Questions & Answers

Intercultural Marriages

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

The question

If a Coptic Orthodox woman and a Roman Catholic man wish to marry in the Coptic Orthodox Church, can the marriage be celebrated without the Catholic man converting to the Orthodox Church through anointing with oil?

The answer

No. Both the husband and wife must be of the Orthodox faith. The Holy Mystery of Baptism is the first sacramental rite in the Church and without it none of the other sacraments may be administered.

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 2466 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.