The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
The church is the body of Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the holy sacraments of the Church so that the faithful would be able to receive all of God’s blessings. In other words, a Sacrament (in Greek, a mysterion) is an external, visible sign through which we receive the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit. In our church each one of the seven sacraments is enacted by means of a special church service.
Ա. Եկեղեցին Քրիստոսի մարմինն է՝ բնակուած Սուրբ Հոգիով։ Եւ որպէս, հաւատացեալները կարենան ստանալ Աստուծոյ բարիքները, մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոս հաստատեց Եկեղեցւոյ խորհուրդները։ Մէկ խօսքով ըսուած, Խորհուրդը (որ յունարէն Mysterion-ի բառին համապատասխանն է) արտաքին զգալի նշան մըն է, որուն միջոցաւ, տեսանելի ձեւերու տակ, մենք կը ստանանք Սուրբ Հոգիի անտեսանելի շնորհները։ Մեր եկեղեցւոյ մէջ իւրագանչիւր սահմանուած Խորհուրդը (որոնք թիւով եօթը են) կ՚իրագործուին յատուկ արարողութեամբ (ծէսով) մը։
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony or Marriage is the consecration of the union between a man and a woman for life in lawful marriage. By mutual accord of the man and the woman, they are united together with a spiritual bond to each other and to the Church. To receive the sacrament of Matrimony worthily, it is necessary to be a practicing church member, to know the duties of married life, and to obey the marriage laws of the Church. The couple must be of proper age, physically capable of being married. There must be no close blood relationship.
Պսակի խորհրդի ընթացքին, այր ու կին քահանայի աղօթքով ու Աստուծոյ օրհնութեամբ ընտանիք կազմելու նպատակով կը միաւորուին իբր մէկ մարմին եւ կը ստանան Սուրբ Հոգիի շնորհները, որոնցմով այդ միութիւնը անխախտ դաշինքով կնքուի եւ ամրապնդէ իրենց, որպէսզի համատեղ ապրին իրենց բոլոր օրերը, զաւակներ ունենան եւ իրենց քրիստոնեական ոգիյով դաստիարակեն Աստուծոյ փառքին համար: Եկեղեցին կ’օրհնէ նորապասկներուն միութիւնը, զօրացնելու համար անոնց սիրոյ եւ հաւատարմութեան խոստումը։
Մէկ խօսքով, ամուսնացող զոյգի միութիւնը պսակի արարողութեամբ եւ Աստուծոյ հրամանաւ կը կնքուի եւ այդ պահէն սկսած այր ու կին կը դառնան մէկ ամբողջութիւն՝ կապուած հոգեւոր ուխտով։
Աստուածաշունջ մատեանը կ’ըսէ. «ինչ որ Աստուած միացուց մարդը թող չի բաժնէ» – Մատթէոս 19:6
Guidelines for Wedding
A date shall be set for the solemnization of Holy Matrimony in joint consultation with the Pastor at least three months prior. By Canon Law, no marriage may take place Sunday mornings nor any time during a week of fast, Great Lent, or Holy Week. Marriages may be performed any day and at any time except Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and early Sunday afternoons.
All marriages are to follow the Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and the laws of the State of New Jersey. It is the responsibility of the parties to carry out the requirements of the former and to present a valid license prior to the service.
The Canon Law will be explained by the Pastor. Canon Law requires instruction in Christian marriage as preparation for solemnization and the answering of questions relative to the intention of the parties. It is, therefore, necessary for the bride and groom to meet together with the Pastor by appointment at least three (3) times for this purpose. Per Canon Law in conjunction with Diocesan Directive #346, NO MARRIAGE CAN BE SOLEMNIZED OUTSIDE OF AN ARMENIAN (OR OTHER CHRISTIAN) SANCTUARY.
No Marriage Can Be Solemnized in the Church:
Unless both parties have received Baptism and Confirmation. Where either party has been divorced from a former spouse still living unless a dispensation has been received from ecclesiastical authority (Primate). The Pastor shall explain in detail. Where it is the intention that a second religious service or ceremony shall be performed in another Church or any other place other than the Sanctuary. Unless the Brother-in-the-cross is a baptized member of the Armenian Church. The Maid/Matron of Honor must also be a Christian. Grooms may also choose a “Best Man” if desired. Preferably, the two roles are fulfilled by one person.
Music: Only music appropriate to the solemnity of the Canon of Holy Matrimony may be used during the ceremony. An appropriate list of Armenian Church music may be provided by the Pastor. Soloists and musicians may be invited at the discretion of the Pastor. ALL music must be approved by the Pastor.
Clergy/Guest Clergy: According to the protocol of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church: The Pastor is the one to invite any and all guest clergy. If the guest priest is a member of the Armenian Church, he may be invited to perform the service. In addition, to an Armenian priest, clergymen of a different religious tradition may be invited provided he meets certain requirements. According to the Canons and Armenian traditions, the Pastor will assign to him those portions he deems appropriate. Any priest of a different denomination is an invited guest and not a concelebrant.
Items of Importance:
According to the Canons of the Church, brides must have their heads covered and their faces should be veiled. Brides are presenting themselves in front of the Almighty and should, out of respect for the Holy Sanctuary, be mindful to not have open shoulders or “plunging necklines.” The same is true for the bridesmaids.
A wedding is a sacrament of the Armenian Church and is a public service. No person may be excluded from the church service, except where the invitation to the ceremony itself is issued. If the Pastor and/or other officiating clergyman are to be invited to the wedding reception, an invitation should be sent to the church address.
Note: It should not be expected the Pastor or any clergymen be in attendance at the reception past 10:00 p.m.
Rehearsals: shall be arranged by appointment with the Pastor. Since the Solemnization is a religious service; the Pastor shall have charge of the rehearsals and procedure of the ceremony.
Decorations: Liberty to decorate the Church in any part shall be subject to the following conditions: Arrangements must be made with the florist to carry out the work with the cooperation of the Pastor or with someone the Pastor delegates at an appointed time. No furniture of the Church may be moved from its place. Flowers, plants, and candles may be placed on the floor of the Sanctuary and Chancel in stands or other fit receptacles, and in such a manner as not to obscure the Altar.
Decorations may not be nailed or screwed to the furnishings or attached in any manner likely to damage or to be a fire hazard. The wedding party is responsible to inform their decorator or florist of the above parameters and guidelines.
Photographs may be taken at any time during the ceremony. At no time nor for any reason will the photographer ascend the steps of the Altar or be at the Altar itself.
Ushering and any necessary control of traffic shall be arranged by the families involved.