Young Couples Urged to Uphold Sanctity of Marriage

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31

Young Assyrian couples have been advised to make use of Church ministries and services to help break the tide of divorce rates, in a seminar explaining the commitment of marriage by Chorbishop Reverend Ashoor Lazar, St Hurmizd’s Cathedral, Sydney.

The educational seminar, held on the 24^th of October, follows as part of a series of enlightening lectures initiated and run by the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, Diocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon.

Young Christian couples that join in marriage were encouraged to work through basic preventable issues in order to live a happy and united life, with trust and love for all the years to come and ultimately until death.

Aiming to advise the faithful on the ideal style of married life, the seminar commenced with a speech on the history and importance of marriage, followed by a step-by-step explanation on the order of the Assyrian Church of the East’s marriage ceremony.

Speaking to a large and attentive congregation, Rev. Lazar said that the book of Genesis outlines the first marriage recorded as the union between Adam and Eve, and explained that according to the Lord, the purpose of women is to be a supportive helper to her husband.

However, Rev. Lazar said the fault of sinning against God was the fault of both Adam and Eve, seeing as God also instructed Adam not to eat and yet he still did.

While man and woman are two before their marriage, they are linked as “one flesh” following the marriage service – just as Eve was created from Adam’s flesh, which made the pair physically “one flesh”.

Detailing the marriage ceremony, Rev. Lazar explained the Assyrian Church of the East’s service is directly related to the scriptures and described the use of the water and wine, rings, cross, ribbons, crowns and khnana (dirt from the tombs of saints).

Rev. Lazar also stressed the importance of a best man and maid of honour, stating they should be selected wisely by the bride and groom as their purpose is to play a significant spiritual role in the couple’s life.