Fragments

I know it will sound funny to call what I'm about to copy and paste in here "fragments", but for the Orthodox, everything is long - even the fragments. haha.

These are some of the prayers chanted in a wedding ceremony. They were chanted in ours.


O God most pure, the Author of all creation, in Your loving kindness
You transformed a rib of Adam the forefather into a woman and blessed
them and said, "Increase and multiply, and have dominion over the earth."
By joining them together, You declared them both to be one. “For this
reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his
wife, and the two shall be one flesh - and those whom God has joined
together let no man put asunder.” You also blessed Your servant Abraham,
and opened the womb of Sara, and made him the father of many nations;
You gave Rebecca to Issac, and blessed her offspring; You joined Jacob and
Rachel, and from them brought forth the twelve patriarchs of ancient Israel;
You joined Joseph and Asenath, and as the fruit of their childbearing, You
bestowed upon them Ephraim and Manasseh; You blessed Zachariah and
Elizabeth, and declared their son, John the Baptist, to be the Forerunner of
the Messiah: out of the root of Jesse, according to the flesh, You produced
the ever-virgin Mary, and from her You were born, becoming incarnate for
the salvation of the human race. In Your infinite grace and amazing goodness
You were present in Cana of Galilee and blessed the marriage that took place
there, that You might show that a lawful union, and children from it, is in
accordance with Your will. Most-holy Master, accept the prayer of Your
servants and as You were present at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, be
present among us now, granting all of us Your unseen protection. Bless this
marriage and grant unto these Your servants Lisa and J a peaceful
life, length of days, chastity, love for one another in a bond of peace,
fair fame by reason of their children, and a crown of glory that will
never fade away. Make them worthy to live to see their children's children.
Keep their marriage bond undefiled. Give them of the dew from the heavens
above and the richness of the earth. Fill their home with bountiful food, and
with every good thing, that they may have enough to share with those who
are poor and in need. Grant to all those who are present here this day, all of
their prayers that are for salvation.
For You, O Christ, are a God of mercy, compassion and love, and to You do
we offer up glory: together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good,
and life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

And then later...

Bless them, O Lord our God, as you blessed Abraham and Sarah.
Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Isaac and Rebecca.
Bless them, O Lord our God, as you blessed Jacob and all the Patriarchs.
Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Joseph and Asenath.
Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Moses and Zipporah
Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Joachim and Anna.
Bless them, O Lord our God, as You blessed Zachariah and Elizabeth.

And then later...

And you, O bride, be exalted like Sarah; rejoice as did Rebecca; and be
fruitful like Rachel, delighting in your husband, keeping the paths of the Law,
for this is what is pleasing to God.

Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Asenath, Zipporah, Anna, Elizabeth, Mary...

I guess I'm just thinking, just treasuring, just shoring up my memory. What a road has been walked.

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On a totally totally different note. I just have to say that I'm on day 3 of the Clomid. Just took it. And the room is SPINNING. Wheeeeeeee!

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And additionally, I have to say that I'm here in Virginia, visiting a long-time and unspeakably dear friend. With my brother. And it's lovely.