Order for Blessing a Couple Who Have Lived Together
for Many Years Without Church Marriage
(approved by the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on December 9-12, 2011).
An analogion is placed in the middle of the church, and on it are set the Gospel-book and a cross.� The man standeth before it on the right side, and the woman on the left.� The priest, having vested in phelonion, maketh the sign of the Cross, thrice, on the heads of the couple, as is prescribed for the rite of a first marriage, and giveth them lighted candles.� And he beginneth:
������Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
[Reader]:� Holy God� through our Father�
Then the troparion of the day is read or chanted.� Then this litany followeth:
[Deacon]: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!� (And they respond thus to each of the deacon�s petitions.)
������For the peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
������For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy Churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
������For this holy temple, and for all who with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
������For the servants of God N and N, and that God may protect them and their life together, let us pray to the Lord.
������That they may dwell together in goodness and in oneness of mind, let us pray to the Lord.
������That they may be granted pardon of transgressions, remission of sins, and the forgiveness of their iniquities, voluntary and involuntary, let us pray to the Lord.
������Help us, save us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
������Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, and all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
������Choir:� To Thee, O Lord.
������Priest:� For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship:� to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
������Choir:�� Amen
The deacon then saith:� Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!
And the priest reciteth this prayer:
������O Master, Lord our God, Who knowest the secret things of men, Who forgavest Rahab the harlot and didst accept the repentance of the publican: Be not mindful of our sins of ignorance, committed from the time of our youth. For if thou shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall withstand Thee, or what flesh will be justified in Thy sight?� For Thou alone art righteous, sinless, holy, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, and dost repent of the evils of men. O Master Who didst bring thy servants N and N together, do Thou unite them one to another in love, and grant them the publican's change of heart and the tears of the harlot, that, repenting with all their heart, and doing Thy commandments in oneness of mind and peace, they may also be accounted worthy of Thy heavenly kingdom.
������Exclamation:� For Thou art the Arranger of all things, and unto Thee do we send up glory�to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit�now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir]: Amen.
The priest then blesseth them thrice, saying:
������O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!
Then follow the readings of the Epistle and Gospel, as prescribed for a first marriage, after which the deacon intoneth this litany:
Deacon:� Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say:
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!
Deacon:� O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!
Deacon:� Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!� (thrice)
Deacon:� Again we pray for the servants of God, N and N, who now ask of Him forgiveness, for His blessing upon their union in matrimony, and for their health and salvation, let us say: O Lord, hearken, and mercifully have mercy.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!� (thrice)
Deacon:� Again we pray for the people present in this holy temple, who hope to receive of Thee great and rich mercy, for all our brethren and for all Orthodox Christians, for their health and salvation, let us all say: O Lord, hearken, and mercifully have mercy.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!� (thrice)
Priest:� For a merciful God art Thou Who lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory�to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit�now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir:� Lord, have mercy!
������������������O Lord our God, Who didst betroth the Church as a pure virgin from among the nations, bless and preserve these Thy servants in humility and unity, as Thou hast been well pleased to preserve them to this day.� Fulfill all their good desires; pour forth upon them Thy rich mercies and compassions, in that Thou art compassionate.� Grant them health and length of days, and prosperity in all the virtues.
������Exclamation: For Thou art the good God Who loveth mankind, and all glory, honor and worship is due unto Thee�the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit�now and ever,, and unto the ages of ages.�
������May the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial and life-creating Trinity, the one Godhead and Kingdom, bless you; and may He grant you length of days, prosperity of life, and faith; and may He provide you with all good things on earth; and may He vouchsafe that ye receive the good things of heaven which He hath promised: through the supplications of the all-holy Theotokos and of all the saints.
Choir:� Amen.
Priest:� Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Choir: More honorable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word:� the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Priest:� Glory to Thee, O Christ God, glory to Thee!
Choir:� Glory�, Now & ever�� Lord, have mercy! (thrice)� Father, bless.
������May Christ our true God, Who by His attendance in Cana of Galilee showed marriage to be honorable, have mercy and save us, through the supplications of His all-pure Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-praised apostles, of the holy, divinely crowned rulers Constantine and Helen, the equals of the apostles, of the holy great-martyr Procopius, and of all the saints, in that He is good and loveth mankind.
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