www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Question about Catholic marrying in Armenian Apostolic Church

I am Catholic and my fianc� is Armenian Apostolic and we are trying to decide which of our churches to get married in.

We had a meeting with the Armenian Apostolic priest and he said it would be no problem for us to get married in his church. He also said that I could receive communion at his church and that our marriage would be valid in the Catholic Church as well.

On the other hand, I am having a difficult time to understand the Catholic Church�s point of view. I know we view their sacraments as valid, but will the Catholic Church allow me (and my family) to receive communion during my wedding if I have it at the Armenian Apostolic Church?

I asked my parish priest and he said he thought it would be fine for me to receive communion there. However, my parents asked their parish priest and he said I�m not allowed to receive communion in that church (and also that their Sunday mass will not count for my Sunday obligation).

My fianc� has agreed to raise our future children in the Catholic Church, but for many reasons, I am considering having our wedding in his church.

If I decide to get married in the Armenian Apostolic Church, can you please help me understand the details of this decision? (Most importantly about communion.)

Thanks

When you get contradictory responses from priests, ask the bishop. I suggest you contact your local Ordinary.

Dear cyberself,

Personally, I think which Church you decide to get married in depends on how strong the "relevant" religious culture will be on both of you and your future family after you get married.

In my community, it is usually the case that the woman will convert to the faith of the man for the sake of family unity. I've seen mixed religion marriages that are just unworkable spiritually - the wife of a friend is not Catholic, attends her Church regularly however, but her children are Catholic while her husband has become non-practicing and come Sunday morning, everyone goes their separate ways.

If your future husband's Armenian Orthodox Church is important to him (and knowing Armenians, I would say so!), I believe you should consider formally becoming Armenian Orthodox, period.

The Catholic rule about raising the children as Catholic, while canonically correct, is socially unworkable in many cases. Better to have one faith for the sake of familial unity.

Up to you. The Armenian Orthodox faith is identical to the Catholic faith in all but the Pope - it accepts only the first Three Councils so, should you decide to become Armenian Orthodox, you would be well advised to stay away from any discussion forums where the issue of the number of Ecumenical Councils is discussed in future . . . And when a Greek calls you "you Armenian you!" just pretend you are not offended . . . .:)
Alex

From all that I have experienced over the years, I am going to offer you what I think you and your family can do in good conscience, particularly since the Armenian priest is ready and willing.

I think you can freely marry in the Armenian Orthodox Church. If the Armenian priest is willing to marry you, to commune you, to bless your union then there is nothing in the Catholic Church, in light of the solemn circumstances of the sacrament of matrimony, that would stand in your way.

One of the things that the Catholics and Orthodox have worked out most clearly are accords concerning "mixed" marriages, and there is much pastoral room to be who you both are authentically and integrally. If I were more organized I would have the book of accords at hand but I do not and have no time to seek it out.

If at some point you or your husband choose to join the Church of the other that can happen in time with prayer. But for now, joyfully go and be joined as husband and wife in the Church of your husband's baptism, and God bless!!

Mary

I would say that you need a dispensation from the marriage laws of the Church but this should easily be given by your local ordinary, ie. the Bishop of your diocese.
As to receiving Holy Communion in the Armenian Orthodox Church, I think Canon 844 would apply. On certain occassions a Catholic may receive the Sacraments of Penance, Anointing and Eucharist.

However this is not usually accepted by the Orthodox Church.
You would have to find out from them first and then seek permission from your local ordinary.

Perhaps there is a local Armenian Catholic Church where you could be married. The liturgy would be the same and maybe more familiar to your fiancee and their family.

Stephanos I

PS If you marry in the Armenian Catholic Church you are free to change the Sui Juris Church to which you belong, I presume the Latin Church, to the rite of your spouse by a simple declaration at the time of the marriage. Good luck.

This is true, and thank you for being alert to my omission. A canonical dispensation from a Catholic bishop will fully regularize the marriage in the eyes of both Churches, under the circumstances that are described here.

Mary

Bless, Father Stephanos!

Yes, the Armenian Catholic Church - that would be the best of all worlds!

In my community, there is such enmity between EC's and EO's that that option would not be one, unfortunately.

Happily, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Mekhitarists have a great reputation for their dedication to Armenian Christianity and the Armenian people.

Alex

As to Fr. Stephanos' advice for the parties to marry in the Armenian Catholic Church, the groom should first translate from his Armenian Orthodox Church, if he is amenable, by the simple profession of faith. (Assuming, of course, that there is an Armenian Catholic parish in Paris. :))

Then, the bride would be able to transfer her canonical enrolment (as a Latin Rite Catholic) at any time after marriage to the groom's new Armenian Catholic Church, allowing the family to worship in one Church.

Or, the wife can opt to remain Latin Rite but attends the Armenian Catholic parish with her husband, even for life. Any children will be Armenian Catholic, following the father's sui juris Church.

In this scenario, no (Catholic) bishop's dispensation is needed as both parties are Catholic.

Dear Amado,

If I married an Ethiopian woman who was Orthodox, I would seriously consider becoming Ethiopian Orthodox, (if there were no Ethiopian Catholic Church around, of course . . .).

That would keep the "mystery" in our marriage permanently!

Alex

Dear Alex the Great:

Did you catch a glimpse of your Majesty the Queen enjoying last Saturdy's Kentucky Derby?

Will her royal escort remain an Orthodox or is he planning to revert to Anglicanism?

You are Da Man!

Dear Alex the Great:

Did you catch a glimpse of your Majesty the Queen enjoying last Saturday's Kentucky Derby?

Will her royal consort remain an Orthodox or is he planning to revert to Anglicanism?

You are Da Man!

Dear Amigo Amado!

I believe he and some others will remain as steadfast Orthodox Christians for reasons that are probably similar to the issues raised by King Charles II when he was asked to attend a Presbyterian service.

Afterwards, he was asked what he thought of it . . . and he replied, "Not a religion for gentlemen . . ." When he realized what he had said, he immediately added, "And Anglicanism is not a religion for Christians!"



Alex

Since it appears that you are into Papal pronouncements throughout Catholic history, I hope you will come around sometime to ingest, also, these recent ones, viz.:

(1) Unitatis Redintegratio;
(2) Orientale Lumen;
(3) Ut Unum Sint; and
(4) Dominus Iesus.

Dear dstan51,

Are you even remotely suggesting that the Armenian Orthodox are HERETICS?

How dare you! What century are you living in?

Perhaps the Administrator would like to delegate a Moderator to review this post and comment on its overtly offensive tone toward the Oriental Orthodox.

Alex

In particular the Armenian Orthodox, since I doubt closer ties or greater recognition exists between the Catholic Communion and any other particular non-Catholic Church.

Cyberself: There should be no problems with this. Just get the proper dispensation from your Bishop (which will likely be more of a rubber stamp since you're not asking for permission to be married in a non-Apostolic Church) and you'll be good to go. Since the priest has already said you can receive Communion there, you've really got nothing to worry about as the main difficulty regarding receiving Communion from non-Catholic Apostolic Churches is in those Churches giving you permission to do so.

The only thing I would recommend is, if possible, find an Armenian Catholic parish to attend and raise your children in, so that they can have both worlds. It's not an absolute must (they'll be receiving plenty of inculturation from their father and his family, I'm sure), but it's a wonderful bonus to throw in there, and would likely win you major points with your husband's family!

May God bless you and your marriage!