Q&A Home > I > Intermarriage

• For a Russian Orthodox to get married to a Coptic Orthodox member, does he require to be baptized?
• I am a practicing Catholic recently got engaged to a practicing Coptic Orthodox. We have always supported each other's religion, and attended services at both churches. Since both of us are from one apostolic church, why then, do I need to convert in order to be married in the.Orthodox Church?
• I have a problem that involves an American girl whom I have known for the past 5 years. She met Abouna and had a few sessions with him to introduce her to our church. She is very committed to joining our church. She is Lutheran and her father is the pastor of her church. The problem came up when we told her parents that we are hoping to get married and started talking about the wedding arrangements. They are saying that in the American tradition, the couple gets married at the bride's church. I insisted on getting married at my church, which is not a problem for her, but her parents have a big problem with it.
• If an Orthodox girl marries a Catholic man and she does not change her religion, can she still have communion in her Orthodox Church?
• In May 2011, I will be getting engaged to a Coptic Christian in his Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. He and I have had many discussions about our faith, and I have done a lot of research and reading about Coptic Orthodoxy. We both feel it is important for our family to have the same faith, and to raise our future children with the same beliefs. After all I have learned, I feel 100% that Coptic Orthodoxy is the right faith for me and our family. I am seeking information on how to become Coptic and what steps I need to take to do so. Regarding me, I am Christian and accept our Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. I was raised Baptist, but I am currently not a member of a church, and have never been baptized.   The closest Coptic Church is located in a state in the SUS Diocese. However, it is about an hour and fifteen minutes from where I live. I would love to attend as often as possible, but I currently do not have a vehicle, so I will be relying on my father to take me. I would love your advice on what I should do? Is it okay to just go as often as I'm able or will this affect my being able to convert? This is very important to me, and I will try my hardest to attend regularly, but it might not be possible to go weekly due to the distance. Also, when I do go to the Church, is there anything in particular I should discuss with the Priest? My fiancée and I are planning to be engaged this May, and I know in order for this to happen, I will need to convert before the engagement ceremony. It is already February. Is this enough time for me to speak with a priest, learn more about Coptic Orthodoxy, and become a member of the faith?
• My boyfriend is a Coptic Orthodox. I am a Mormon. Can we be married in his church without me having to convert to his faith?
• My family and I are not religious, but I have fallen in love with a Coptic man. We are both still in college and it is a long distance relationship. We met in person and spent less than 12 hours together. I am struggling to accept the fact, after 6 months of talking long distance, that we cannot be together due to our differing religions and the rules of the Coptic Church. Can you explain why we are not meant to be together and how I can accept that we cannot marry?
• My fiancé, his mom, his sister, and I are protestant. My fiancé’s father is Coptic. He is putting a lot of pressure on us to have a Coptic ceremony. I agreed to it out of respect to him. However, I did not know until recently that I would have to convert and be baptized in the Coptic Church. Our wedding is only 2 months away now and we have to deal with this big issue. I told them that I didn't feel comfortable getting rebaptized because I was already baptized and joining the Church just to do a ceremony is not right. My fiancé and I will attend the Coptic Church 1-2x per year out of respect to his dad, but we attend a protestant church and plan to continue attending it after our wedding. We both love God and serve and obey Him and feel like we have been able to grow and become closer to God through the church where we currently attend. I have expressed my feelings to my fiancé’s family and they are still pressuring me to go through with a Coptic ceremony. I have read in many places, including the baptism and even the ceremony rites, where statements are made saying that you will serve, attend, etc., the Coptic Church. I most certainly will not lie if asked, and I find it hard to believe that a priest would carry through with a baptism and ceremony considering that. I know my fiancé’s dad is a Christian just as I am and he is a loving man. I know his dad and any other person in the Coptic Church would want to see us attend and get married there, but I am following, obeying God, and growing in my character and faith and feel that the church I attend now is where I am to remain and my fiancé also feels the same way. I know that the Coptic ceremony is important to my fiancé’s dad, but I am really at a loss as to what to do or to say to him. I feel like if I don't do it, that it will cause problems between us and he will think I am being dishonoring or disrespectful. He said if we don't do a Coptic ceremony, he will not invite his family, and that is hurtful to me. My fiancé is very stressed over the whole situation and also does not know what to do.
• What are the different options available in marrying someone of a different Christian religion? What are the different steps involved?
• What does it mean for a Catholic to be anointed before getting married to a Copt?