Baptism in Russia - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Baptism in Russia
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: cedarwind

My “GF” wants to get married only in her Russian orthodox church in the orthodox ceremony not the mixed ceremony (her church will not perform the mixed ceremony) . I have read about the ceremony and it is a very beautiful ceremony full of symbolism and tradition and I would be happy to get married in one. I also don’t know a more beautiful place to get married.

I have not meet her yet I am going in the spring to see her. We have been writing for many months and call with the help of the translator every other Sunday. We both have optimism that the chemistry will be there when we meet but we also both know it may not be.

PLEASE do not give me the normal comments of you should wait until you meet…I know this but I like to go prepared with as much information as possible to make a wise choice.

I have read the old threads about the requirement for baptism in the Orthodox church to get married in it.
I have no problems with this but I do have a few questions ( WHO DOES NOT). I have also asked questions of my translator , my “GF” and also a friend that I have that lives in Cheboksary. But they all tell me something different. SO I want to see if any of you can enlighten me.

1. Is it possible for me to get baptized in Russia when I go and see my GF? I am going for 3 weeks.

2. Will my lack of speaking Russian be a problem with getting baptized or married in Russia? (I am studying Russian but it is going slow, I was going to take it at the college but the instructor died and
they have not replaced him)

3. What are the requirements to get baptized in the church.

4. I have read that the ceremony is 2 hours long is it always this long or is there a shorter one?

5. Is it possible to get a K1 visa, then go to Russia and marry in a church ceremony with out going through the government office and then come to the U.S. and do the “office” marriage?

Any comments good or bad will be helpful.

Posted by: cedarwind

OK I see there is no takers on helping me with this question.

SO here is the information as provided to me from my GF.

1.She tells me that yes I can get baptized in her orthodox church when I come and see her. She is a strong member of the church and with a little gift it can be arranged for me on the short notice. My "GF" and her mother will also be my witnesses as you must have at least one.

2. My "GF" says that it does not matter that I can not speak Russian that there are people at her church and a priest that speak English and will help me through the Baptism ceremony.

3. The requirements are that I have a talk with the priest about my reason to get baptized in the church and that I understand the responsibilities and commitment of baptism in orthodox church. They will not just baptized you so you can get married , thus as suggested by my GF it is best for me to get baptized on my visit instead of waiting till the hopefully desired wedding.

My GF also suggested that I visit a local orthodox church at least a few times and bring a note from the church saying that you have been attending the church and have a sincere interest in the church. ( I thought that only children needed notes from their mommy)

4. Yes the ceremony it 2 hours long or more as after the baptism you must take holy christmation. (if you were a infant the ceremony is only 30 minuets)

5.This is debatable my "GF" says yes, but the church says it depends. Still working on a clear answer if I ever get one I will post it.

Any comments are always welcome.

Posted by: Hostile_hostage

It looks like you have all the informarion you need.
I would get some advice with someone who knows Russian law.
In the U.K. you don't have to be a member of any particular church in order to get married. You don't need to have been baptised into any particular church either.
My first marriage took place in Denmark and that was in a church with just two witnesses. The ceremony was done in English!

I'm an athiest so wouldn't have a chance of convincing a priest as to why i wanted to get married in his church.
The only reason i would get married in a church would be if it was my partners wish.

I'd love to get married in Russia, if things work out, so would be interested to hear how you get on.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Perhaps you should meet her first before deciding to convert your religion through baptism, or get married?

Posted by: inlove

Don't get baptized just because your "GF" that you've never seen wants you to. You should become a member of any church only because you, and not somebody else, want to practice this religion. By the way, you can get baptized in any Russian Orthodox church overseas, not necessarily only in Russia itself.

Posted by: CheyennePress

There may also be the possibility of learning about Orthodoxy through a Greek Orthodox Church (more common in the States) and perhaps conversion. You should think through this carefully. You are expected to uphold various creeds of the Orthodox Church. Indeed, in an Orthodox service, a couple makes no vows. Their vows are set forth by God and those expectations are a given. Any personal vows they may have towards one another are their own business and are not part of the service. I am not 100% positive if a Greek Orthodox conversion would be fully accepted by the Russian Orthodox Church, but I think the Ecumenical Patriarch still overseas the Russian Church, so I would guess it would suffice.

Orthodoxy is very beautiful and in my opinion, Orthodox theology is extremely spiritual, historical, and cerebral at the same time--perhaps moreso than any other religious texts I've read. It would be to your benefit to explore this on your own.

As for shortening your ceremony, ha! Good luck with that. Orthodoxy stresses the importance of uniformity and full-congregational participation. There is a very specific pattern set forth in these ceremonies, and there is no way to shortcut through it. You're considering joining a faith and its traditions that are centuries old and steeped in history, symbolism and significance. Don't take that lightly. There's something very beautiful to have stepped in the footsteps of those who came before you and to realize the significance of the events that transpire around you and that you participate in.

With that said, you might want to meet this girl first. There is a reason people don't marry and live thousands of miles apart. There is, afterall, something to human contact.

Posted by: paul42q

My take on this as an Agnostic who is studying theology at present....

You really should only be considering getting baptised in your GF's church if you are already a practicing Christian, beleive in and have given your life to Jesus Christ. Even then, you need to ensure Russian Orthadox Christianity matches your beleif structure. For example, I have Baptist friends, and Catholic teachings although still Christian, conflict hugely with what they beleive! If you are just getting baptised to facilitate the marriage and are not a christian, it is hypocritical in the extreme!

Just my 2p worth, you should of course do what you feel is right, and I wish you all the very best whatever that may be!

Posted by: RBS

Quote:

Originally Posted by cedarwind

My “GF” wants to get married only in her Russian orthodox church in the orthodox ceremony not the mixed ceremony (her church will not perform the mixed ceremony) . I have read about the ceremony and it is a very beautiful ceremony full of symbolism and tradition and I would be happy to get married in one. I also don’t know a more beautiful place to get married.

I have not meet her yet I am going in the spring to see her. We have been writing for many months and call with the help of the translator every other Sunday. We both have optimism that the chemistry will be there when we meet but we also both know it may not be.

PLEASE do not give me the normal comments of you should wait until you meet…I know this but I like to go prepared with as much information as possible to make a wise choice.

I have read the old threads about the requirement for baptism in the Orthodox church to get married in it.
I have no problems with this but I do have a few questions ( WHO DOES NOT). I have also asked questions of my translator , my “GF” and also a friend that I have that lives in Cheboksary. But they all tell me something different. SO I want to see if any of you can enlighten me.

1. Is it possible for me to get baptized in Russia when I go and see my GF? I am going for 3 weeks.

2. Will my lack of speaking Russian be a problem with getting baptized or married in Russia? (I am studying Russian but it is going slow, I was going to take it at the college but the instructor died and
they have not replaced him)

3. What are the requirements to get baptized in the church.

4. I have read that the ceremony is 2 hours long is it always this long or is there a shorter one?

5. Is it possible to get a K1 visa, then go to Russia and marry in a church ceremony with out going through the government office and then come to the U.S. and do the “office” marriage?

Any comments good or bad will be helpful.

Cedarwind,

Listen buddy, you have not even met this woman yet and you are planning baptismal ritual details? Wake the frik up! Have you participated in the general forum? You will find lots of people telling you in a much nicer way than I am that you are gambling with your future in a most uninformed way. I mean, what kind of a twit can marry without even seeing the woman? You gusy don't even speak the same language. Wake up! Wake up! You are being an a$$hole TO YOURSELF.

Gib

Russian Meeting Place Copyright ©2000 - 2008, www.russianmeetingplace.com and Khahsyar and Lena.