CHRISTIAN PERCEPTIONS OF THE TERM AND PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE REDEFINATION OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

Abstract

The goal of this work is to contribute to a better understanding of the Christian understanding of the concept and purpose of marriage, which is an indispensable topic in discussions about the redefinition of traditional marriage. Given that the participants in these discussions often have misconceptions about the Christian approach to this topic, which is why they either reject it or misinterpret it, the analysis includes the Christian regulation of gender relations, as well as the importance of carnal union and childbearing in the Christian marriage. It was also discussed whether same-sex partners can gain access to the church form of marriage. The conclusions that have been reached based on the mentioned questions are that the Christian concept of regulating gender relations is not based on the negation of gender differences, but is based on the equality of both sexes in their vocation; carnal union represents one of the three cumulative aspects of marital intercourse that cannot be absolutized and at the same time retain the Christian character of marriage; having children is not the purpose of marriage, but it is a manifestation of love that can be fulfilled through the polythene as well as the athene; same-sex partners cannot become one body in the Christian sense because same-sex relationships do not have heavenly roots and cannot be considered free, which is why they cannot be suitable for the church form of conclusion.