CIMG2428 P and M walk, lead by the priest

CIMG2428 As the final part of the wedding ceremony, the priest leads the bride and the groom in a walk around the altar. M is carrying the candles, whereas P is carrying the priest’s ceremonial cloth. They walk around the altar four times. The priest mentions that this is the same ritual as performed when a man becomes a priest. Just like a couple is married to each other, a priest is married to the church.

My sister’s wedding took place in the Orthodox church of Our Lady of the Sign in Vilnius, Lithuania, in May of 2006.