THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ
also loved the church and gave Himself for
her…" [Ephesians 5:25].

The Holy Bible and human history begin and end with weddings. Adam and Eve come together in marital union in Paradise, before the Fall, revealing MARRIAGE AS A PART OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY IN THE MIDST OF CREATION [Genesis 2:22-25]. History closes with the marriage of the Bride of the Lamb [Revelation 19:7=9], earthly marriage BEING FULFILLED IN THE HEAVENLY, SHOWING THE ETERNAL NATURE OF THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT).

Between these booked events of history are accounts of numerous other unions of man and wife. In the centuries-old Christian wedding ceremony used to this day in the Holy Orthodox Church, several of these historic, marriages are remembered: Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 11:29-23:20]; Isaac and Rebeca (Genesis 24); Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Ever-virgin Mary; and Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-58).

The marriage most prominently featured is the wedding ceremony, however, is the one at Cana of Galilee, described in the Gospel passage read at every Orthodox wedding (John 2:1-11). In attending this wedding and performing His FIRST MIRACLE THERE, JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, FOREVER SANCTIFIES MARRIAGE. As with ALL the Christians Mysteries (Sacraments), MARRIAGE IS SACRAMENTAL BECAUSE IT IS BLESSED BY GOD.

Parenthetically, it is a this wedding at Cana that the Theotokos, the Mother of God, that FIRST INTERCEDES WITH CHRIST ON BEHALF OF OTHERS: "They have no wine" (John 2:3). Then she calls all humanity to obey Him: "Whatever He says to you, DO IT" (John 2:5).

In contemporary society, as well as in Christendom, a recurring debate is going on. It deals with the tension between equality of the partners in marriage and office or order in marriage. Often, this tension has turned into a polarity between men and women, and sometimes even breeds anger and hostility. There are two elements in the Orthodox Sacrament of Marriage which serve to heal such tension, while making clear the teaching of the Church on the twin themes of equality and order concerning husband and wife.

As to equality, during the ceremony crowns are placed on the heads of the bride and groom. This act is symbolic of their citizenship in the Kingdom of God, where "THERE IS NEITHER MALE OR FEMALE" (Galatians 3:28) and of their dying to each other (THE CROWN IS OFTEN A SYMBOL OF MARTYRDOM; see Revelation 2:10). The words of the Holy Apostle Paul are clear on MARITAL EQUALITY: "The wife does NOT have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise also the husband does NOT have authority over his own body, but the wife does" [1 Corinthians 7:4], Husband and wife BELONG TO EACH OTHER AS MARTYRS, THEY BELONG TO GOD AS ROYALTY, AND THEY ARE CALLED TO TREAT EACH OTHER ACCORDINGLY.

But within marital equality there is also order. The Holy Epistle read at the Sacrament of Marriage is Ephesians 5:20-33, the exhortation to husbands and wives which begins with a call TO SUBMIT TO EACH OTHER (Ephesians 5:21). The husband is to serve God as head of his wife, as Christ is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23). The wife is to be subject to her husband as the Church is subject to Christ (Ephesians 5:24). There IS NOTHING HERE TO SUGGEST THAT THE WIFE IS OPPRESSED IN MARRIAGE, ANYMORE THAN ONE WOULD CALL THE CHURCH OPPRESSED IN RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST. He Who calls us "brethren" (Hebrews 2:11) and "friends" (John 15:15) EXHORTS THE HUSBAND TO LOVE HIS WIFE, TO NOURISH AND CHERISH HER AS HE HIMSELF DOES THE CHURCH (Ephesians 5:28-29).

Thus, MARRIAGE IS A MYSTERY (SACRAMENT)–HOLY, BLESSED AND EVERLASTING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND HIS CHURCH. Within the bonds of marriage, husband and wife experience A UNION WITH ONE ANOTHER IN AGAPE (LOVE), and hopefully the fruit of children and one day the JOY OF GRANDCHILDREN. And within the bonds of marriage there is both a fullness of equality between husband and ife, and a clarity of order with the husband as the ICON OF CHRIST, the wife as the ICON OF THE CHURCH.

Unquestionably, however, the institution of marriage is facing numerous challenges, threats, and without a doubt evolving meanings in a secularized society. The high divorce rate and shifting in societal values creates uncertainty and fears and therefore people are hesitant to enter into a marriage relationship. We have seen the influence of religion which traditionally supported and legitimized marriage is waning in secular societies

The Orthodox Church does NOT recognize civil unions or other forms of cohabitation outside of marriage as valid although it may be valid with the state. In the Orthodox Church, marriage IS A SACRAMENT rather than a CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, AND THE CEREMONY DOES NOT INVOLVED VOWS OR OATHS. Instead, it emphasizes the couple’s unity in Christ and their commitment to life of faith and service to God and one another. The Sacrament of marriage is seen as a "deification" (theosis) of human agape (love), where it is SANCTIFIED AND TRANSFORMED THROUGH CHRIST’S GRACE, LEADING IN ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S KINGDOM. It is our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ THAT UNITES THE MAN AND THE WOMAN AND NOT A SECULAR ENTITY. Western-style vows often emphasize the couple’s earthly commitment to each other, while Orthodox Christian marriage emphasizes their commitment to God and their shared journey of faith.

"The Christian ideal of marriage and family, manhood and womanhood, is incomparably more exalted, balanced and fulfilling than those broke, one sided or totally erroneous ideologies of today’s world which reduce the meaning of human life to the satisfaction of sexual appetites, material security, or to other such limited functions and desires. In Christ man is revealed as son and friend of God. He is able to become a member of Christ in soul and body. in the Christian marriage, he is able to achieve an Eternal unique and total UNION IN AGAPE (LOVE).

For the sacramental union of a man and a woman to be proper in the eyes of the Orthodox Church, the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony MUST BE PERFORMED IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. For such an ecclesiastical marriage to be valid it must be celebrated by an Orthodox priest according to the liturgical tradition of the Church. In the case of a mixed marriage, the non-Orthodox partner must be a Christian who has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. Also, the couple should be willing to baptize their children in the Orthodox Church and nurture them in accordance with the Orthodox Christian Faith. A marriage cannot take place in the Orthodox Church between an Orthodox Christian and a non-Christian. [Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible]

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine, Glorious and Salvific Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George