Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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What does it mean for a Catholic to be anointed before getting married to a Copt?

As a Catholic, to be anointed in the Coptic Church means to become Orthodox and to join the Orthodox Church. According to the teaching of the Holy Bible regarding the sacrament of marriage, the Coptic Church does not allow marriage between Orthodox and non Orthodox. We read in the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 19:5 "the two shall become one" and also in the Holy Book of Malachi 2:15 we read "did He not make one being, with flesh and spirit: and what does that one require but godly offspring?"

This later verse emphasizes the importance of the oneness and unity in marriage to have godly offspring. This oneness and unity in marriage is difficult to achieve between Orthodox and Catholic because of the many differences between the two churches.

The Orthodox Church believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father only and not from the Son (John 15:26) but the Catholic Church believes in the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son. So how can the Orthodox Husband and the Catholic wife pray the Creed together?

The Orthodox Church doesn't believe in the immaculate conception of St. Mary (Luke 1:47) while the Catholic Church does.

The Orthodox Church doesn't believe in the merits of the saints, purgatory, indulgences, salvation of the non-Christians, infallibility of the Pope, primacy of Peter, primacy of Rome, and many other doctrines that are adopted by the Catholic Church. Again these are obstacles to the oneness and unity in marriage.

What about your church life? Are you going to attend the Coptic Church or the Catholic Church? Are you going to baptize your children in the Coptic Church or in the Catholic Church? Are you going to teach them the Orthodox dogmas or the Catholic dogmas?

Keeping in mind that the Coptic and the Catholic churches have different ways and dates for fasting and different calendars too, so how can you fast together? How can you celebrate the feasts of Nativity and Resurrection together?

I encourage you to study more the differences between the two churches and the history of the split. It is my pleasure to provide you with some books that can help you in this study.
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