When is it possible to perform the Sacrament?
Orthodox Christians will be able to get married on one of the 123 permitted days in the coming year. This is exactly how many dates remained free from fasting and various religious festivals.
As for the days of the week, the most successful are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The rest, in most cases, are forbidden.
Sunday is the most popular among couples, so book it in advance.
It is also worth considering that churches often hold services and holidays, so you need to visit the church you have chosen for the ceremony as early as possible and agree with the priest on the date you need.
Astrologers' opinion
The interesting thing is that in most cases, the opinions of the Church and astrology coincide. No matter how strange it may sound, they point to almost the same days. Still, there are some inexplicable reasons that are common to both the Church and astrologers, and prohibit the wedding ceremony on certain days.
For example, astrologers do not recommend couples to get married or even sign at the registry office on such days:
- on New Moon
- during a solar or lunar eclipse
- when Venus is in the sign of Aries, Virgo and Scorpio
- and during Venus's retrograde
As for the most successful days, astrologers call them: 10, 11, 16, 17, 21, 26, 27. You should avoid a wedding on 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 19.
Whether you believe in all these prejudices or not is not at all important.
We are still under the enormous influence of the Universe, no matter how much we would like to change it. And if we are talking about such an important event as a wedding, an event on which your entire subsequent life depends, then why not do everything possible and protect your marriage. Agree that these are very modest efforts to achieve a huge result. Your
Favorable dates
According to clergy, the best days for a church marriage are some Orthodox holidays, such as:
- Red Hill is the first Sunday after Easter (Christmas). This year it is on May 9 ;
- days of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. They are celebrated in the fall - on the fourth of November (11/4/21 falls on Thursday, therefore, there will be no weddings on this day) and in the summer - on July 21 ;
- Memorial Day of the Evangelist Mark - May 8th (05/08/21 falls on Saturday, so you will not be married on this day);
- spring day dedicated to St. Nicholas - May 22 (this year this date also falls on Saturday, which means the ceremony will not be performed);
- one of the three days of memory of the Iveron Mother of God icon is October 26 (and this auspicious day falls on Tuesday in 2021, and therefore the Sacrament will be impossible).
Below is a detailed calendar with marked days that are perfect for a wedding. As you can see, the most popular months were February, May, summer and autumn.
January Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 March Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 April Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 May Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 June Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 July Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 August Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 September Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 October Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 November Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 December Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2
On what dates does the church prohibit getting married?
There are certain days of the year that are not only considered unlucky for a couple to get married, but are even prohibited by the church. This is why it is so important to prepare well and study the church calendar. Otherwise, you risk being refused and ruining your entire planned holiday.
- First of all, the ritual cannot be performed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as on Wednesday and Friday before the fast day.
- It is forbidden to get married on Saturday, before the holiday of Little Easter.
- The same applies to other days before major church holidays (Easter, Christmas, Trinity and others)
- On the eve of temple holidays.
- The ceremony cannot be performed at night.
- Weddings during Lent are prohibited.
There may be other reasons why the Church will refuse to marry you. Therefore, you should always consult a priest. He knows exactly all the nuances in choosing the right date.
In 2021, the most important church posts will be:
- for Christmas November 28 – January 6
- for Easter March 11 – April 27
- Petrov fast June 24 – July 11
- Dormition Fast August 14 – August 27
When the ritual is not performed
- prohibited on fasting days , this year they are: Nativity Fast, its period from November 28 to January 7; before Easter - from March 15 to May 2; Petrov, it is observed from June 28 to July 12; Uspensky, whose dates are from August 14 to August 28;
- on major church holidays , such as the Nativity of Christ, Epiphany and the Presentation of the Lord, the Day of the Holy Trinity, the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary and others. This is explained by the fact that believers should rejoice specifically at these events, and not personal ones;
- on Easter , it will be on May 2 in the coming year;
- also, on days of memorial and mourning for the dead, it is not the best idea to organize a ritual;
- Tuesday, Thursday , if they precede Lenten Wednesday or Friday;
- Saturday before Little Easter - for the Orthodox this is every Sunday;
- before the twelve and great holidays (Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday);
- on Cheese Week, also known as Maslenitsa , which in 2021 is celebrated from March 8 to 14;
- on the day preceding any patronal temple festival . Each has its own specific dates, so find out specifically about the one you have chosen for your wedding;
- during Christmas - from January 7 to 17;
- during Holy Week - from May 3 to May 8;
- shortly before Lent;
- on the eve of and during a strict one-day fast - September 11 and 27;
- at night.
In certain situations, a couple is allowed to get married on the above calendar days, but there must be good reasons for this, for example, serious health problems or a forced change of place of residence. In any case, such moments should be discussed in advance and individually with the priest.
Who can't get married?
It happens that lovers have chosen a suitable date, having checked the Orthodox calendar, fulfilled all the conditions, but the clergyman still refuses the wedding. This happens if certain circumstances become clear:
- Young people did not tie the knot at the state level.
- The lovers are atheists, and the wedding is perceived only as a beautiful ceremony.
- If one of the newlyweds does not profess Orthodoxy, but belongs to another faith. Sectarians are also not allowed to participate in the ceremony.
- Civil cohabitation is a significant reason for refusal.
- If it turns out that one of the lovers has already been married three times.
- Age limit. Young people who have not reached the age of majority cannot get married. The ban also applies to men over 70 years of age and women over 60 years of age.
- Relatives by blood and spiritual friends (for example, godparents of one child) will be categorically denied the ritual.
- People who have taken a vow of celibacy and priests cannot undergo a wedding.
A wedding is not a beautiful and fashionable event, but a serious ceremony that unites the destinies of people. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the ceremony responsibly and choose the right date using a special calendar.
Who can be refused
- Lovers who have decided to take such an important step in their lives - to enter into a union before God, must take into account one key point: they must be married. If you are not officially registered with the registry office, most likely the bishop will refuse you.
- People who have not been baptized , in most cases, want to get married only because of fashion, so they should not hope for the priest’s leniency. But if he still sees sincerity in such a couple, then first he will need to be baptized.
- Also, the ritual is prohibited for adherents of another religion, sect or faith . This even applies to one of the spouses.
- It is quite possible that they will refuse if you already have three divorces at this point. And even more so if you are married to one person and want to get married to another.
- The Church is against unions of both blood relatives with each other, for example, brother and sister, and spiritual ones - between a godson and his godmother or father, as well as godfathers.
- There are also age . Most likely, the priest will be against the ritual for a young boy or girl who has not yet reached the age of 18. This also applies to older people: men over 70 years old and women over 60.
- People who have taken a vow of celibacy and clergy will also be denied the service in question.
And remember that the miracle of the Sacrament of Wedding will only happen if your intentions are sincere, and you agree to change for the sake of your family throughout your life and make compromises. Then God will help you, and your marriage will become truly happy, and faith will help preserve light and love in your soul for many years.
Rules for preparing for the ritual
A wedding is the highest level of marriage, when lovers want to seal their love not only before people, but also before God.
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Therefore, you should carefully prepare for the ceremony:
- As practice shows, priests agree to marry only those couples who have previously entered into a marriage at the registry office. This is how lovers prove that their decision is thoughtful and balanced.
- Newlyweds are recommended to familiarize themselves with Orthodox works that reveal details of the lifestyle of a Christian family.
- A man and woman should come to the ceremony with a light heart, full of love and respect for their spouse. It is advisable to resolve all disputes and disagreements in a couple.
- It is necessary that the husband and wife be baptized people. But only one spouse is allowed to be baptized.
- On the day before the wedding, you should meet with the priest for confession and communion.
For the ceremony itself you will need wedding rings, a towel, candles and white scarves for them, wine and icons of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ. The list may vary depending on the temple chosen for the wedding.
Responsibilities of witnesses
The tradition of inviting witnesses to a wedding has deep roots. At a time when marriages were registered only in the parish register, the priest needed proof of the seriousness of the lovers’ intentions. The parishioners of the temple, who knew the young people well, confirmed the sincerity of the feelings of the guy and girl. Only then did the clergyman agree to marry the couple.
Currently, it is possible to conduct the ceremony without witnesses if no suitable candidates are found. You cannot take as witnesses the parents of one of the lovers, a divorced boyfriend/girlfriend, or people living in a civil marriage. But you can take as witnesses a married couple who are happy in a legal relationship. It is also necessary to choose a baptized person who understands the importance of the ritual.
Witnesses have few responsibilities. They need to present the wedding rings at the right moment and hold the crowns over the heads of the couple for almost the entire ceremony. This is a difficult task because the crowns are heavy and the wedding takes a long time.
Dress code for newlyweds
Church is one of the few places where you must strictly follow the generally accepted rules of the church dress code. The newlyweds' clothes should symbolize the purity of their thoughts and souls.
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When choosing an outfit for the groom, it is better to opt for strict business suits in calm shades. Sets of clothes in blue, black, gray, or coffee tones would be appropriate. Bright and flashy costumes with patterns, embroidery, and inscriptions should be left for other occasions, since the church calls on people to show restraint and modesty, and weddings are not social events.
You also cannot replace trousers with jeans, a shirt with a T-shirt, and shoes with sneakers. As for accessories, you can leave a discreet watch.
There are several wishes for the bride's appearance:
- Girls are recommended to choose dresses in light colors, since white is not necessary. It is advisable to give preference to floor-length models, with ¾ sleeves and covered shoulders. For example, wedding dresses with lace tops look great in church. But as practice shows, girls choose corset models, and at the ceremony they cover their shoulders with a veil.
- It should be remembered that women should not be in church with their heads uncovered, so the bride should choose a veil that hides her hair as much as possible, or a beautiful scarf. Guests present may wear hats.
- It is also worth taking care of comfortable shoes, as you will have to stand for a long time.
- It is necessary to remove any jewelry from your hands.
- Give preference to daytime makeup, since war paint looks out of place within the walls of a church. It’s better to leave your lips completely untouched, since you have to kiss icons.
Dress code rules are mandatory for all wedding guests. But they are simple and should not cause difficulties for lovers.
The most beautiful permitted wedding dates in 2021
In December and April, which fall during Christmas and Lent, the wedding calendar for 2021 does not provide any permitted dates at all. In other months, newlyweds will be able to choose:
- in January, the palindrome date falls on Thursday, leaving the ones closest to it - 01/20/21 and 01/22/21;
- in February there are no palindromes, but there is a whole series of beautiful numbers - 02/01/21, 02/10/21, 02/12/21 and 02/22/21 (even those who do not believe in numerology will like this combination of twos and ones);
- in March - 03/01/21, 03/03/21;
- in May - after Krasnaya Gorka: 05/10/21, 05/21/21 and 05/30/21;
- in June - 06/02/21, 06/06/21, 06/11/21, 06/20/21 and 06/22/21;
- in July - starting from the middle of the month: 07/12/21, 07/21/21, 07/30/21 (but the day of the patrons of the family of Peter and Fevronia - July 8 - falls on the fast);
- in August - 01.08.21, 02.08.21, 08.08.21 and after the Assumption Fast - 30.08.21;
- in September - on the Day of Knowledge 09/01/21, then after the day of the beheading of John the Baptist - 09/19/21, 09/22/21 and 09/29/21;
- in October - 10/01/21, 10/10/21, 10/11/21, 10/20/21, 10/22/21 and 10/31/21;
- in November, the most beautiful date is 11/21/21, but there are three more options - 11/01/21, 11/10/21 and 11/12/21.
There are no rational reasons that a wedding these days will have a favorable effect on the life together of a young family, but the dates look impressive.
