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Does anyone know if the late (eternal memory!) Protopresbyter, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, left any writings on marriage? I came across a quote some time ago which I thought was attributed to him--about how any so-called Christian marriage is not in fact Christian if it does constantly crucify its own self-sufficiency--but have been unable to find it in any definitive source. Can anyone help??

Dear Adam,
I believe the passage you are looking for comes from "Sacraments and Orthodoxy." Chapter 5 is called "The Mystery of Love" and deals with marriage; it is about 17 pages long. "A marriage which does not constantly crucify its own selfishness and self-suffciency, which does not 'die to itself' that it may point beyond itself, is not a Christian marriage" appears on page 111 in my version (published by Herder and Herder, 1965). I think the newest versions of Sacraments and Orthodoxy are published under the title "For the Life of the World," but you should probably check with St. Vladimir's Press to find out for sure (www.svots.edu [svots.edu]). They would know about any other writings by Schmemann as well.
--Agape

Chapter 5 in "For the Life of the World" is directed to marriage. To my knowledge he didn't write a book specifically relating this issue. Some definitive texts for marriage are "Marriage-An Orthodox Perspective" by John Meyendorff and, going back to a crucial patristic source, "On Marriage and Family Life" by St. John Chrysystom, both available paperback from SVS Press.

Thanks! Now I have the perfect excuse to justify to my fianc�e the ordering of yet another book from the wickedly tempting Web!