In an Orthodox church in Italy, couples may receive a wedding blessing if:

*Both spouses are Orthodox Christians

*One partner belongs to the Orthodox faith, while the other is Catholic or Protestant

Undergoing the wedding blessing in Italy means combining the spiritual sanctification of marriage with the unique atmosphere of one of the most romantic countries in the world.

Italy is home to numerous Orthodox churches with unique architecture and history, such as the Church of Saint Catherine in Rome.

The Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine is unlike any other.

Its golden domes shine against the greenery of Rome, just ten minutes from Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The idea of having “an Orthodox church worthy of Orthodoxy” in the city of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was first proposed in Imperial Russia at the end of the 19th century. However, historical events delayed the construction until the 2000s. Today, the church regularly holds services and hosts a parish school for children.

• Organization of the wedding blessing ceremony
• Reservation of the date
• Church donation
• Choir singing during the ceremony
• Wedding blessing certificate
• 5-hour photoshoot in Rome
• Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
• Stylist services (makeup and hairstyle for the bride)
• Russian-speaking coordinator services throughout the preparation and on the wedding day

Wedding Blessing in an Orthodox Church on Lake Como

When people hear “Italy,” many immediately think of Lake Como. Thanks to its breathtaking landscapes and festive atmosphere, this lake is often seen as the perfect wedding destination. However, few know that this important event can be given a sacred aura by having a wedding blessing in a historic Italian church. On Lake Como, an Orthodox community operates within the 14th-century Church of Saint Giuseppe (Joseph).

The cost of a wedding blessing at the Church of Saint Giuseppe: €7500

The price includes:

• Organization of the wedding blessing ceremony
• Reservation of the date
• Church donation
• Choir singing during the ceremony
• Wedding blessing certificate
• 5-hour photoshoot on Lake Como
• Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
• Stylist services (makeup and hairstyle for the bride)
• One-hour boat ride on a Venetian limousine with aperitif
• Russian-speaking coordinator services throughout the preparation and on the wedding day

• You must be in a legally registered marriage. A civil marriage certificate is required (no translation needed).
• Baptism certificates
• 3-4 days before the wedding blessing, you must confess and take Holy Communion.
• It is recommended to observe a fast before the blessing (three to ten days).

• Two icons – Christ and the Virgin Mary (can be purchased on-site)
• Wedding candles (can be purchased on-site)
• Rushnyk (a special cloth for the feet, can be purchased on-site)
• Rings

• If one of the spouses is an atheist, unbaptized, or their desire to have a wedding blessing is insincere
• If the spouses are closely related by blood (marriages between relatives up to the third degree are forbidden) or by spiritual kinship (godparents and godchildren)
• During one of the four fasting periods
• During Cheesefare Week
• During Easter
• During Christmastide
• On Saturdays
• Before the Great Feasts
• During major church holidays
• On the eve of fasting days
• Before (and during) the Beheading of John the Baptist
• Before (and during) the Exaltation of the Cross

• Preparation of all documents and payment of fees
• Organization of the wedding blessing ceremony
• Reservation of the date
• Church donation
• Marriage registration certificate
• 5-hour photoshoot
• Stylist services (makeup and hairstyle for the bride)
• Full-day ceremony coordination

• Nulla Osta certificate in Italian
• Birth certificates
• Baptism certificates (mandatory) / Certificato di battesimo
• For Catholics – an additional certificate of first Holy Communion (Certificato di cresima)
• If one of the spouses belongs to another Christian denomination (Orthodoxy or Protestantism), a written commitment to raise future children in the Catholic faith is required
• Certificate of completion of pre-marriage courses / Attestato di partecipazione al corso prematrimoniale (we can assist upon request)
• Documents for the wedding blessing prepared by the Catholic priest of your parish (based on residence registration) / Certificato di consenso religioso alle nozze

The originals of all documents must be ready at least 45 days in advance.

• If the spouses have not reached the age of majority
• If the spouses are closely related by blood
• If one of the spouses is not sincere with the other (e.g., hiding the fact that they do not want or cannot have children)
• From the perspective of the Catholic Church, marriage is indissoluble, and the family union is considered eternal, holding equal significance in this life and the next. Unlike in the Orthodox Church, annulment is not possible in the Catholic Church.