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Questions & Answers

Mysteries of the Church

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Church › Mysteries of the Church

The question

Can a Protestant who has converted to Greek Orthodox through the Sacrament of Chrismation (without being re-baptized); participate in the Sacraments of the Coptic Orthodox Church? Would a marriage performed in the Greek Orthodox Church between that Greek Orthodox convert and a Coptic Orthodox be recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church?

The answer

Although the Coptic and the Greek Orthodox Churches have agreed to accept each other's baptism, they still are not yet in full communion. A baptized Greek Orthodox has to receive the Mystery of Chrismation in the Coptic Orthodox Church to become a member of the church and be allowed to partake of the Holy Communion or to marry in the church.

A person baptized in the Protestant Church is not baptized in the Orthodox faith i.e. does not accept the mysteries, the position of St. Mary in the Church, the intercession of the saints etc. This baptism is not accepted in our Coptic Orthodox Church and therefore he/she has to be re-baptized.

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