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Pastoral
Guidance for
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Interfaith
Marriage in the Greek Orthodox Church
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In our increasingly
pluralistic society, the majority of marriages
throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
have brought together Orthodox and non-Orthodox
Christians. The Orthodox Church sincerely respects
other faith traditions and at the same time seeks to
protect her own theological integrity. As studies
have revealed a lack of awareness of the Orthodox
Church's rules as they pertain to the sacrament of
marriage, the following pastoral guidelines are
offered as a guide for Greek Orthodox priests and
for couples who are considering intermarriage or are
presently intermarried. These guidelines flow out of
a theological understanding of the sacrament of
marriage and the desire to assist couples in their
efforts to cultivate an Orthodox Christian
environment in their homes.
Since the Sacrament of
Marriage is a Christian ceremony, and the Orthodox
Church does not perform the Sacrament of Marriage
for an Orthodox Christian and an un-baptized person,
non-Orthodox Christians wishing to get married in
the Orthodox Church must have been baptized in the
name of the Holy Trinity. In addition, the Orthodox
Church also does not perform the Sacrament of
Marriage for two non-Orthodox Christians. At least
one individual must be Orthodox in good standing(1)
with his or her parish.
In order to remain in
proper canonical and spiritual standing with the
Orthodox Church, Orthodox Christians must be married
by an Orthodox priest, in an Orthodox Church, and in
the manner prescribed by the priest’s service
book.
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Couples marrying in the Orthodox Church must also
commit themselves to baptizing and raising their
children in the Orthodox Church. Orthodox Christians
who choose to baptize their future children in their
partner’s church call into question their desire
to live an Orthodox lifestyle. Such a decision also
affects the Orthodox partner’s standing with his
or her church.
Since only Orthodox Christians are permitted to
participate in the Orthodox Church’s sacraments,
sponsors exchanging the wedding rings and crowns
must be Orthodox Christians in good standing with
their parish. This rule is connected to the
church’s understanding of the sponsor. Briefly,
the sponsor is more than a legal witness. The
sponsor also functions as a spokesperson for the
Orthodox congregation affirming the spiritual
preparedness of the couple to enter into the
community of marriage.
Orthodox partners should be
made aware that if their marriage is not solemnized
by the Orthodox Church, they are no longer in good
standing and are not permitted to receive the
sacraments or participate in the sacraments as a
sponsor(2) .
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Double performances of the wedding service, that is,
in both the Orthodox Church and another Church are
not encouraged. This guideline is relaxed when an
Orthodox Christian has been married outside of the
Orthodox Church and wishes to return to the Orthodox
Church and once again become canonically and
spiritually in good standing with his or her Church.
In this case, after the Orthodox priest receives
permission from his bishop, the Sacrament of
Marriage is performed.
Co-celebrations of the
Sacrament of Marriage between Orthodox and
non-Orthodox clergy are not permitted. While
non-Orthodox clergy are not permitted to
co-celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage with the
Orthodox priest they may attend and offer a
benediction to the couple as well as prayerful words
of exhortation.
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Inter-Christian couples who
wish the presence of a non-Orthodox clergyman during
the Sacrament of Marriage should make their desire
known to the Orthodox pastor. He will then seek the
Bishop’s permission. Inter-Christian couples
should also be made aware of the following
additional procedures.
• The Orthodox priest
will extend an invitation to the non-Orthodox
clergyman. At that time, the Orthodox priest will
respectfully state that a co-celebration of the
Sacrament of Marriage is not permitted since the
Orthodox Church does not permit non-Orthodox clergy
to participate in the sacraments.
• The Orthodox priest
will also clearly advise the guest clergyman on
matters of appropriate vesture and seating (which is
generally, but not always, located in a prominent
place on the Solea(3)). Additionally, he will also
clearly indicate that the guest clergy will be
properly acknowledged and permitted to give a
benediction, and address the couple with some words,
good wishes, and an exhortation at the conclusion of
the Sacrament of Marriage.
• The couple should also
be told that wedding invitations and newspaper
announcements must clearly distinguish between the
Orthodox celebrant and the guest clergy. Terms like
“assisted” or “participated” should be
avoided. Optional descriptors such as “was
present” or “was present and subsequently gave a
blessing” should be selected and utilized so as to
clearly describe the non-Orthodox visiting
cleric’s role. In addition, Orthodox Priests who
are invited to attend non-Orthodox wedding services
may only attend as guests.
• Inter-Christian couples
are also respectfully informed that non-Orthodox
Christians who marry in the Orthodox Church do not
subsequently have sacramental privileges in the
Orthodox Church. Because of the Orthodox Church’s
position on sacramental participation, only those
who are in good standing canonically and spiritually
have sacramental privileges. Similarly, intermarried
couples should also be aware that only Orthodox
Christians who are in good standing canonically and
spiritually are (a) permitted an Orthodox Funeral
Service, (b) and allowed to serve on the Parish
Council, (c) permitted to vote in parish elections,
and (d) permitted to serve as godparents or sponsors
at baptisms and weddings.
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1 According to the Special Regulations and Uniform
Parish Regulations of the GOA (Article VI, Section
1), “Any person, eighteen years of age or over,
who has been baptized according to the rites of the
Church, or was received into the Church through
Chrismation, who lives according to the faith and
canons of the Church, who has met his financial
obligation to the Parish and abides by the
regulations herein and the by-laws of the Parish, is
a member in good standing of the Parish.”
2 The term sponsor is a
generic term that refers to either the paranymphos
or paranymphy who exchanges the rings and crowns
during the Sacrament of Marriage or the godparent
during the Sacrament of Baptism.
3 This is the
area directly in front of the Iconostasis (Icon
Screen) in all Orthodox Churches.
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Source:
Rev. Fr. Charles Joanides, Ph.D., LMFT |
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Provided
for you Courtesy of: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
of Bridgeport
Rev. Demetrios A. Recachinas, Protopresbyter
Web Version Designed by:
Vicky Andriotis
For information about obtaining hard copies of this
pamphlet, please contact:
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Church Phone (203) 374-5561
Church Fax (203) 374-5770
E-mail: fatherdemetrios@ holytrinitybridgeport.org |
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