OCU Cleric: Church Wedding Not Required for Marriage
OCU cleric affirms civil registration is enough for marriage; a church wedding is optional.
BILA TSERKVA, UKRAINE — As previously reported by UOJ-Ukraine, Artemiy Fakhrutdinov, a cleric of the Bila Tserkva Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), has stated that couples are not required to have a church wedding, asserting that civil registration is sufficient for marriage in both the eyes of the state and of God.
Addressing the question of mandatory religious ceremonies, Fakhrutdinov explained, “You fell in love with each other, went to the civil registry office, got registered, in the eyes of the state and in the eyes of the church, in the eyes of God, you are husband and wife.” He emphasized that respect, fidelity, and mutual care are more important than formal ceremonies.
The cleric encouraged couples to focus on daily life and prayer, noting that those who live in love and seek spiritual growth “will be extremely happy.” Fakhrutdinov did not disclose whether he and his wife had had a church wedding.
Previously, the UOJ reported that, in Greece, weddings have decreased by more than half in 30 years.
