In the old days, when only church marriages were concluded, there could be no question of a wedding without parental blessing. Even if the bride and groom were secretly engaged without parental consent, they would then try to earn their forgiveness and at least retroactively receive a blessing for the marriage. It was believed that only in this case their marriage will be truly pleasing to God. Now marriages are registered not in the church, but in the offices of the registry office. Nevertheless, in Orthodox families there is still a rite of parental blessing.
Instructions
Step 1
Before registering a marriage, the groom's parents should bless their son, and the bride's parents should bless their daughter. This must be done before the groom arrives for the bride and the ransom ceremony begins, that is, every family does this at home.
Step 2
The father and mother of the groom are supposed to stand close to each other, directly opposite the son, while the father must hold an icon depicting Christ. According to religious canons, the groom is supposed to kneel with a blessing. The father baptizes his son with the icon three times, after which he gives the icon to the mother. She does exactly the same thing. After that, the groom is supposed to overshadow himself with the sign of the cross and venerate the face of Christ (that is, kiss the icon).
Step 3
The same ceremony should be performed by the father and mother of the bride in her home. Only instead of an icon depicting Christ, they bless their daughter with an icon of the Mother of God.
Step 4
After the ransom of the bride is completed, everyone goes to the wedding ceremony. If, after the registry office, a wedding is held in the church, the parents of the newlyweds are supposed to stand behind them on both sides. The father and mother of the groom take the place closer to the son, the parents of the bride, respectively, closer to the daughter. As soon as the sacrament of the marriage is completed, the groom's parents return home to prepare for the meeting of the young husband and wife.
Step 5
Before the young people enter the house or another room, the husband's parents once again bless them with an icon, after which they bring them a traditional treat: a wedding loaf (bread and salt). By tradition, the young should take turns taking a bite from it.
Step 6
People who are weak in adherence to religious canons, and even atheists, often also bless their children before the wedding. Only this rite is performed without the use of icons, and has a rather symbolic role: wishes to the young for happiness and a long, friendly life in marriage.
