Second marriage rite

[Kyra]

Hello Forum Members,

I was wondering if anyone might be able to point me in the direction of a resource containing the Second Marriage Service used in the Orthodox Church.

I understand that it excludes some of the 'joyful' elements of the Marriage Service, and has a more penitential focus with prayers of repentance and forgiveness.

Thank you, In Christ,

Kyra

[Andreas Moran]

Having married a second time, and knowing others who have, my experience is that priests will use the normal marriage service. After all, it was my first marriage to my second wife and her first to anyone! The priests didn't cut out the bits about having children, either, though not relevant.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hello Forum Members,

I was wondering if anyone might be able to point me in the direction of a resource containing the Second Marriage Service used in the Orthodox Church.

I understand that it excludes some of the 'joyful' elements of the Marriage Service, and has a more penitential focus with prayers of repentance and forgiveness.

Thank you, In Christ,

Kyra

About this it would be good to speak to your priest. He could show you the service and explain the differences between it and the 'normal' marriage service.

Otherwise if you have access to it have a look at p 302 onwards of the Service Book in English translated by Isabel Hapgood.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Having married a second time, and knowing others who have, my experience is that priests will use the normal marriage service. After all, it was my first marriage to my second wife and her first to anyone! The priests didn't cut out the bits about having children, either, though not relevant.

This is a good situation for a priest to work out pastorally. If one spouse has had another previous marriage but for the other spouse it is their first marriage- then which service is to be used?

Of course I don't know and thus cannot speak Andreas of how the priest who married you thought of this. But I suspect that the circumstance of being a widower rather than someone divorced, along with it being your wife's first marriage (ie she also has not been divorced) enters into this.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

This is a good situation for a priest to work out pastorally. If one spouse has had another previous marriage but for the other spouse it is their first marriage- then which service is to be used?


I have been taught that if one person of couple to be married has never been married before, then the service of the first marriage should be used. The second marriage service is only used when both parties have been previously married and divorced/widowed. (and of course, in any case, if one or both persons have been previously married, it is necessary for the priest to confirm that there is no barrier - such as the lack of a church divorce or an eptimia from that divorce - which would prevent another marriage)

Fr David Moser

[Andreas Moran]

Lydia and I were married in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London, so I guess they knew what they were doing. My best friend, Andrew, gave Lydia away in the absence of her father. The only thing was that when Andrew approached the priest with Lydia, he started the service, and Andrew and I had to do a quick change of positions else Andrew would have committed bigamy and I would still be a widower!

[Mary]

Lydia and I were married in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London, so I guess they knew what they were doing. My best friend, Andrew, gave Lydia away in the absence of her father. The only thing was that when Andrew approached the priest with Lydia, he started the service, and Andrew and I had to do a quick change of positions else Andrew would have committed bigamy and I would still be a widower!


LOL!! Andreas, that's so funny!! =)