Questions & Answers

Sex in Marriage

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Marriage and Family › Sex in Marriage

The question

Is oral sex, within the bonds of marriage, permitted in the Orthodox Church?

The answer

Marriage is sacred. Sex is a gift of God to allow the husband and wife to express their love to each other in the most intimate way. It is love full of affection not of lust. Oral sex is an expression of fleshly lust and sinful desires that does not hold sanctity, respect or honor between partners. St. Paul says, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled" (Heb 13:4).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

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Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1052 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.