DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Advice on marriage (esp. ceremony) for non-Orthodox/Orthodox couples

**freeprescriptionplanrrx** · 07-05-2009, 12:47 AM

Are you sure he's a real priest, not an actor? I would have thought a real priest would simply refuse to perform the service.

Yes, real priest. Fr. Stephen Kopestonsky. It was filmed at St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral (OCA) in Cleveland, and Fr. Stephen was the pastor of St. Theodosius at the time. He retired from active parish service in 2004. He's listed in the OCA online clergy directory. The full service wasn't done, so it wasn't like he was "marrying" a fake couple. Also, in the first part of the scene, he comes out of the royal doors from the altar. Only a real priest would have been allowed to do that. As for why/how he was allowed to do the movie, I don't know. There's also a funeral scene at the end.

07-05-2009, 12:47 AM	#14
freeprescriptionplanrrx Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 524 Senior Member	Are you sure he's a real priest, not an actor? I would have thought a real priest would simply refuse to perform the service. Yes, real priest. Fr. Stephen Kopestonsky. It was filmed at St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral (OCA) in Cleveland, and Fr. Stephen was the pastor of St. Theodosius at the time. He retired from active parish service in 2004. He's listed in the OCA online clergy directory. The full service wasn't done, so it wasn't like he was "marrying" a fake couple. Also, in the first part of the scene, he comes out of the royal doors from the altar. Only a real priest would have been allowed to do that. As for why/how he was allowed to do the movie, I don't know. There's also a funeral scene at the end.
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