Mystery of Crowning: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberDecember 2022}}

The '''Mystery of Crowning''' is a ritual component of the [[sacrament]] of marriage in [[Eastern Christianity]]. Variations of the crowning ceremony exist in multiple [[Ritual family|liturgical rites]], including the [[Byzantine Rite|Byzantine]], [[Coptic Rite|Coptic]], [[West Syriac Rite|West Syriac]], and [[East Syriac Rite]]s of the [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Oriental Orthodox]], and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]]. The crowning ceremony typically features a [[crown]] being placed upon the head of both the bride and bridegroom, crowning them as the queen and king of a new family.<ref name=SOR>{{cite web|url=https://syriacorthodoxresources.org/Liturgy/Matrimony/LiturgyInBrief.html|title=The Sacrament of Matrimony: The Liturgy in Brief|work=Syriac Orthodox Resources|publisher=[[Catholic University of America]]|access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>

InAmong [[Early Christianity|early Christians]], the [[paganism|pagan]] origins of crowning during marriage resulted in opposition, including from [[Tertullian]]. However, the practice gained acceptance as it was associated with [[Biblical]] and Christianized conceptions of victory.; [[Paul the Apostle]], had in his [[Second Epistle to Timothy]], refersreferred to a "Crown of Righteousness" as the eternal reward for righteous persons. and [[John Chrysostom]] viewsviewed the crown as a symbol of victory over "unregulated sexuality."<ref name=COE>{{cite web|url=https://bethkokheh.assyrianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Commentary-on-the-Rite-of-Marriage.pdf|title=The Structure Commentary on the Rite of Marriage in the Assyrian Church of East|first=William|last=Toma|work=Church of Beth Kokheh Journal|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>{{rp|19}}

The Mystery of Crowning according to the [[Byzantine Rite]] is a lengthy ceremony, the second rite of marriage after a [[betrothal]] ceremony. The celebrating priest places the crowns upon first the bridegroom then the bride.<ref>{{cite book|title=Euchologion (Trebnyk): A Byzantine Ritual|location=[[Hamtramck, Michigan|Hamtramck]], [[Michigan|MI]]|edition=2nd rev.|editor-last=Wysochansky|editor-first=Demetrius|publisher=Basilian Press|date=1986}}</ref> After this, it is traditional for the couple to sip from a glass of previously blessed wine and exchange a single kiss.<ref name=CE/> The glass can then be broken in what has been described as a symbol of indissoluble union and compared to a similar [[Jewish wedding#Breaking the glass|Jewish wedding ritual]].<ref name=COE/>{{rp|18}} The Byzantine crowning is considered the basis of crowning rituals in the [[Coptic Rite]] and other [[Ritual family|liturgical families]]. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], it has been traditionally prohibited from occurring during [[Lent]].<ref name=CE>{{cite book|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09703b.htm|chapter=Ritual of Marriage|title=Catholic Encyclopedia|date=1910|author=[[Herbert Thurston|Thurston, Herbert]]|publisher=Robert Appleton Company|location=New York City|via=NewAdvent|access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>

The [[Maronite Church]], a [[West Syriac Rite]] Eastern Catholic Churchchurch, celebrates the two marriage services of betrothal and crowning. In Maronite practice, the Mystery of Crowning is also called "The Rite of Legal Crowning". The liturgy of the crowning is accompanied by multiple prayers, [[Psalms]], and [[hymn]]s that intend to emphasize the solemnity of the service; [[Ephrem the Syrian]]'s "Christ the Heavenly Bridegroom" is recited. Authorized translations of the liturgy exist in [[Syriac language|Syriac]], Arabic, and English.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://maroniten.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/the-mystery-of-crowning-accroding-the-antiochene-syriac-maronite-church-1991-edition.pdf|title=The Mystery of Crowning According to the Maronite Antiochene Church|publisher=[[Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn|Diocese of Saint Maron–USA]]|date=1991|author=[[Stephen Youssef Doueihi|Doueihi, Hector Y]]|edition=2nd|editor1=[[John D. Faris|Faris, John D.]]|editor2=[[Francis Mansour Zayek|Zayek, Francis M.]]|access-date=4 October 2022|page=ii-viii–vi}}</ref>

TheIn the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]], a West Syriac [[Oriental Orthodox Church]], the two typical matrimonial services are celebrated. At the crowning liturgy, the crown is held over the head of the bridegroom by the celebrant, who waves the crown in the [[Sign of the cross|shape of a cross]]. After reciting a prayer, the same is done over the bride. In the United States and Canada, the phrase "and pronounce you husband and wife" is added to the ceremony.<ref name=SOR/>

Within traditional [[East Syriac Rite]] practice, the crowning ceremony is celebrated separately from the [[Holy Qurbana]] and not considered a [[sacrament]]. The ceremony is preceded by the sharing of a cup of mixed water, ''[[hanānā]]'' (dust from the tomb of a [[martyr]]), and wine, which mirrors the presence of [[Jesus Christ]] in [[Eucharist|Communion]] and is symbolic of the couple becoming one body.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.malankaralibrary.com/ImageUpload/8cbe709334d186a0f272183699f0a27f.pdf|title=East Syriac Theology: An Introduction|chapter=Theology of 'Rāzē: The Mysteries of the Church in the East Syriac Tradition|first=Jose|last=Kochuparampil|editor-first=Pauly|editor-last=Maniyattu|publisher=Ephrem's Publications|date=2007|location=[[Madhya Pradesh|MP]], India|pagepages=264, 267|via=Malankara Library}}</ref> This practice is retained by the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] in its marriage liturgies.<ref name=COE/>{{rp|18}} The crowning (''kulala'') is also practiced within the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] and other members of the Chaldean [[Iraqi diaspora]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/catholic-home-missions-appeal/upload/15-006_chm-newsletter2.pdf|title=Refugees Find a Home for Faith|magazine=Neighbors|publisher=[[USCCB]]|first=Beth|last=Griffin|date=Spring 2015|access-date=4 October 2022|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chaldeannews.com/features-1/2020/1/27-traditional-chaldean-weddings|title=Traditional Chaldean Weddings|work=Chaldean News|first=Adhid|last=Miri|date=27 January 2020|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>

[[Category:MarriageWeddings in Christianity]]