Marriage in the Orthodox Church

Course level:All Levels

Course Duration: 8h

Last Updated:April 17, 2026

This course is taught by:

Philip Mamalakis, Ph.D.

Course Description

Drawing from the words of Saint Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 5:32, this course explores marriage not simply as a human relationship, but as a sacred mystery, an image of Christ and His Church. Through this lens, participants will reflect on how the Orthodox vision of marriage offers guidance and meaning in the midst of everyday challenges.

This course will take place from May 4 to May 29. We invite all who are interested to deepen their understanding of marriage as both vocation and sacrament, and to see how it shapes the way we live our faith

Understand the Orthodox theology of marriage as biblical, Patristic, and Sacramental, distinct from competing perspectives of marriage found in contemporary culture and non-Orthodox Christian traditions.
Understand the Orthodox theology of marriage as it relates to the entirety of the Orthodox theological tradition.
Understand the Orthodox theology of marriage as the guide for couples to successfully navigate the normal challenges of married life towards greater intimacy with each other and God.

Course Modules

Week One: Marriage as Icon and Journey
This first class will introduce students to the biblical Patristic view of marriage, expressed in the Marriage Ceremony, summarizing the major Orthodox writings on marriage. Using a guiding metaphor of a journey which begins on earth but whose destination is heaven, this first class will present marriage as a process of growing in Christ as couples grow in love for each other.

Lecture: Marriage as Icon and Journey
May 6: Q&A Live Zoom Session

Week Two: The Sacrament of Married Life
This second class will do a deep dive into understanding marriage as Icon and Sacrament by exploring how the sacrament of marriage is lived out daily, what it looks like, and why it matters that we view marriage as a sacrament.

Week Three: The Sacrament of Speaking and Listening
This class will present marital communication by introducing basic communication skills and strategies embedded within the Orthodox understanding of marriage presented in the first two classes. Learning to speak and to listen is presented as the heart of the healing and growth within marriage.

Week Four: Special Topics and Applications
In this final class, we will look at specific topics, including inlaws, finances, physical intimacy, and parenting and how our theology of marriage serves as the guide for couples to successfully navigate these common challenges.