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Questions & Answers

Intercultural Marriages

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

The question

What are the different options available in marrying someone of a different Christian religion? What are the different steps involved?

The answer

Thank God, there are no options in marriage. Marrying someone from a different religion or denomination is unacceptable to the Coptic Orthodox church; because it is unacceptable to God. From the time of your baptism and confirmation, you have been consecrated to God. How can we, the church, release one of our own to someone who is not devoted to our Lord and does not embrace our church beliefs, traditions, rites, rituals, & dogmas in the same manner?

Therefore, if someone is seriously and genuinely interested in marrying someone from our church, the following steps must be established:
  1. Believe wholeheartedly & unconditionally in the teachings of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which are the true Christian doctrines.



  2. Begin a spiritual agenda with a spiritual father from our church who will guide in confession and spiritual growth.



  3. Be baptized and confirmed in the Coptic Orthodox Church. [Very few exceptions are allowed for a few Orthodox churches, which also baptize by immersion, to receive the Holy Chrismation, Myron Oil for Confirmation only.]
"...'and the two shall become one flesh;' so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate" (Mark 10:8).

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 1291 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.