Catholic/Orthodox Marriage

[Chaldean_Rite]

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ:

I have a friend, a woman, who is probably going to marry an Orthodox and I would like to know, from both sides, what things need to happen from where the wedding happens, to where the kids are educated, to going to church every sunday, etc. for a successful marriage. Any help would be highly appreciated for these two individuals who want to partake in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

 

[hormisdas]

Here’s a wealth of material from the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America:

interfaith.goarch.org/

 

[Eastern_Guy]

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ:

I have a friend, a woman, who is probably going to marry an Orthodox and I would like to know, from both sides, what things need to happen from where the wedding happens, to where the kids are educated, to going to church every sunday, etc. for a successful marriage. Any help would be highly appreciated for these two individuals who want to partake in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

I’m an EO that is dating a RC. I can definitely speak from the EO church perspective. Can probably talk on behalf of what I learned from the RC side as it pertains to a mixed marriage.

Is your friend marrying in a RC or EO church??

 

[bpbasilphx]

In my experience, since in the Orthodox tradtion (and for that matter, the Byzantine Churches in union with Rome) the PRIEST confers the Mystery of marriage on the couple, generally the Latin bishop gives a dispensation for it to take place in the Orthodox Church.

That way the requirements of BOTH Churches are satisfied.

 

[Eastern_Guy]

In my experience, since in the Orthodox tradtion (and for that matter, the Byzantine Churches in union with Rome) the PRIEST confers the Mystery of marriage on the couple, generally the Latin bishop gives a dispensation for it to take place in the Orthodox Church.

That way the requirements of BOTH Churches are satisfied.

You’re answer pertained only if the marriage occurs in the EO church. If his friend is getting married in the RC church, then the EO is sanctioned is not able to receive communion until there is a marriage performed in the EO church. Similarly an RC priest can not give a blessing in the EO church if the wedding takes place there. Some EO will allow him to do things in during the ceremony that lay people are allowed to do like leading the Lord’s Prayer.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I would suggest they talk about raising the children. Too may couples I know had the attitude “we’ll worry about that then.”’ And when “then” came, it was a problem.

 

[Eastern_Guy]

I would suggest they talk about raising the children. Too may couples I know had the attitude “we’ll worry about that then.”’ And when “then” came, it was a problem.

Isa you are correct. It needs to be done before the engagement.

 

[Patchunky]

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ:

I have a friend, a woman, who is probably going to marry an Orthodox and I would like to know, from both sides, what things need to happen from where the wedding happens, to where the kids are educated, to going to church every sunday, etc. for a successful marriage. Any help would be highly appreciated for these two individuals who want to partake in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

We have a couple of families like this that attend my parish.

In one case, the woman is Orthodox, in the other, the man is Orthodox.

In both cases, they were told to attend the Byzantine church so that the Orthodox partner was not forced to give up his/her Eastern customs and traditions and that the Catholic partner would be under Rome.

hope this helps…

 

[valient_Lucy]

I would suggest they talk about raising the children. Too may couples I know had the attitude “we’ll worry about that then.”’ And when “then” came, it was a problem.

Truer words were never spoken.

 

[lucy212]

We have a couple of families like this that attend my parish.

In one case, the woman is Orthodox, in the other, the man is Orthodox.

In both cases, they were told to attend the Byzantine church so that the Orthodox partner was not forced to give up his/her Eastern customs and traditions and that the Catholic partner would be under Rome.

hope this helps…

I am not sure what you mean when you say they were told to attend the “Byzantine church”. Is this in addition to the Orthodox partner attending his/her Orthodox Liturgy?
Or is this a suggestion that the Orthodox partner join the Eastern Catholic Church as a compromise?

There are more significant differences than “customs and traditions”.

I am in this situation and could not join the Eastern Catholic/Byzantine branch of the Roman Catholic Church.
It’s goes much deeper than Liturgical rites.

It wouldn’t matter if my spouse was western or eastern rite, I still could not commune in a Roman Catholic Church, nor can he commune in my Orthodox Church.
We each attend Liturgy at our own Parishes each Sunday, and try to worship together whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Fortunately our children are grown, so we don’t have to work out that problem…and it would be a significant problem.

Forgive my Eastern Orthodox presence in the Eastern Catholic Forum, but this is our exact situation, and I thought you might like some feedback from someone who is actually living this life.
We can move it to the non-catholic forum if you wish to discuss it further.

But know that if each is equally committed to their “Church”, then it takes an extraordinary amount of work, patience, love and most of all, Grace. It is often a rocky road, and requires great amounts of humility, a commitment to never give up, much prayer, and most of all depending on the Mercy of God for everything. .

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