The Betrothal Prayers in the Coptic Orthodox Rite

Prepared by Fr. Jacob B. Nadian

Procession into the Church

The Bridal procession enters the Church and the Singers, Readers, Sub-Deacons, Deacons and Congregation sing the Hymn O !ing o" Peace# $ie% &pouro'( O King of peace, grant us Your peace, render unto us Your peace, and forgive us our sins. Disperse the enemies, of the Church, and fortify her, that she may not be shaken forever. Emmanuel our God, is no in our midst, ith the glory of !is "ather, and the !oly #pirit.

$ay !e bless us all, and purify our hearts, and heal the sicknesses, of our souls and bodies. %e orship You O Christ, ith Your Good "ather, and the !oly #pirit, for You have &come' and saved us.

Proclamation o" the Betrothal

Priest( (n the name of our )ord, our God, and our #avior *esus Christ, author of the perfect la and founder of the virtuous commandments, e declare at this Orthodo+ ceremony the betrothal of the blessed Orthodo+ son &...' to the blessed Orthodo+ daughter &...'. Priest( (n the name of the "ather and the #on and the #on and the !oly #pirit, one God. ,men. Priest( -lessed be God the "ather, the .antocrator. ,men. Deacon( ,men People( Our "ather %ho art in heaven / Priest( (n the name of our )ord, our God, and our #avior *esus Christ, author of the perfect la and founder of the virtuous commandments, e declare at this Orthodo+ ceremony the betrothal of the blessed Orthodo+ daughter &...' to the blessed Orthodo+ son &...'. Priest( -lessed be !is only begotten #on, *esus Christ our )ord. ,men. Deacon( ,men

People( Our "ather %ho art in heaven ... Priest( (n the name of our )ord, our God, and our #avior *esus Christ, author of the perfect la and founder of the virtuous commandments, e declare at this Orthodo+ ceremony the betrothal of the blessed Orthodo+ son &...' to the blessed Orthodo+ daughter &...'. Priest( -lessed be the !oly #pirit, the .araclete. ,men. Deacon( ,men People( Our "ather %ho art in heaven ... The Congregation says 0hrough Christ *esus our )ord. &Khen .iEkrestos (sos .enshois' Priest( .ray. Deacon( #tand up for prayer. Priest( .eace be

ith all.

People( ,nd ith your spirit.

The Prayer O" Than)sgi*ing

Priest( )et us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the "ather of our )ord, God and #avior, *esus Christ. "or !e has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to !imself, spared us, supported us, and has brought us to this hour. )et us also ask !im, the )ord our God, 0he .antocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life. Deacon( .ray.

People( )ord have mercy. Priest( O $aster, )ord, God the .antocrator, the "ather of our )ord, God and #avior, *esus Christ. %e thank You for everything, concerning everything, and in everything. "or you have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Yourself, spared us, supported us, and have brought us to this hour. Deacon( .ray that God have mercy and compassion on us, hear us, help us, and accept the supplications and prayers of !is saints, for that hich is good on our behalf at all times (If the Pope or a Bishop is present include the following: And to keep the life and standing of our honored father Papa Abba (!" and his partner in the liturgy our father the bishop Abba (!"." and to bless the betrothed couple &/' and &/', and forgive us our sins. People( )ord have mercy.

Then the priest prays Priest( 0herefore, %e ask and entreat Your goodness, O )over of mankind, grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace ith Your fear. ,ll envy, all temptation, all the ork of #atan, the counsel of icked men and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them a ay from us, and from all Your people, and from this betrothed couple, and from this, Your holy place. -ut those things hich are good and profitable do provide for us, for it is You ho have given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the po er of the enemy. ,nd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. -y the grace, compassion, and love of mankind, of Your only begotten #on, our )ord, God and #avior *esus Christ. 0hrough %hom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the orship are due unto You, ith !im and the !oly #pirit, the Giver of )ife, %ho is of one essence ith You. 1o and at all times and unto the ages of all ages. ,men.

The Rings
At this point in the ser#ice the rings are e$changed and the engage%ent docu%ent is signed. Hymn - +n The ,ame O" The -ather (n the name of the "ather, and the #on, and the !oly #pirit, the !oly and coessential 0rinity. %orthy, %orthy, orthy, orthy, orthy, #t. $ary the 2irgin. orthy are the groom and the bride.

Supplication "or the Betrothed Couple

Priest( O, )ord and true God, the Eternal %ord of God, %ho engaged man to eternal 3oy through !is glorious (ncarnation, amassing faithful souls through the sacrament of !is life giving cross, purifying them in the sacred baptismal font, besto ing upon them the gifts of the !oly #pirit and eternal life, becoming for them the !ead, the .astor, and the #upreme Chieftain. %e ask of You, O, Good #hepherd, to look after Your servants &...' and &...' so that this engagement may be in accordance ith Your ish and Your ill, and that our undertaking may end up in happiness and in peace. ,men. People( ,men

Blessing o" the Betrothed Couple

Priest( O, God, %ho created man ith a free ill, %ho placed him a little belo angels, %ho adorned him ith glory and dignity, %ho put him in charge of the ork of Your !ands4 You did not leave him alone and isolated, saying, 5(t is not good that man should be alone6, and created Eve to be 5a helper comparable to him.6 -less, O )ord, Your servants &...' and &...', keep them and their betrothal pure and legal, besto upon them the oneness of mind and soul, and grant them a peaceful and spiritual happiness. ,men. People( ,men People( Our "ather %ho art in heavens...

Conclusion o" the Prayer

People( ,men. ,lleluia7 Glory be to the "ather and the #on and the !oly #pirit7 no ages7 ,men. and forever and unto the ages of

%e proclaim and say7 O our )ord *esus Christ7 bless the air of heaven &bless the aters of the river, or bless the seeds and the herbs.' $ay your mercy and Your peace be a fortress to Your people. #ave us and have mercy on us. &'he following is said if the Pope or a Bishop is present( You ere granted the grace of $oses, the priesthood of $elchi8edek7 the old age of *acob, the long life of $ethuselah7 the e+cellent understanding of David, the isdom of #olomon7 and the #pirit, the .araclete ho rested upon the apostles. $ay the )ord preserve the life and standing of our honored father, the high priest .apa ,bba &...' ,nd our father the metropolitan &bishop', ,bba &/' $ay the God of heaven confirm them on their thrones for many years and peaceful times. ,nd humiliate all their enemies under their feet speedily. ,sk Christ on our behalf, to forgive our sins in peace, according to !is great mercy. &'hen the )ongregation continues( )ord have mercy, )ord have mercy, )ord bless, ,men, -less me, -less me, -ehold, the repentance, "orgive me, #ay the blessing. Priest( Christ our God People( ,men. #o be it. Priest( O King of .eace, grant us Your peace, establish for us Your peace, and forgive us our sins. "or Yours is the po er, the glory, the blessing, and the might, forever. ,men. $ake us orthy to pray thankfully7

People( Our "ather

ho art in heaven...

Priest( 0he love of God the "ather4 the grace of the only9begotten #on, our )ord, God, and #avior *esus Christ4 and the communion and gift of the !oly #pirit be ith you all. Go in peace. 0he peace of the )ord be People( ,nd ith Your spirit. ith you all.

Procession "rom the church

O King of peace, grant us Your peace, render unto us Your peace, and forgive us our sins. Disperse the enemies, of the Church, and fortify her, that she may not be shaken forever. Emmanuel our God, is no in our midst, ith the glory of !is "ather, and the !oly #pirit.

$ay !e bless us all, and purify our hearts, and heal the sicknesses, of our souls and bodies, %e orship You O Christ, ith Your Good "ather...