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Intercultural Marriages

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Marriage and Family › Intercultural Marriages

The question

My boyfriend is a Coptic Orthodox. I am a Mormon. Can we be married in his church without me having to convert to his faith?

The answer

The Holy Bible teaches us that marriage is a Mystery that belongs to an entirely different order than the mere union of a man and woman through a civil contract. It basically regards a husband and wife as symbols of another marriage; namely, the marriage of Lord Jesus and the Church:
  • "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord...therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (Eph 5:22,24).


  • "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it...so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church" (Eph 5:25,28-29).
In order to marry in an Orthodox Church; couples have to abide by the Holy Bible teachings. Among those teachings: 1-Characteristics of an Orthodox Marriage:
  • Both husband and wife must be Orthodox Christians "Do not be equally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God" (2 Cor 6:14-16).

  • Monogamy: "Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (1 Cor 7:2).

  • Divorce is allowed only for sexual immorality reasons, "Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Mt 19:9).
2-The Goal of an Orthodox Marriage: Very often couples get married for the purpose of filling certain needs that they have in their own personal lives. Therefore, they come to marriage expecting happiness, emotional well-being, and personal satisfaction – without even having to work for them. When they don't get these things, they feel cheated or blame their spouse. As Orthodox Christians, we approach marriage very differently. The goal of marriage is not only fulfillment of one's needs; it is rather preparation to heaven.

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

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1187 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.