Do pregnant women get married? Is it possible to get married while pregnant?
A wedding is a sacrament that Christians must perform in order to enter into a marital relationship. Nowadays, not everyone adheres to strict canons. Some decide to start a family after the start of sexual relations. Often the cause is pregnancy of the partner. Should a pregnant woman get married or is it better to postpone the ceremony?
There are several reasons why people postpone their wedding:
- one of the spouses did not believe. The Church recognizes state-registered marriages and does not consider them fornication;
- partners postpone the sacrament to check their feelings;
- man and woman lead sinful lives.
Often when spouses, cohabitants or lovers find out that God has blessed them with a child, their attitude towards the wedding changes. They want to receive God's blessing. The Church welcomes such decisions. After all, the sacrament of wedding will make relationships blissful and stop sinful life.
Attention. Pregnancy is God's blessing. This is how the Lord shows his favor. Believers should feel gratitude for the gift they have received.
When is it possible and not?
You can get married at any time. The Church views this decision favorably:
- Unmarried couples will stop living in sin.
- Registered couples receive God's blessing during the ceremony.
- The child will be born into a family favored by the Lord.
A pregnant woman is considered pure before God. Therefore, if she has a desire and her health allows, then she simply needs to get married. However, you cannot force your partner to undergo the ceremony. During the sacrament, a person must be open to God, understand that he is receiving a blessing, and not perform an unpleasant duty.
You should not reproach an unbelieving spouse if they refuse to get married to please their significant other or for the sake of public performance of a beautiful ritual. Christ called not to be a hypocrite. Everything should be done only for the sake of serving the Lord and loving him.
Important. Before the wedding, you must register with the registry office, otherwise the priest may refuse the ceremony. A wedding is not recognized by law as the conclusion of a marriage union and does not lead to the emergence of marital obligations and property rights from the point of view of the state.
Why do this?
Once upon a time, a wedding was the only way to get married. However, now there is registration, so non-believers can formalize their relationship without a church. It is necessary to get married, obeying spiritual needs. The goal of a believer is to please the Lord and receive his blessing; there should be no other reasons.
During the sacrament, partners show the following:
- relationships are important to them and they want to be together forever. A church marriage is almost impossible to dissolve;
- family is of paramount importance, and newlyweds are ready to sacrifice earthly goods for it;
- the person decided to curb passions, not cheat on his soul mate and give up jealousy.
Married couples strive to raise their children in harmony and faith, according to church canons.
Some spouses who have been married for many years claim that their relationship has improved after the ceremony. Even in successful couples, mutual understanding rises to a new level. But this happens only if both partners are ready to tie themselves with church ties and realize the importance of observing church rules.
Important. A wedding is not insurance against problems in the family. Even after the sacrament, some decide to abandon their family. There are also hypocrites who use the sacrament for profit. In any case, if a person participates in the sacrament with a pure heart and with love for God and his partner, he receives the favor of heaven.
How is the wedding of an Orthodox woman carried out?
The sacrament is a very long process and takes several days. It takes place in several stages:
- The future spouses confess and receive communion; this can be done the day before.
- An engagement takes place, during which the bride and groom are told about the importance of marriage and weddings, and the rules of living together.
- The wedding ceremony itself is carried out, during which the clergyman prays and asks for God’s blessing. The sacrament in full rite lasts more than forty minutes. Some priests perform the ceremony for several hours.
Before the wedding, it is necessary to observe strict fasting for three days and renounce worldly pleasures. Pregnant women should eat well. It is permissible for them to weaken during fasting.
When can you not undergo the ceremony and why?
There are several church holidays on which the church does not hold weddings. There's no need to worry about this. The priest will take these events into account when he sets the date for the ceremony. It is also worth considering that you cannot get married if at least one of the partners:
- took a vow of celibacy;
- is in a civil or church marriage;
- does not believe in God or professes another religion;
- Already married three times.
Also, blood relatives and people who are in a spiritual relationship (godchildren with godparents) cannot tie the knot.
Attention! It is important that a pregnant woman feels good and is healthy. If you experience nausea, it will be difficult to concentrate on the sacrament. There is no point in delaying the wedding either. In recent months, it is difficult to stand during the ceremony.
Rules for passing during pregnancy
Before the wedding, notify the priest about the special situation of the bride. There are several options for conducting the sacrament, and the priest can choose a shorter one. In addition, some preparatory steps can be carried out on another day. You can get engaged before the wedding, or have a separate ceremony. Previously, the betrothal ceremony was carried out several months and even years before the wedding.
Make sure feeling good. Visit a doctor and let him find out whether the woman can stand for several hours. Postpone the ceremony in the following cases:
- if an epidemic of dangerous infectious diseases or influenza has begun;
- the doctor has diagnosed pregnancy pathologies that can lead to deterioration in health or miscarriage;
- on early stages suffers from toxicosis. The smell of incense can trigger an attack of nausea.
If your health and epidemiological situation allow, attend several services, make sure you are able to withstand a long time in church. This last piece of advice does not apply to women who regularly attend worship services and live their lives in full compliance with church rules.
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In the life of every person, certain changes occur from time to time. This is especially true for women: there are certain days of the month during which women are prohibited from visiting the temple. There is also such a period as pregnancy, which is also associated with a large number of different superstitions and signs. Many women ask the question: is it possible for pregnant women to go to church?
There are different opinions about whether pregnant women should go to church. Many arguments do not stand up to any criticism, especially from the Church. Orthodoxy does not recognize any superstitions and will accept them. The Church supports only faith in God. At the same time, belief in superstitions is considered a sin.
Previously, many explained the ban on pregnant women attending church by saying that they tried to protect her from prying eyes. At this time the only reason, why pregnant women should not go to church can only be the presence of bleeding after childbirth or 40 days after a miscarriage. It should stop after 40 days. Next, a certain rite of introduction into the temple will be performed for the woman.
Other contraindications to visiting church include:
- the reluctance of the pregnant woman herself to visit the temple;
- the physical condition of the pregnant woman, sometimes it happens that the woman is prescribed bed rest and it is difficult for her to stay in church for a long time;
- toxicosis or individual intolerance to odors.
Another unpleasant sensation is that staying on your feet for a long time can cause swelling. In this case, you should sit down and relax. Also, a confined space and large crowds of people can cause headaches and dizziness. That is why it is worth taking water and antispasmodics with you. Remember that the main task during this period is the baby’s health.
Pregnant women can come to the house of God only to light a candle, confess, receive communion, or receive a blessing. It is not necessary for them to advocate for services.
Often in church you can hear a certain word that refers to a pregnant woman. What do they call a pregnant woman in church? This word is “not idle.” It means that the woman is in a state opposite to celebration. She has always been treated with a certain care and caution, because she carries and protects a new life.
Is it possible for a pregnant woman to get married in church?
Previously, having sex before marriage was considered a huge sin. IN modern world this is no longer given such great importance. There are all sorts of situations in life, and one of them is when the bride is already pregnant. It’s one thing when newlyweds simply legitimize their relationship, but what to do if they decide to get married?
Many clergy say that it is not only possible, but also necessary. It is with a wedding that you need to begin your married life. The gestational age is absolutely irrelevant. Although the church also recognizes those marriages that were registered in the registry office and does not consider them to be lascivious. The Holy Fathers say that a wedding gives a certain grace to the family and there is no point in delaying this ceremony. Before holding it, you should confess and take communion. In addition, weddings are performed only on baptized people.
Pregnancy and christening
It happens that for some reason a pregnant woman is not baptized, but expresses a desire for this ceremony to be performed on her. In this case, this must be done. This procedure gives a special gift to a person, helping him to be spiritually born again. There are no prohibitions for a pregnant woman. What to do if you are in a position and you have been offered to become a godmother.
Can a pregnant woman baptize someone else's child in church? The answer to this question must be given by the pregnant woman herself. The church does not forbid her to take part in this ritual. But she may experience certain inconveniences:
- Long procces,
- staying on your feet for a large amount of time,
- holding a “difficult” baby or toddler in your arms,
- specific smells during the ritual.
Many, in order to avoid these troubles, invite a priest to their home and perform the baptism ceremony there. So only the pregnant woman should make a decision, taking into account all the negative and positive aspects.
Church opinion about pregnant women at funerals
In the life of every person, both pleasant and upsetting moments can occur. Sometimes one life appears, and we say goodbye to another. Many people say that losing loved one, in return the Lord gives us something more valuable. Opinions about the presence of pregnant women at funerals vary. Not only the need for presence must be taken into account, but also the moral and mental state of the pregnant woman.
Since this event is not particularly pleasant, it can cause harm. The clergy say that pregnancy is not a contraindication for attending a funeral. They say that the Lord's Blessing is bestowed on those who do not forget their deceased ancestors and relatives. You should go to such an event out of good intentions, and not under duress.
The same applies to the attitude towards the presence of pregnant women in the church and in the cemetery. Many “knowledgeable” grandmothers say that attending funerals and cemeteries can negatively affect a pregnant woman, as well as her child. The clergy say that all this has no confirmation.
They say that a person should decide for himself whether to go to a cemetery or not. If such a trip causes the expectant mother negative emotions, as well as experiences, then you should abandon it. A pregnant woman should receive as much positivity as possible, since the condition of the child depends on her emotional state.
There is a saying that pregnancy is not a disease, but a state of mind and body. Before making any decision to visit a particular place, you should listen to your feelings. If in doubt, postpone the trip or event. After all, first of all, you should think about the health of your baby.
The Lord is always with you!
There are often cases when, during the registration of a marriage at the registry office and the wedding ceremony in a church, the future wife is in an interesting position. That is why, among those wishing to get married, questions arise regarding relations of the Orthodox Church for the wedding of women expecting a child.
How does the church feel about the wedding of pregnant women?
If Orthodox Christians get married, their desire to seal their marriage with a wedding is quite natural. Thus, those getting married want their offspring to have God's blessing. But what can you do, is it possible to get married while pregnant if the bride is expecting a child before the wedding? Or did you find out about an interesting situation shortly before the sacrament?
There are many opinions on this matter. One of them boils down to the fact that sex before marriage is debauchery, and that is why a pregnant woman is prohibited from getting married. Others are sure that it is easy to receive a church blessing at any stage of pregnancy.
There is an opinion that a baby should come into this world from married parents. But lovers entering into family life, should not take into account the point of view of ordinary people, but consult on this matter with a temple minister. Clergy explain to parishioners that a wedding is the spiritual sanctification of the family life of the newlyweds. And the church has the right to bless the newlyweds.
According to church canons, family life begins with the sacrament of wedding. So the newlyweds are blessed by God for happy life together and vow not to separate under any circumstances.
Special wedding occasions
If non-Christians get married, then the church recognizes their unmarried union as legal. But the marriage must be concluded in the country of residence. The basis of the union of young people in this case is loyalty to each other. If in such a marriage only one of the spouses is a believer, the church does not allow such a marriage to be destroyed. One spouse prays for the other.
Regarding pregnancy, is it possible to perform a wedding ceremony at any stage of pregnancy? The Church believes that the wedding of young people during a woman’s pregnancy is not a sin, because the birth of a new life is a Divine secret. Priests recommend not to look for the reasons for the misfortune in the fact that the bride got married while pregnant.
Features of a wedding during pregnancy
The Church allows those who are pregnant to get married. But expectant mothers should definitely attend church services. As for the ritual itself, a woman should carefully monitor her well-being. After all, the ceremony itself takes 40–60 minutes, and the couple endures it while standing on their feet.
Sometimes pregnant women don't feel very well. They may have pressure surges. Then the church ministers offer the woman to sit on a bench. You can take ammonia and tablets with you to normalize blood pressure. A wedding dress should be comfortable. It should not tighten the chest and stomach.
Before performing the sacred sacrament, the couple must confess and receive communion. The priest who will conduct the ceremony must be informed about the woman’s situation. If everything is ready, you can go for God's blessing. It is also advisable to go to the temple 40 days after giving birth. This is necessary so that the priest reads the woman’s prayers. Then you can come to the temple for the baptism of the child.
Couples who are not married by the church
During pregnancy, couples living in a civil marriage cannot perform a wedding ceremony.
But there are other restrictions:
- wedding is prohibited if the lovers were not baptized or not Christians;
- marriage takes place for the fourth time;
- if one of the spouses is officially married to another person;
- Blood relatives cannot marry. If none of the above applies to lovers, the couple can calmly get married in order to become husband and wife not only before people, but also before God.
Preparation for the wedding
Sometimes people are concerned about such a question as preparing for the sacrament. Compared to ancient times, weddings are carried out somewhat differently. Therefore, young people are obliged to know about traditions:
- both in the old days and today, the bride and groom are obliged to confess and receive communion;
- fasting for three days is required, as well as reading prayers before the wedding;
- on the eve of the ceremony, the holy father talks with young people, instructs them on the true path;
- For the ceremony, it is recommended to buy icons of the Savior - the groom and the Mother of God-bride. Typically, they are carried to the ceremony by their parents;
- purchased for wedding wedding rings. It is better to buy the rest (candles, towel) directly in the church.
After the registry office to the temple
The best option would be to get married in a church after the wedding ceremony at the registry office. In this case, everything will take place according to Orthodox norms. Religious Christians are convinced that giving birth to children before marriage is a great sin. They get married while pregnant. After all, the Bible says that a married woman is clean during childbirth. They will pass easily, and the baby will come into this world healthy.
Pregnancy after wedding receives the blessing of the Lord. WITH at this moment baby and parents are bound in a sacred bond in heaven. Before giving birth future mom should go to church. Before giving birth, it is better to receive the priest’s blessing, confess and receive communion.
But within 40 days after the baby arrives At birth, a woman in labor has no right to visit the temple. Only after this period of time has passed can a woman cross the threshold of the church.
There is an opinion that a pregnant woman cannot get married in a church. What is the reason for these rumors? Sometimes one of the spouses is against the wedding. Therefore, a forced wedding will not lead to anything good. This is recognized as a sin. Spouses will live happily ever after only by mutual decision. There are no other barriers to a woman getting married during pregnancy.
Today, the attitude of young people towards this sacrament has changed somewhat. Couples are increasingly bonding before God, but this does not always show that the younger generation is serious about marriage.
Why perform a wedding sacrament?
Many couples who got married in the registry office believe that going to the altar is not at all necessary. Especially if the family is already waiting for the baby. But the fact is that time passes, views on the worldview change, and people receive more and more traditions from the West. There, relationships are formalized after conception or after the birth of a baby.
If the future spouses are believers, they decide to get married. If the sacrament is performed in a family where one of the newlyweds is not an adherent of Orthodox rites, then the second spouse prays for his health and success. By spiritual standards this family is complete and deserves God's blessing.
To the question whether it is possible to get married while pregnant, the answer is unequivocal - it is possible. But if the spouses believed in God while married and decided to get married by mutual consent and their own will, and not under pressure modern society, then pregnancy cannot be an obstacle to this intention. After all, Christian families are created in order to be support and support for each other and to continue their family line.
Times change, and customs, traditions and even beliefs change in accordance with them. Just a century ago, marriages were sanctified exclusively by the church and said to be “made in heaven.” Then the time came for the registry office - and it became possible to both conclude and dissolve a marriage within a few minutes.
However, in last years More and more young people, after the official wedding, are heading back to church for a wedding. Everyone's motives are different:
- someone sincerely believes;
- someone is attracted by the sacrament of wedding;
- someone else expects that church ties will be stronger than civil ones.
As a rule, at a wedding we see the bride in a dazzling white dress and veil, which symbolize innocence, purity, and virginity. True, it is no secret that in most cases a man and a woman enter into sexual relations much earlier than marriage. And an unplanned pregnancy often forces them to think about marriage.
There are not so many young people who are deeply religious - because otherwise, things would not have come to an unplanned pregnancy. It is worth recognizing that for some of them, a wedding is just a beautiful ceremony, because quite often brides and grooms not only do not know a single prayer, but also do not know how to be baptized. And the church, most likely, is visited at most once or twice a year.
In addition, there are many women who are not particularly impressionable and walk down the aisle in a white dress with a veil, being deeply pregnant. And they don’t have any questions or doubts, and in the event of possible failures in family life, they are unlikely to look for the reason that they got married in a church, hiding their pregnancy from the priest.
It happens the other way around - young people who will soon become parents want to get married, but, having heard enough horror stories that by conceiving a child outside a church-sanctified marriage, they have committed a sin, they do not risk appearing in church for fear of aggravating it. Some women who did not notify the priest of their pregnancy and got married and had a sick child tend to blame themselves for the rest of their lives.
So is it possible for pregnant women to get married?
What does the Church think?
Wedding is a sacrament with which all Orthodox Christians should begin their married life. However, if a man and a woman are not such, that is, they are not church people, but entered into marriage according to the laws of their country and live a family life, the Church recognizes their unmarried marriage as legal and inviolable and does not consider these man and woman to be prodigal cohabitants.
But if both spouses believe and want to get married, then the Church only welcomes this, because a wedding is not just a rite, but God’s blessing to the husband and wife for their future family life. A pregnant woman, no matter what month of pregnancy she is in, also receives a blessing for marriage during the wedding, and it is impossible to see anything bad here.
People who say that getting married while pregnant is a great sin are deeply mistaken.
After all, the great secret of the birth of a new life is the Divine secret that a woman carries within herself. Fornication and adultery are considered sins, not pregnancy. True, you can often hear that the priest of one church or another refused to marry a couple where the bride was pregnant. It is not right. After all, the main thing is that young people believed and turned for God’s blessing even before the birth of the child.
The church has the right to refuse a wedding if young people have not previously registered the marriage in the registry office, since there are cases when a man or woman hides the fact that they are already married to another person. Therefore, before conducting a wedding ceremony in a church, it is necessary to present a marriage certificate, which was issued by authorities representing the state.
When can a wedding be denied?
There are some other restrictions according to which a wedding may be refused:
- if young people are not baptized in Orthodoxy;
- if they are close relatives or spiritual relatives (for example, godfathers).
The sacrament of weddings is not performed on certain days: on days of fasting, on Maslenitsa or Easter weeks, etc. A child, according to Orthodoxy, is God’s gift, therefore, if young people - Christians who have entered into a legal marriage, are expecting a child and want to get married, the priest has no right to refuse them, but on the contrary, he must give them God’s blessing.
The wedding ceremony is a great sacrament that gives the new family a blessing for the union. Many couples who are officially married go to church to get married. There are also situations when the bride undergoes this ceremony, being in an interesting position.
In what cases can you get married?
Uninformed people believe that it is impossible to get married during pregnancy, since the child was conceived without officially registering the marriage. And if new life originated when the parents were already legal husband and wife, then they continue to claim that an intimate relationship is a sin, and it is not worth putting its results on public display, much less going to church and taking part in any rituals.
In fact, a pregnant woman is considered already blessed if a new little man can be born in her womb. Therefore, you should not pay attention to the opinions of others. A representative of any church will immediately approve the spouses’ decision to get married if the woman is in an interesting position.
It is better to schedule a wedding as early as possible, if by this time you can have time to prepare well for it. It is worth remembering that over time it becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to go out somewhere, much less stand for a long time (a wedding ceremony lasts at least 60 minutes). Therefore, the determining date for the wedding will be the one when the woman feels good and finds the strength to carry out the wedding ceremony in accordance with all the canons of the Orthodox Church. This means that, in addition to the hour-long sacrament itself, the spouses will have to participate in the Divine Liturgy, which can last up to 4 hours.
Not every pregnant woman is able to withstand such a long procedure due to toxicosis, aching pain in the lower back, legs and head. Therefore, before deciding to get married while pregnant, you need to assess your physical strength.
It is possible and necessary to get married if both spouses who entered into an official union (having a marriage certificate) are true believers, show mutual respect for each other and both want to be married.
An essential requirement: before performing the ritual, it is necessary to confess and take communion, and then observe a three-day fast. But for pregnant women, the last requirement is canceled, since they need to eat well so that the baby receives all the substances it needs.
Confession is mandatory for everyone who wants to be married. Some people are embarrassed to tell the priest some stories from their lives, however, the church representative will always listen carefully to the confessor and find the right words to support him and inspire him to further life according to God’s law. After this you can take communion.
In a number organizational issues It is discussed with representatives of the church how many people will be present at the wedding ceremony, the exact date and time of its holding. While waiting for the sacrament to be performed, a woman must pray to the Mother of God that the wedding take place on time and in accordance with all church rules.
The question of whether it is worth holding a wedding ceremony when a new addition is expected to the family, each couple decides for themselves independently. There are no canonical prohibitions on performing the sacrament during pregnancy. Modern young people in general often register a relationship only after they learn about the imminent arrival of a baby or when the child has already been born. Therefore, getting married during pregnancy is now a fairly common occurrence.
Believing partners, as a rule, want to get married. If one of the spouses is a representative of a different faith, but sincerely wants to be married, the priest will give the go-ahead for the ceremony. In this case, the non-Christian will pray for the well-being of his soulmate. Such a family, from the point of view of church canons, is also complete.
When should you not do this?
You cannot perform a wedding ceremony if one of the spouses is against it. A forced wedding, under the pressure of the other half, parents, paying tribute to fashion, is not allowed. Both the man and the woman must consent to the wedding only based on their personal voluntary motives. The priest will ask about free will during the preliminary conversation. Also, you can’t get married when you want it. There are days when wedding ceremonies are not held. These include: fasting, Christmas Eves of major holidays, Wednesday and Friday (fast days), Christmastide.
You can find out more about the days allowed for a wedding by checking with the church where you are going to hold the sacrament. Only Orthodox baptized spouses can get married.
The following are not allowed at the wedding ceremony:
- representatives of other beliefs;
- persons who have not officially registered their marriage (exception - official registration is scheduled for the day after the wedding sacrament);
- non-believers;
- relatives;
- minors;
- people in an undissolved marriage;
- unbaptized;
- people getting married, fourth and subsequent times;
- people with mental disorders.
In exceptional situations, a representative of the church may agree to conduct a wedding ceremony with a representative of a different faith, if the children born in this marriage are baptized and raised according to the laws of the Orthodox faith.
Preparation for the sacrament
All church sacraments (including weddings) must be approached as seriously and responsibly as possible. Preparing for a wedding can be roughly divided into two stages.
The first stage is organizational. This includes: setting a wedding date, choosing clothes for the ceremony, purchase of all necessary attributes:
- wedding rings (gold for men and silver for women; wedding engagement rings can also be used, but the priest must consecrate them before the ceremony);
- candles;
- icon of the Savior and the Mother of God;
- two snow-white towels.
Spouses must have crosses with them.
Second stage of preparation– internal self-improvement. At this stage, it is assumed that both spouses will go to confession before the wedding and then receive communion. At confession, everyone must tell the clergyman about their sins before the Savior and loved ones, and sincerely repent of them. Before taking the sacrament, it is necessary to fast (to the extent possible) and read prayers.
The severity of fasting is determined for each person individually, taking into account the person’s proximity to the church, his state of health, the characteristics of his living conditions and other factors. For pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, fasting is not as strict as prescribed in church rules.
How will the wedding be held?
The wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church is conventionally divided into two stages: introductory and the action itself.
The introductory stage involves the betrothal of the spouses as confirmation of mutual promises. The betrothal takes place after the Divine Liturgy. The meaning of this action: the husband accepts his wife from the Lord. Accordingly, as soon as the clergyman introduced the couple into the church, their new living together According to divine laws, it is considered to have begun. After this, the church minister blesses the spouses three times (in turn). They, in turn, are baptized, and then accept lighted candles from the priest. This attribute has several symbolic meanings: symbol of pure love, chastity, God's grace.
The priest walks around with a censer and reads a prayer for the betrothed: about blessings for posterity and the accomplishment of good deeds, about the fulfillment of petitions related to the salvation of the soul. At this time, everyone in the church bows their heads. Next, the priest one by one puts rings on the spouses and crosses them three times. Then the husband and wife exchange these attributes three times (symbol of the Holy Trinity). The priest reads a prayer for blessing the wedding couple and sending them a Guardian Angel who will protect them and guide them on the right path in a new, pure life. The first stage of the wedding is considered completed.
The second part of the wedding begins when the newlyweds stand in the middle of the church with candles in their hands. The priest walks with a censer, and the choir sings Psalm No. 127. The newlyweds stand on the towel and answer the priest’s questions related to the voluntary expression of will to perform the ceremony and the absence of promises about the marriage given to third parties. The priest makes the sign of the cross over the young people (one by one) using crowns. After this, the groom kisses the image of the Savior on his headdress, and the bride kisses the image of the Mother of God on hers. Crowns are placed on the heads of spouses. The priest reads a prayer 3 times and blesses new family. Then an excerpt from the Gospel of John is read, concerning the newly formed union, a prayer for harmony in relationships, honesty towards each other, and life according to church commandments.
Then all those present, together with the young people, read the prayer “Our Father” (you should know it by heart). The priest brings a bowl of Cahors and blesses it. The husband drinks the wine first - he does this three times. Then the spouse repeats similar actions. The priest takes the young man’s right hands, covers them with the stole and places his palm on top, which symbolizes the transfer of his wife to the man from the church. Three times the young people walk around the lectern - a symbol of a common destiny for two.
The crowns are removed from the young. A church representative congratulates the couple. Prayers are read, listening to them, the spouses bow their heads. When the priest has finished reading, as a symbol of the birth of a new Christian family, the spouses give each other a short kiss. At the end of the wedding, the newlyweds are brought to the royal doors, where everyone must kiss their icon (the husband - the Savior, the bride - the Mother of God), and then exchange. Then the spouses kiss the cross offered by a representative of the church, and receive two icons, considered the main amulets of the family, for lifelong storage.
To find out whether it is possible to get married while pregnant, watch the following video.