MARRIAGE CEREMONY PREFORMED BY A PRIEST OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK study guide

[Dr. Faheem Judah-EL - Kemnebi]

MARRIAGE CEREMONY PREFORMED BY A PRIEST OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK
Category: Religion and Philosophy




THIS BLOG IS FOR :

THE PRIESTS OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

HOW TO MARRY A COUPLE OF THE ABYSSINIAN TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH

by Faheem Judah-EL Priest of The Most High EL



The ceremony begins with the Cohen or Zadok giving a recital of The Opening Prayer, and any prayer of his choice, as well as the importance of the principles of marriage.

The four main principles of marriage

As ordained by God Most High, marriage is based on four main principles:

1) severance
2) permanence
3) unity
4) openness
Therefore...

a man shall leave his father and his mother
and shall cleave unto his wife
and they shall be one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Gen 2.24-25



a man shall leave his father and mother
Severance
The husband must sever the parent-child bond and lead his own family. This doesn't mean he ignores or abandons his parents, but that he is no longer subordinate to them.
and shall cleave unto his wife
Permanence
Since permanence of the marriage bond is ordained by God Most High, the question should not be, "What must we do to stay together?" Rather, it must be, "Since we will stay together, what must we do to keep our marriage as happy and healthy as God intends?"
and they shall be one flesh
Unity
Marital unity resembles a pair of shears...

Two people who are so joined that they can't be separated
Sometimes moving in different directions
Yet always cutting through anything that comes between them

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed
Openness
Spouses must be open and honest in sharing with each other -- emotionally, spiritually, and physically. No shame. No secrets. No reservations.




Then the Cohen or Zadok will read from The Prophet: Speak to us of Love:

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Then the Cohen or Zadok will recite:

"O people fear your Lord, who has created you one soul, and of his kind created his wife and from these has spread abroad many men and women. And fear ye The Most High, in whose name ye ask mutual favor, and reverence the womb that bear you. Verily is God watching you."

Man and woman came out of one soul; they proceeded from the same origin. God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.


"And one of His signs is that He has created wives for your own species that ye may be comforted with them, and has put love and tenderness between you."

Zadok or Cohen says:

This is the essence of marriage in The Abyssinian Tabernacle of The Most High, and one cannot find a higher ideal of the mutual relations of man and woman based upon love, affection, and equality anywhere.



Men and women are equally indispensable to each other's happiness, they are opposite sides of one whole.


"Your wives are a garment for you, as you are a garment for them."
What a beautiful and opposite metaphor to explain the varied duties and obligations of man and woman in the married life. The garment when worn is next to our body; let man and wife be so attached to each other in their mutual love and affection.

THE WEDDING BEGINS

THE GROOM ENTERS, EVERYONE STANDS, AND THE COHEN OR ZADOK INSTRUCTS THEM TO BE SEATED,

THE BRIDE ENTERS, EVERYONE STANDS

The Father of the bride escorts the bride to a chair that is facing the guests on the left side, he remains standing by her: The bride sits down, the groom also sits in a chair beside her that is facing the guests on the right side. The Cohen or Zadok instructs everyone to be seated.

The Cohen or Zadok continues:

We are gathered here today in the site of God Most High to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our prayers and best wishes to the words which shall unite _______________________ and ______________________ in marriage.

Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace.
Who is it that brings this woman to this man?

(The father, children, relative etc. may give the bride away. He /they answer "I do", "I do on behalf of her family and friends" etc. , This person then sits down, and the groom takes the bride's hand while still sitting, ____________________ and _______________________ , life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family or by our friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life - and is the shared goal of a married life.

VOWS (Vows used unless other vows are wished. You may change the vows as you wish or write your own vows.) (Groom ) ___________________, do you take ________________ to he your Wife? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? ("I do") (Bride _____________________, do you take __________________ to be your Husband? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? ("I do") (If rings are exchanged each does so before repeating the following vows - unless you wish other vows or do not wish to repeat)



Ankhs Are Exchanged

SYMBOLS OF FERTILITY AND ETERNAL LIFE

The Ankh is a symbol of eternal life, temporal life, opposite principles, male and female, reproduction, and magnetic and electrical energy. The Mother and Father principle. Ankhs are exchanged to each other.

Repeated Vows & Wedding Rings "Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage."

(Groom) I _____________, take thee , ________________ to be my Wife- to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.

(Bride) I _________________ , take thee _______________, to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise My love to you forevermore.

(If there are children of either couple, sometimes couples will give a ring or small gift such as a necklace or ring to the child and say a short statement that they also are now part of the new family. I believe it very important to mention children's names in the ceremony, If you have minor children coming into the marriage, please provide their names so the Cohen or Zodok will mention them as is appropriate.)


______________________ and ___________________________ as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

"A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments. But it also is a declaration of love. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage:

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.
Love is never haughty or selfish or rude.
Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong.
Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.
If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."


PRAYER
(PRAYER if desired. You may alter this or replace it with another. Some couples will ask a family member to say a prayer.)


UNITY CANDLES

(If unity candles are used - optional. If the Rose Ceremonyis used, it is placed after the unity candle ceremony or in place of it.)

____________________ and _____________________, the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. I ask that each of you take on of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle.

The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.
(You can also involve children in the unity candle ceremony)

MUSIC


(For couples who are adding music to the ceremony, it is usually placed either here or after the vows are repeated earlier.)


Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.

It is my privilege to present to you Mr. & Mrs._______________



Ceremony ends with everyone dancing in a circle to Amharic wedding music or music of your own culture, and eating and socializing.