The sacrament of marriage in the byzantine rite

Abstract

This article presents the theology of the sacrament of marriage in the Byzantine tradition Churches. In light of the value attributed to virginity in the early centuries of the Church (1), the concept of marriage in the Old Testament (2.1), and Roman legal norms (2.2), the author highlights the originality and significance of Christian marriage as portrayed in the New Testament (2.3). It is emphasized that, in its early stages, the marriage ceremony was liturgically united to the Eucharist (2.4). However, this connection gradually diminished under the influence of Roman civil law on sacramental practice, leading to the development of rituals separate from the Divine Liturgy, such as the rites of betrothal and crowning (2.5). These rituals, conceived in response to the legal and pastoral needs of the time, acquired profound theological and spiritual meaning, symbolizing the union of spouses as a new creation in Christ and their integration into the divine plan of salvation. Finally, the text addresses issues such as second marriages (2.6), the possibility of remarriage after divorce (2.7), and the regulations concerning clerical marriage (2.8).