Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

If the girl is Jewish (non-practicing) and the man is Greek can you get married in a Greek Church without converting? Does it depend on the Church? Is it better if you are just associated with no religion? Can any1 recommend a good web site for Greek traditions or mixed religion/culture marriages/relationships..

Thanks!!!

ps-- I apologize for not posting on LIW but I dont wanna go over there--bad luck to go to liw b4 any ya know

Message edited 2/20/2009 9:08:10 AM.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

hahahaha LIW superstitious?

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I'm catholic, dh jewish. I could have gotten married in the catholic church, but dh and his family were against it.

We got special permission from the arch diocese to be married outside the church and had to sign a something that i would do my best to raise our children catholic (which they are), DH had to do the same. Our marriage is recognized in both religions, we were married by a deacon and a rabbi at villa lombardi's.

Sorry i don't know much about the greek religion, but there are options out there.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

According to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, no. You cannot be Jewish and get married at the altar. I'm not sure if you HAVE to convert but the guy in the movie did

I'm Armenian, which is pretty close, as we're Orthodox as well. I know in *my* church, you have to be baptized, not necessarily by my denomination, just as long as it's Christian. (ex, my DH is Catholic). We can't even have a Jewish best man because he has to hold the cross over us during the ceremony and he is *supposed* to be your first child's Godfather.

dust

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Posted by Little-J-Mommy

According to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, no. You cannot be Jewish and get married at the altar. I'm not sure if you HAVE to convert but the guy in the movie did

I'm Armenian, which is pretty close, as we're Orthodox as well. I know in *my* church, you have to be baptized, not necessarily by my denomination, just as long as it's Christian. (ex, my DH is Catholic). We can't even have a Jewish best man because he has to hold the cross over us during the ceremony and he is *supposed* to be your first child's Godfather.

dust

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

My cousin is Catholic (non-practicing) and married a Greek man in the Greek Church. I know those 2 religions are kind of similar so maybe that's why. I'd call the church and double check

ETS: DH and I got married in the Catholic Church and he isn't Catholic (no conversion necessary)

Message edited 2/20/2009 9:29:51 AM.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

we are going to a greek wedding tomorrow and the bride is lutheran so i think thats why it wasnt a big issue b/c its so similar..the same priest that is marrying this couple would technically be ours IF we did it there, maybe I should pull him aside and get some answers LOL

Message edited 2/20/2009 9:32:25 AM.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I do not think so. If you are Catholic or lutheran you do not have to convert but Jewish I am pretty sure you will have to convert in all the Greek Churches. They are very strick.

Message edited 2/20/2009 9:33:06 AM.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I am pretty sure they will ask for you baptismal papers. Converting means you will have to be baptisied and receive comunnion. As I said before they are extremely stricked. some might be more laid back then others so call around. Which church are you looking to get married in??

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

A friend of mine who is Greek married a Catholic man. It took a lot of negotiating to get the Priest to marry them in the church. They said if he was a Christian (other than Catholic) he would have had to convert.

So I would say that a Jewish girl will most likely have to convert if his church.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I have a friend who is Greek Orthodox and her DH is Jewish. I am pretty sure they couldn't get married in her church. It was a big issue for them and they almost didn't get married because of it. I think it is really good you are finding out the info before.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

This is verrry interesting, thanks sooo much guys! From day one him and I have always been very open and honest --like if we love each other, we will make it work but religion can be tricky so we want all the cards on the table. Ok so this is my thing..

If I dont have any Communion or Baptism papers--nothing proving Im jewish OR catholic (cause I honestly dont) and never had any religious ceremony done to me.. then what happens? then i convert i guess to greek orthodox to get married in his church?

if anything maybe his priest could marry us at a different location but i guess thats particular to the rules of that church/priest or then id have to convert...for him, i might but i only wanna cross that bridge if thats like our last option ya know..

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Good Luck. I know it is really tough choice to make, but the two of you make it do not let other people make it for you. I didnt mind not getting married in a Greek Church even though I probably could have but if we have children together I definetly want to raise them Greek orthodox. If you have anymore questions FM me and I will help you out as much as I can

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I think you can basically say that you're not of any particular religion (say your parents were xyz) and you never practiced, but would like to raise your children as Greek Orthodox Christians and that's why you want to get married in the church and convert to Christianity.

The question is, are you really willing to do that? Is that what you want? What about getting married in the hall buy an interfaith minister? I don't know, to me I guess it would matter in what religion I would want to raise my children.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I'm not sure about Jewish...I'm Catholic and DH is Greek Orthodox and when we were considering getting married in the Greek church I didn't need to convert. But Catholic and Greek Orthodox have the same ideals, I'm not sure how they'd feel about you being Jewish getting married there (although it would be totally ridiculous if they wanted you to convert -- don't they want more members and aren't you sort of saying, hey, we're starting our family here, we'll raise our kids Greek Orthodox?).

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

honestly, if I didn't practice any faith, and my bf was religious, I would do my research on their religion, see if it was something I could believe it and something I'd feel confident raising my children having faith in, I'd embrace his religion and convert.

if "being" of my religion also meant a lot to me, then I'd think of other means.

good luck.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Thanks guys it has all given me alot to think about. I am glad we have options to make this work if/when it comes to this ya know. i figure if we start thinking about it now, when the time comes we will have a better idea of what steps we need to take to make it all work. We are both willing to compromise so I guess it can work. TY so much for all the ideas and thoughts, feel free to keep them coming!!!!!

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I'm Greek Orthodox and DH is Catholic. We were able to get married in my church. However, I do not think if you are Jewish you can.

I'm sure if you call the office of one of the Greek Orthodox churches in your area they can help you with your question.

Good luck!

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I think it depends on the church but im almost sur eit wouldnt matter. DH is Greek and Im not. We didnt get married in church anyway but we are almost sure it wouldnt have mattered. Also a friend of min (non Greek) married a Greek and they got married in her Greek church- he didnt convert.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I think it's less likely that the priest will marry you anywhere other than on an ordained altar. I know in my church, you have to live more than 50 miles from the closest Armenian church in order for them to even consider it.

IMO, If you never went through any religious rites and don't really consider yourself anything in particular, I would go with the I have no religion angle vs. saying you're Jewish.

To be perfectly honest, my church never even asked for baptismal papers for my DH, they just believed us when he said he was Catholic. You could try to do that, but watch you don't burn your toes

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

Posted by 4ForMe

I'm Greek Orthodox and DH is Catholic. We were able to get married in my church. However, I do not think if you are Jewish you can.

I'm sure if you call the office of one of the Greek Orthodox churches in your area they can help you with your question.

Good luck!

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

When my friends got married, she is greek orthodox and he is roman catholic and they got married in a greek church. I couldn't see why it would be a problem to have an interfaith marriage. The priest did the ceremony in greek and english so it was longgg ceremony.

Re: Any Greek/Interfaith couples--I have a question about marriage/weddings...

I may call and just ask even tho I feel kind of silly about it lol. It is St. Nicks in Flushing Qns.
ty again to all those who gave advice