Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders
As taught in the Eastern Orthodox tradition
The sanctification of human relationships and the sacramental hierarchy of the Church.
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the life of the believer is not a series of isolated moral choices but a progressive transformation into the likeness of God, a process known as theosis. Central to this transformation are the Holy Mysteries, or Sacraments, which serve as the primary conduits of divine grace, bridging the perceived chasm between the created and the uncreated. Among these Mysteries, Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders stand as the two great "social" or "communal" sacraments. While Baptism and Chrismation initiate the person into the life of Christ, and the Eucharist sustains that life, Matrimony and Orders provide the specific structures through which the life of the Church is organized, sanctified, and transmitted through generations.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the ontological difference between a civil contract and the Holy Mystery of Matrimony as understood in the Orthodox tradition.
- **Distinguish** between the "Royal Priesthood" of all believers and the "Sacramental Priesthood" conferred through Holy Orders.
- **Explain** the significance of "The Crowning" in the marriage rite and its connection to the concept of martyrdom (*martyria*).
- **Articulate** the role of Apostolic Succession in maintaining the unity and continuity of the Church from the Apostles to the present day.
- **Trace** the development of the marital union from the wedding at Cana to the "Great Mystery" of Christ and the Church.
- **Defend** the Orthodox practice of a married priesthood and the distinction between the requirements for the various ranks of clergy (Bishop, Priest, Deacon).
- **Apply** the concept of the "Domestic Church" to the daily spiritual and ethical life of an Orthodox family.
- **Compare** the Orthodox understanding of these Mysteries with the views of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, particularly regarding the nature of authority and the indissolubility of marriage.
Scripture
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