Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective (Paperback)

by John Meyendorff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The author writes: 'It is impossible to understand either the New Testament doctrine on marriage, or the very consistent practice of the Orthodox Church without seeing Christian marriage in the context of the Eucharist... The very notion of marriage as a sacrament presupposed that a man is not only a being with physiological, psychological, and social functions, but that he is a citizen of God's Kingdom, i.e., that his entire life'and especially its most decisive moments'involve eternal values and God Himself.' This excellent study on Christian marriage is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the Orthodox perspective on marriage. In it John Meyendorff examines marriage in the Church from the contexts of Judaism and the New Testament, the early Church and Roman law, sacramental life, and contemporary society. Specific issues discussed include: second marriages, 'mixed' marriages, divorce, abortion, family planning and responsible parenthood, married clergy, celibacy, and the monastic life. Essential reading for all pastors, it is also useful for parents, newlyweds and those preparing or the sacrament of marriage.

About the Author
Fr John Meyendorff (1926-1992) was a Professor of Church History and Patristics at St Vladimir s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a professor of History at Fordham University, NY. He was a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities (1976-77), and a Guggenheim Fellow. He held honorary doctorates from the University of Notre Dame and General Theological Seminary, was a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, and a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks. In 1990 The Diploma of Honorary Member of the Leningrad Theological Academy was bestowed upon him.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr; 2nd edition (June 1, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913836052
• ISBN-13: 978-0913836057
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #629,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Provided excellent background information, June 8, 2004

By	Susan Ralich (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

When my cousin was married, my gift to her and her non-Orthodox husband was a wedding program that I wrote. I felt it would make the ceremony more interesting for the groom's family. It proved educational for my family as well. This book was an excellent reference. It provided an explanation of each part of an Orthodox marriage ceremony, why it occurs, and the historical origin. It provided a wealth of information in an easy-to-read format for non-Orthodox and Orthodox alike.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, especially on Liturgical stuff, July 31, 2005

By	JustinK (PA) - See all my reviews

This book provides a good overview of marriage. While not as "deep" as some Orthodox books on the subject, it is definately more practical than most, and also goes into the liturgical aspects of getting married more than most. Fr. John's explanation of how the Orthodox view of sex differs from the view of certain other Christians is probably helpful to those unfamiliar with all the theological disputes. And certainly, his inclusion of Canons and quotes from Church Fathers add some meat to Fr. John's overview.