Marriage in Christ

This article by Archpriest Nicolas Afanassieff examines the Orthodox doctrine of marriage as a sacrament, in response to questions posed by the Centre de Pastorale Liturgique. Proceeding through a historical and theological study, the author traces the tensions that have marked the place of marriage in the Eastern ecclesial tradition, particularly in relation to encratite currents, monasticism, and the funeral rite, which at various times competed with marriage in sacramental lists. The central contribution of the article lies in the refutation of an individualistic conception of the sacraments: Afanassieff demonstrates that marriage is a sacrament not because it elevates an empirical fact, but because it constitutes an event in the life of the Church itself. This eucharistic ecclesiology, characteristic of his thought, also illuminates the relationship between marriage, baptism, and the ecclesial belonging of children.