P=,=c Pen=o=c. CONGREGATION: Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven..... PRIEST: In the Name of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we declare the marriage of the blessed son of Orthodoxy, “Amir”, to the blessed daughter of Orthodoxy, “Mary”. He makes the sign of the cross upon the rings saying: Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the `F`cmarwout `nje pip=n=a e=;=u Paraclete. Amen. `mparaklyton. CONGREGATION: Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven..... Qen P=,=c I=y=c Pen=o=c. 8 ٬ ٌٗششٌ اىذتيتٍِ تاىصيٍة ٌٗق٘ه: ٍثاسك إتْٔ اى٘ديذ يغ٘ع اىَغيخ ستْا. أٍيِ . اىشعة: آٍيِ. "يا أتاّا اىزي في اىغَ٘اخ... " تاعٌ ستْا ٗإىْٖا ٍٗخيصْا يغ٘ع اىَغيخ٬ ٍُشَشِع ششيعح اىنَاه٬ ٗٗاضع ّاٍ٘ط اﻷفضاه٬ ّعقذ إٍﻻك ٗصٗاج اﻹتِ اىَثاسك اﻷسث٘رمغي اىثنش إىي اﻹت جِ اىَثاسكج اﻷسث٘رمغيح اىثنش ٍاسي. ٌٗششٌ اىذتيتٍِ تاىصيٍة ٌٗق٘ه: ٍثاسك إتْٔ اى٘ديذ يغ٘ع اىَغيخ ستْا. أٍيِ . اىشعة: آٍيِ. "يا أتاّا اىزي في اىغَ٘اخ... " تاىَغيخ يغ٘ع ستْا. 9 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING PRIEST: Slyl. Pray. DEACON: Epi `proc`eu,y `cta;yte. Stand up for prayer. PRIEST: Iryny paci. Peace be with all. CONGREGATION: Ke tw `pneumati cou. And with your spirit. PRIEST: Marensep`hmot `ntotf Let us give thanks to the `mpiref`erpe;nanef ouoh Beneficent and Merciful `nnayt@ V] Viwt `mpen=o=c God, the Father of our ouoh Pennou] ouoh Lord, God, and Savior pencwtyr I=y=c P=,=c. Je Jesus Christ. For He has afer`ckepazin ejwn@ covered us, helped us, aferboy;in `eron@ af`areh guarded us, accepted us to Himself. Spared us, `eron afsopten `erof. supported us, and has Af]`aco eron@ af]toten brought us to this hour. Let afenten sa `e`hryi `etai`ounou us also ask Him, the Lord ;ai. `N;of onmaren]ho `erof our God, the Pantocrator, hopwc `ntef`areh `eron@ qen to guard us in all peace pai`ehoou e;ouab vai nem this holy day and all the ni`ehoou tyrou `nte penwnq@ days of our life. qen hiryny niben@ `nje Pipantokratwr `P=o=c Pennou]. 10 . 11 DEACON: Pray. `Proc`euxac;e. CONGREGATION: Kuri`e `ele`ycon. Lord have mercy. `Vnyb `P=o=c V] PRIEST: Pipantokratwr@ `Viwt O Master, Lord; God the `mpen=o=c ouoh Pennou] ouoh Pantocrator, the Father of pencwtyr I=y=c P=,=c. our Lord, God, and Savior Tensep`hmot `ntotk kata Jesus Christ. We thank You hwb niben nem e;be hwb for everything, concerning niben nem qen hwb niben. Je everything, and in akerckepazin `ejwn@ everything. For You have akerboy;in `eron@ ak`areh covered us, helped, us guarded us, accepted us to `eron@ aksopten `erok@ Yourself, spared us, `ak]aco `eron@ `ak]toten@ supported us, and have akenten sa `e`hryi `etaiounou brought us to this hour. ;ai. DEACON: Pray that God have mercy and compassion upon us, hear us, help us and accept the supplications and prayers of His saints for that which is good on our behalf at all times1, and bless the married couple, Amir and Mary, and forgive us our sins. CONGREGATION: Lord have mercy. 1 In the presence of a bishop, after "at all times", the deacon continues saying: "And to keep the life and standing of our honored father, Papa Abba Shenouda the Third, and his partner in the apostolic ministry, our honored father the Bishop Abba …" 12 .
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