Matrimony is a miracle, a mystery and soul enlightenment. As we remember, the first miracle that God made took place at the wedding when the Saviour gave his blessing to the matrimony - a pious union of a man and a woman. Matrimony is the inner transformation of a man, the transformation of his or her soul. With God's help a man gets his new outlook, the feeling of his full life, a new cognition and vision of others. Matrimony may be perfect only when a man cognates selfless love and readiness to give his life to his partner forever. Only this love is recognized by the Church. It is considered to be true and it is the base for the matrimony ordinance. We should not forget those hardships, which may put obstacles in a marriage. Egoism, self-love, intolerance may lead to the loss of trust and love. Improving oneself, struggling with everyday passions, believing in God will help protect and keep one's marriage ideal. A matrimony is a sacrament just because it does not exceed the limits of our reason, as two people are becoming one whole in a marriage. In Christianity matrimony is considered to be an ontological unity of two people: «And the two will become one flesh; so that they are no longer two, but one flesh» (Mat. 19;5) - says God, and he gives his blessing to a happy family life and to children's upbringing. Through the sacrament of matrimony God gives beauty and fullness of life, gives energy for constant perfection. The understanding of the notion «marriage» or «matrimony» that exists now in the world is regarded by the Christian teaching as a humiliation of a man and of the God's idea about him. If a husband and a wife do not reject their selfness and pride - this marriage is doomed to failure and unavoidable alientation. The Orthodox Church regards marriage as the beginning of the Kingdom of God. That is why the Holy Matrimony also includes the Office of Crowning of a bride and a bridegroom - a crown is the symbol of the martyr death, as a family life is a thorny path, which requires patience and determination from a married couple. And of course we should always bear in mind that marriages are made in heaven, but relations between a husband and a wife are created on earth. Family life should be selfless, pure, and worthy both God and that mutual love, which united two spiritually close people in matrimony.
