marriage within the church?

[Jebediah]

My wife was baptised and chrismated Russian Orthodox, we were married in a civil ceremony, if I convert and she comes back to the Church will we need to remarry in the Church?

[Happy Orthodox]

If you two were never married in the Church, then yes, you probably will. But that is a most beautiful sacrament! Don't hesitate to inform us and maybe even post picks if you ever do!

[Rilian]

Jebediah, this is definitely one of those ask your priest questions, because a lot depends on your situation. My general understanding is that the church will recnognize your civil ceremony as valid and you will be married in the eyes of the church and your children would be considered legitimate if you had any. I don't know if you can do the whole crowning ceremony if you had a civil marriage, but I believe you can have the marriage blessed by your priest.

I also know it's considered a pretty big deal if a practicing Orthodox Christian marries outside of the church. I don't think that really applies to children who were baptized or people who have been away for a long time, because it's almost like they are entering the church anew.

Like I said, you really should consult a priest for the best answer.

Andrew

[EvangeliGirl]

I was wondering something kinda related to this. My husband and I were married at a courthouse, but by a minister. We hoped to one day have a 'real wedding' even if it was just a 'renewing your vows' kinda thing. Could we do something like this in the OC?

[choirfiend]

Generally speaking, yes, you could probably have an Orthodox service., if you became Orthodox.

[EvangeliGirl]

Cool, thanks.

[repentant]

Everyone who gets married in an Orthodox Church in the US has to have a marriage license. So everyone is already married civilly(sp) before they get married in the OC.

[EvangeliGirl]

Ooh, I see. Thanks.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Everyone who gets married in an Orthodox Church in the US has to have a marriage license. So everyone is already married civilly(sp) before they get married in the OC.

Huh?

This may vary state to state, but in NJ the marriage license is obtained before the Wedding Ceremony, and then signed by the officiant AFTER the ceremony is complete.

So, for example, when my father got married in the Orthodox Church two years ago, he obtained the marriage license two days before the ceremony, then the priest and the witnesses signed the license AFTER the ceremony was complete.

When you obtain the marriage license, the ceremony MUST take place within thirty days of obtaining the license.

A civil ceremony seperate from the religious ceremony is NOT required, as long as the officiant at the ceremony is legally recognized by the State.

Again, the rules may vary from state to state, but this is generally how it is done.

In XC,

Maureen

[Khaleas]

Everyone who gets married in an Orthodox Church in the US has to have a marriage license. So everyone is already married civilly(sp) before they get married in the OC.

Huh, yes, you have to have a marriage license, but it has to be signed off by a judge/priest/JOP or anyone with the legal right to marry. Then it has to be returned to the issuer and recorded. So until it's signed by the officiant and recorded you're not really officially married. So you're not married civilly before having an Orthodox ceremony.

[repentant]

Huh?

This may vary state to state, but in NJ the marriage license is obtained before the Wedding Ceremony, and then signed by the officiant AFTER the ceremony is complete.

So, for example, when my father got married in the Orthodox Church two years ago, he obtained the marriage license two days before the ceremony, then the priest and the witnesses signed the license AFTER the ceremony was complete.

When you obtain the marriage license, the ceremony MUST take place within thirty days of obtaining the license.

A civil ceremony seperate from the religious ceremony is NOT required, as long as the officiant at the ceremony is legally recognized by the State.

Again, the rules may vary from state to state, but this is generally how it is done.

In XC,

Maureen

Maybe it is a state thing. I know when my cousin got married (I was the koumbaro) I also went to the civil marriage with the judge as a witness, and had to sign the paper. Then he got married in the OC. The Priest couldn't do the wedding without it. Also my aunt, who was in a different state, had to do the same thing.

[Ioan cel Nou]

It's the same in Romania and (I believe, for my previous Greek priest told me this) in Britain. Everybody comes to the Church with a civil wedding certificate and is then married in the Church, so I can't imagine any Church having a problem with religiously marrying a couple who were only previously married civilly. In fact, I would have thought that it was strange not to do this. We might accept other churches' marriages by economy, but I fail to see how we can do the same with civil marriages as no sacrament (not even a heterodox one) was involved. Personally, I would encourage anyone in this position to have an Orthodox wedding ceremony. In my view at least, it is so much more meaningful than the western style service and certainly more meaningful than a purely civil union.

James

[Kolya]

My wife was baptised and chrismated Russian Orthodox, we were married in a civil ceremony, if I convert and she comes back to the Church will we need to remarry in the Church?

All Russians have to be married in a civil ceremony. Then the marriage is blessed by the normal crowning in church. Your case is quite normal for Russian Orthodox.
My wife and I were married in the Baptist church. Last year on our 7th anniversary we were crowned with the "normal" 1st marriage crowning, even though each of us had been married twice before.
Speak to your priest, I'm quite sure he will accomodate you and bless your union with a crowning.:)

[repentant]

I like the crowns used in the Russian Church. They look more like actual crowns, at least from pics I have seen. In the Greek Church, the stefana, or crowns are fabric with little things on them, and both crowns are attached to each other with a piece of fabric. Usually it is silk and they are handmade

[ufonium2]

That's weird about your family members having to have civil ceremonies. What states were these? Were the priests recent immigrants, by any chance? Maybe they just assumed a civil ceremony was necessary or something. I ask because my dad performs the civil marriages for several counties as part of his job, and I don't think he's ever done a wedding for people who were going to have a religious ceremony in the near future. I know neither his state nor the state in which I was married require a civil ceremony prior to a religious one, as long as the religious one meets certain criteria (which are really loose, and include the Orthodox service) and the oficiant is an ordained minister of a recognized group. I'm pretty sure most (I thought all) states had such laws.

[Mary of Bethany]

Texas certainly does not require a civil ceremony. Only the license to be signed by the Minister following the wedding.


Mary