Orthodox Greek wedding ceremonies have always been rich in ritual and symbolism for more than two thousand years. Christian Orthodox symbols define values important to the wife and husband to-be in their new life together, values such as love, respect, sacrifice, and equality.

I was fortunate to attend a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding in the picturesque town of Skaloma. Skaloma is built on the hills of Nafpaktia, overlooking the Corinthian Bay, just ten miles east of the historic city of Nafpaktos. The quaint chapel of Transfiguration of Our Savior made a notable presence on the edge of the rocky cliff, surrounded by olive and pine trees, against the backdrop of the deep blue waters of the Corinthian Bay. The chapel was simple in architecture, painted white with a blue dome, and an imposing rustic wrought iron cross on the vertex gave the impression of a rather old chapel. The main hall was surrounded by Byzantine icons and illuminated by a gilded chandelier that transformed it into a glorious chamber. A colorful silk rug, two large scale, plain, but elegant iron-candelabras were decorated with a long vale and ivory roses. All guests were following the ceremony at the masterfully built flagstone forecourt, as the 400 square feet chamber was only big enough for immediate family members of the groom and bride.

The wedding ceremony is divided into two parts. The Betrothal and the Sacrament of Marriage. The Betrothal includes the blessing of the rings, and the “koumparo” (best-man or best-woman or couple’s religious sponsor) exchanges the rings three times, which is a symbolic ritual signifying the mystical presence of the Holy Trinity, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage includes the crowning or “stefana,’’ and the groom and bride are blessed as the King and Queen of their home. The stefana are exchanged three times over the couple’s heads and are adjoined with a ribbon. After the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel, the Common Cup blessing takes place. The Gospel reading refers to the marriage of Cana at Galilee. At this wedding, Jesus performed his first miracle and transformed water into wine, which was then given to the newlyweds. Similarly, the cup contains red wine, and the groom and bride are each asked to drink three times from the same cup, which symbolizes the mutual sharing of joy and sorrow in their common life. The last part of the ceremony is the wedding dance, which is a circled walk, and the couple is showered with rice and rose petals, symbolizing love and longevity. At the end of the ceremony, wedding candies or “koufeta” are offered to all guests. The candies are sweet and white a symbol of purity, and egg shaped a symbol of fertility.

It was, indeed, a rare experience to witness the sunsets on the Corinthian Bay from the quaint chapel of Transfiguration of Our Savior, built on the edge of a rocky cliff and echoed by beautiful Byzantine hymns. The timeless scenic images and the ceremony have been the same divine rite for centuries!