Lydia wrote:If two people who had a civil marriage became Orthodox, would they then go through the Orthodox marriage service since it is a Sacrament?
If True orthodox demand that those who were "baptized" in heterodox confessions be baptized wouldn't the same apply to marriage?
I know of one couple who became Orthodox many years ago, but were not "remarried."
Another question: If a wife wanted to become Orthodox but her husband forbids it (he is muslim) what would happen?
First Question:
I was told, please correct me if I am wrong, that when a couple is baptized into Holy Orthodoxy with the permission of the Bishop, and receive Holy Communion together, then that is a sign of marriage as it is Christ Who unites the couple in Holy Matrimony. This is why the newly married couple are offered Holy Communion. Their first food as new Christians and as newlyweds is the very Body and Blood of Christ. It is not just the cup of blessing, but Holy Communion. If, however, the husband and his Bishop were to discern that this man has a calling to the diaconate or priesthood, then that couple would be officially married in the Church so as not to scandalize the weak.
In World Orthodoxy, the newlywed couple usually only receives blessed wine in "the cup of blessing." They do not partake of the "Chalice of Salvation," which contains the most precious Body and Blood of Christ. Furthermore, the World Orthodox have defiled the Holy Mystery of Crowning by allowing inter-faith marriages where the World Orthodox are allowed to marry Catholics or Protestants, as long as they had a "valid" baptism.
In the early church, the marriage ceremony was the act of receiving communion together with the blessing of the bishop.
Second Question:
If a wife wanted to become Orthodox, but her husband forbids it because he is a staunch Muslim, then he or any of the Muslim relatives could probably kill her should she declare her wish to become Orthodox because that would be a denial of Islam.
There was a woman who lived in Southern California who was from a Muslim family. At an early age, she married a Muslim man. Through her work associates, she discovered Holy Orthodoxy, and wanted to become Orthodox. While she was inquiring about Orthodoxy, her husband found out and they had a nasty argument. He forbade her to have any more contact with her friends. Not only did she have to quit her job, but also she had to separate from her husband and find a safe refuge because her relatives on both sides of the family were seeking to kill her. She was baptized into Holy Orthodoxy and teaches classes to the children of the parish.