Marriage between Orthodox and non-Orthodox

Fr. Ilyan told us that he only allows an Orthodox to marry a Roman Catholic, or an Anglican or Presbyterian if they provide a baptismal certificate. He wouldn't allow an Orthodox to marry a Pentecostal, for example, because they're not Christian.

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Formerly known as MichaelArchangelos


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It's much easier to marry someone within your own circle, I agree.

Owww. Harsh.

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Interesting. When I married A (a small Catholic Mrowka) in the Orthodox Church, the priest in charge received a blessing and things went ahead. No permission slips, no presentation of proof of baptism, no signing of papers, etc..

Afterwards, A brought up her marriage to two Catholic priests in her hometown. One priest responded that the marriage is invalid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

The other priest disagreed and said that we are validly married. His view seemed akin to the "two lungs" theory.

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Drawing courtesy of Efrusina Kersnovskaya: "Someone is praying hard for you..."

Well, it depends. If the Pentecostals in his area are "oneness," as are the Pentecostals around here, then they wouldn't have been baptised in the name of the Trinity, since they don't believe in it, and the priest is in the right.

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Holy God
Holy Mighty
Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.

Actually, I believe that I said the teachings were the same with regard to extreme preference being given to a Catholic marrying one of their own faith, rather than a Protestant. Same goes for the Orthodox - it is most preferable for an Orthodox to marry an Orthodox, rather than marrying a Catholic or a Protestant.

I don't like the disparity of cult thing, either, and I don't think it should be permitted, for the reasons that you mentioned as well as more practical ones. But it is no "slam dunk", either. Even though it is "possible", I still know of priests and bishops who do not grant them because most often the non-Christian spouse refuses to respect the Catholic's right and responsibility to raise children Catholic and have them baptised; in which case either the non-Christian, after attending Catechesis either seriously does have a conversion, or the Catholic marries outside the Church.

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The practice is that the non-Orthodox party would have to give evidence that has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. I am talking about theGOA here. Based on a document that is called the BEM document that was radified I believe in the 70's (not sure excatly also need to find it on the internet)BEM stands for Baptism, Eucarist and Marriage where certain regulations dictate how to handle marriage between non-Orthodox and Orthodox members, about "oikonomia" to take Eucarist at another non-Orthodox church after getting permission from the Bishop and Baptism when a non-Orthodox member only needs to be chrismated since already baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. All these acts were radified only for the church of "diaspora". The Church of Greece would allow for a wedding between a catholic and an Orthodox 'kat' oikonomia" also. In order for the wedding to be valid in both churches the wedding ceremony has to be performed in both churches I know this out of experience as my best friend had a loooong day with both ceremonies.
this is a link to the guidelines of the GOA. My understanding is that all priests are to abide with these guidelines no exceptions. The Bishop (depends on the Diocese but most of them) demands that the paperwork needs to be send in for approval at least a month before the ceremony. Also in certain dioceses there has to be pre-marital conceling prior to the wedding. So, the priest cannot make up his own rules he is accountable to his bishop or Metropolitan. The Baptismal document is very important with the GOA.

http://www.saintbarbara.org/faith/sa...guidelines.cfm

Also see this link radified by SCOBA participants
http://www.scoba.us/resources/mixedmarriages.asp


Any priest involved in ministry has an obligation to abide with the regulations of his diocese.

God bless,
Philothei

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"Let the weak fail" Joseph Schumpeter
Wondering what kind of Christianity would allow such mindset
SAVE GREECE!

"But he saves the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty."
Job 5.15


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Christ is Risen!
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Does he mean "United Pentecostal"? The United Pentecostal Church is modalist/Sabellian in their doctrine of the Godhead. Other Pentecostals, however - e.g., Assemblies of God, Foursquare - are definitely Trinitarian. I cannot see the Orthodox Church saying that these are "not Christian," since they believe in the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and, as far as I know, baptize by immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Many bishops do not allow non-sacramental Christians, such as Pentecostals, to be recieved through Chrismation only. So, in that case, an Orthodox Christian could not marry a Pentecostal, without the Pentecostal converting.

For example, under Bp. Joseph of L.A., one can basically only marry a Catholic, Lutheran or Anglican.

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Monkey Ninja

I think our priest would marry a mixed couple as long as the other person is baptized in the trinity, but it's not encouraged because it's very difficult.

Originally Posted by repentant

But I have been blessed by God through my prayers (and even those prayers form TAW, even though they had no clue what I was praying about) to have met an Orthodox person, and things seem to be doing well.

That is wonderful repentant!

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