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

**intmarkworkk** · 07-08-2009, 05:08 AM

Forgive me for asking, but could you explain why it is 'not an option' to refuse the paired icons Olga speaks of? My understanding was that she is referring to icons that are separate from those carried by the couple during the ceremony, or am I incorrect?

There are no icons that you personally carry during the wedding. The icons that will belong to your household will precede the bride and groom as they come to the Church and these icons then will go home with you and form the basis of your icon corner.

Surely the Church cannot require me to venerate an icon for the rest of my marriage - this would make a mockery of the concept of marriages between Orthodox and Protestant Christians. It also seems to me, frankly, that one cannot and should not simulate faith No one is forcing you to do anything here, but you are of your own free will and choice marrying an Orthodox person in the Orthodox Church and thus you will be maintaining an Orthodox household. You will be obligated to respect and in as much as possible within your home keep the feasts and fasts of the Church; you will no doubt have an icon corner in your home for family prayers; your children will be baptized, chrismated and raised in the Orthodox faith. Whether or not you participate in the spiritual life of the home (a little church in Orthodox teaching) is up to you, however, you must be willing to encourage your husband and children to participate in that life.

A mixed marriage is not an easy thing for as long as you remain separated from the Church you will remain cut off from the life of your family in some very important and vital aspects. I don't say this to be cruel, but so that you know what you will face 10, 15, 20, 50 years down the road. If you do not know then you will find it harder to endure as time goes by and that would place your marriage in jeopardy.

Fr David Moser

07-08-2009, 05:08 AM	#43
intmarkworkk Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 468 Senior Member	Forgive me for asking, but could you explain why it is 'not an option' to refuse the paired icons Olga speaks of? My understanding was that she is referring to icons that are separate from those carried by the couple during the ceremony, or am I incorrect? There are no icons that you personally carry during the wedding. The icons that will belong to your household will precede the bride and groom as they come to the Church and these icons then will go home with you and form the basis of your icon corner. Surely the Church cannot require me to venerate an icon for the rest of my marriage - this would make a mockery of the concept of marriages between Orthodox and Protestant Christians. It also seems to me, frankly, that one cannot and should not simulate faith No one is forcing you to do anything here, but you are of your own free will and choice marrying an Orthodox person in the Orthodox Church and thus you will be maintaining an Orthodox household. You will be obligated to respect and in as much as possible within your home keep the feasts and fasts of the Church; you will no doubt have an icon corner in your home for family prayers; your children will be baptized, chrismated and raised in the Orthodox faith. Whether or not you participate in the spiritual life of the home (a little church in Orthodox teaching) is up to you, however, you must be willing to encourage your husband and children to participate in that life. A mixed marriage is not an easy thing for as long as you remain separated from the Church you will remain cut off from the life of your family in some very important and vital aspects. I don't say this to be cruel, but so that you know what you will face 10, 15, 20, 50 years down the road. If you do not know then you will find it harder to endure as time goes by and that would place your marriage in jeopardy. Fr David Moser
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