The Ceremony

For the traditional Greek Orthodox wedding, Cheryl converted and was baptized as a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. Damian's parents created a program to explain the special traditions of the ceremony, which included the betrothal and crowning, where the priest raises the crowns (stefana) and places them on the couple's heads. Also among the traditions incorporated were the lighting of candles, to symbolize purity and the light of virtue; and the ring exchange, to represent the unbreakable bond of marriage (the officiant blesses the rings over the heads of the bride and groom three times, and then the rings are placed on the fourth finger of the right hand).