The Catholic Church and the Orthodox church are the oldest and most similar to each other in terms of doctrine and organization of their respective communities. Therefore Orthodox Christian marriage differs from Catholic Christian marriage in some aspects, and this is explained by the fact that faith in God is conceived differently. However, there are many points in common between Orthodox and Christian marriage: for example, in both celebrations are present, obviously, the big love that unites the couple and the wedding rings.
The particularity of the orthodox marriage is that it is a very touching and particular ceremony, still based on ancient traditions, full of symbols: we could say that it almost seems like a dance, since every ritual is performed three times, and always sung. And, as you probably already know, the most moving part of the ceremony is that of the coronation, a symbolic gesture that the priest does to bless the couple and let them start their new life together.
Getting married with an orthodox rite is an important choice for the couple: it symbolizes the eternal commitment that husband and wife take in front of God, a commitment extended infinitely, even beyond death. For the Orthodox church, in fact, the marriage is not repeatable, it is a unique occasion, so much so that, in the event that a faithful remarried, the rite celebrated will be totally different from that of the first marriage.
If you are reading this article it is probably because you would like to marry your better half in Florence with an orthodox ceremony. We are here to tell you that yes, it is possible, and we want to show you how your special day could be.
If you have chosen Florence as your wedding venue, there will be a reason. In fact, Florence is a city rich in art, history, traditions and romance, and this combination of elements makes it one of the most chosen cities by couples from all over the world to live the most beautiful day of their life together, that of marriage.
In Florence it is possible to celebrate the wedding with the orthodox rite in a beautiful church, that of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity. Not far from the city center this extraordinary architectural complex stands out among the buildings that surround it for its size and the height of its towers, which are characterized by the typical onion-form. The style and the shape of this structure sum up the Russian architectural experiences accomplished during the second half of the XIX century, characterized by imposing and exuberant architecture, with many ornaments and a lot of colors. The construction of the church began in 1899 and ended in 1904. If the daughter of Tsar Nicholas I had not had this idea, we do not know if there would have been the possibility of celebrating an Orthodox ceremony in Florence. So thank you Marija Nikolaeva!
In short words, the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity is the typical building that we expect to find in a city like Saint Petersburg, and for this reason this majestic architectural complex stands out among the classic Italian buildings of the city.
One of the peculiarities of this church is that it was built on two floors, with a church on the upper floor, cooler and used only during the Holy Week, and a church on the lower floor, used practically always. Normally it is the lower church which is used for the celebration of weddings.
So, if your dream is to marry your sweetheart in Florence and you want to get married before God in an Orthodox church, you can do it: by choosing this romantic city you will have the opportunity to get married in a unique and special place inserted within a city equally unique and special.
With Brilliant Events you can be on the safe side: after years of experience in organizing Orthodox weddings, we can guarantee that your wedding day will be exactly as you dreamed of it.
Can you imagine your wedding in Florence, in this beautiful orthodox church, and after that your wedding reception in a Florentine villa, or in a medieval castle? These are just some of the options: Tuscany is a land full of enchanting places to live a fairytale wedding. Are you curious about which are the places where you could celebrate your wedding party? Then contact us! We will be happy to let you discover what this wonderful region has to offer.
