The Second Matrimonial Prayer

Priest:

O Father our God who formed all nature; who created man from earth and made for him a helper from his rib which You have taken from him and joined them together in the union of marriage for life and for the continuous growth of mankind. You have said to them, “Grow, multiply and fill the earth and have dominion over it.”

We ask You, O Good One and Lover of Mankind, to bless the union of Your servants (…) and (…) that were united together by Your will. Bless them as You blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Bless them as You have blessed Abraham and Sarah. Elevate them as You did with Isaac and Rebecca. Multiply [their seed] as You multiplied Jacob and his offspring. Glorify them as You have glorified Joseph in Egypt.

Grant them purity. Multiply them as Elkana and Anna, whom You blessed and gave them Samuel, the faithful prophet. Make them worthy of the good tidings of the pure Archangel like Zacharias and Elizabeth, to whom You gave John the Baptist, the greatest among the offspring of women, who became the forerunner before Your only begotten Son.

You also, O Master, Lord, have blessed Joachim and Anna and made from them the rational ark, the Mother of God, Saint Mary, of whom Your only begotten Son was incarnate and came into the world, and blessed the wedding of Cana of Galilee.

Bless Your servants (…) and (…) that were united at this hour. Grant them prosperity, wisdom and the blessing of salvation, that they may be united in their bodies and souls with all godliness and chastity; and be worthy of Your blessing and glorify Your holy name together with Your only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

People: