Cultural aspects in Christian and Islamic religions - unesdoc - Unesco

with close relatives as mentioned by Jesus Christ
in the parable of the Ten Virgins. Coptic liturgy is
currently the only one to include anointment of
the bride and groom. This anointment can only be
understood by comparing it with the anointment
of kings and the Levis who were anointed before
their crowning. Crowns are made with the flowers
of the season or with branches of laurel or olive
trees or made of metal. Crowns are placed on
the head either to mean someone is eminent or
consecrated or to mean he is victorious. John
Chrysostom gives the crown in marriage another
meaning: ‘The crown is placed on the head of the
spouses as a sign of their victory. They head to the
harbor of matrimony as they won a victory over
lust.’ Before the beginning of the ceremony, the
bride arrives to church with her father or guardian
and she meets her groom who awaits her on the
threshold of the church. They enter together with
their witnesses as well as their relatives, friends and
some children as honor attendants, accompanied
by music and hymns. At the end of the ceremony,
the bridal couple receives congratulations from
everyone present.
The groom carries his bride before entering their conjugal home so that she may stick yeast above
the main entrance of this home asking for blessing and affluence in their new marital home.
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