Lydia wrote:Maria wrote:I have moved this thread into World Orthodoxy, since James' post mentions the OCA.
Not only the OCA, but also GOARCH and the Antiochians allow for interfaith marriages as long as the non-Orthodox but heterodox spouse is a believing Christian whether Protestant or Catholic. I do not know the policy of the Serbians, ROCOR, and MP, who are on the Old-Calendar, but who are World Orthodox due to their communion with ecumenists, especially the EP and the MP. I do not understand the logic of the WO who say that non-Orthodox heterodox spouses cannot receive the "Holy Mysteries" of confession, chrismation, communion, unction, and funerals, but they can receive Holy Crowning. It does not make sense.
In True Orthodoxy, couples both must be True Orthodox Christians as the Crowning ceremony is recognized as a Holy Mystery because Christ-God unites them in marriage.
I know that after the Second World War, when Russians were scattered throughout the world, The Metropolia and ROCOR would marry Orthodox to Heterodox spouses rather than letting their sons and daughters fall into sin by denying it. This was the decision of the Bishops at the time. What I do know from my own experience is that virtually all of the heterodox spouses eventually converted and, in most cases, became even more pious than the Orthodox spouse.
I have come to understand that True Bishops are guided in their decisions by The Holy Spirit, even though these decisions seem contrary to the canons of The Holy Church. As I said, in my experience many Roman Catholics and Protestants have been united to The Orthodox Church by marriage.
That's an interesting point that you bring up. A bishop can apply economia to a situation that he believes will ultimately result in the glory of God. It must be understood though that economia (in this case, marrying an Orthodox Christian with a non-Orthodox Christian) should be an exception to the rule, under the guidance of a bishop being led by the Holy Spirit. Marrying Orthodox & non-Orthodox shouldn't become the norm since an Orthodox marriage is a divine mystery that God has intended for the faithful in His Church.