“From the beginning, God in His providence planned the union of man and woman. There is no relationship between human beings as close as that of husband and wife if they are united as they ought to be.” ~ St. John Chrysostom (349-407 AD)

Sts. Markella & Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church rejoice in the love that you, as a couple, share for one another and the commitment that has been made to bring you to this day in preparation for your marriage. Your decision to be married in the Church is an indication that the Christian faith and the sacramental life of the Church are important to you. In the eyes of the Church, marriage is the sacramental union between a man and a woman that is used in the Bible as the image of God’s faithful love for ancient Israel (Isaiah 54; Jeremiah 3; Ezekiel 16) and Christ’s sacrificial relationship to the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Jesus Himself, together with His mother the Theotokos and the disciples attended and blessed a wedding in Cana of Galilee, performing His first miracle, which assisted in the celebration of that event (John 2:1-11). A couple desiring to be married should first contact the church office to schedule an appointment with the parish priest. Please schedule both your wedding date and meetings with the parish priest at least six months prior to the desired date so that scheduling conflicts can be avoided.

• By clicking on this PDF, you’ll find a Marriage Packet with information regarding your wedding and marriage in the Church, as well as forms to complete in order to schedule the sacrament and provide us necessary information to prepare your Ecclesiastical Marriage License.

• Please complete these forms carefully, as soon as possible, and return them in a scanned PDF to: office@stmarkella.org. Or mail paper copies to:

         Sts. Markella & Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

         Attn: Fr. John Wallace

         104 Bryn Mawr Blvd.

         Mary Esther, FL 32569

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• NOTE: The Metropolis requires that, together, you complete its online Pre-Marital Seminar: Journey of Marriage. All of these pre-marital seminars are being held virtually. After you register for the date of your class, your workbook and materials will be shipped to you in advance of the weekend.

I look forward to helping you prepare for your wedding day and to serving you in solemn prayer and in the joyous ritual entry into this most holy sacrament. May God grant you both many blessed years!

— Fr. John Wallace