pic_036 The bride and groom have been crowned

pic_036 The bride and groom have been crowned. That’s the moment at which the couple is considered married. The priest explained that these crowns are an imitation of, or symbolic of, a tzar’s crown. Even the word for wedding in the liturgical language of Russian Orthodox church literally means “crowning”.

I like the priest’s pose in this picture. He throws out his hands: that’s it, guys! I’m done! Whatever!

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