Another beautiful and very symbolic aspect to the marriage service is when the couple are given a common cup to drink from. This cup does not contain the Eucharist, but simply sweet wine which is blessed and symbolizes not only the joy of the moment, but the joy of marriage itself. In addition, it represents the fact that the couple now “share” everything in life together, as from "one cup" – going through the good and bad times supporting and helping one another.
In Russia, there is a beautiful expression regarding the couples' drinking from this common cup: "So that their joys may be doubled, and their sorrows halved."
In other words, when a man comes home with joyous news and shares it with his wife, the spouse’s joy causes his joy to double. And if the wife comes home with sorrowful news, the husband’s love and shoulder she cries upon takes away half of her burden.
Fr. John
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