The attitude of the Orthodox Church towards people living in extra-marital relationships

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards extra-marital relationships. This approach is based on two pillars of the Church: the- ology and Canon Law, where the latter is subordinate to the first. In the Orthodox Church the sacrament of marriage is neither a contract nor a promise, but it is the beginning of a new community that orthodox theology describes as a Little Church. Just as Christians cannot live outside the community and truly be Christians, neither can a believing husband or wife, living without the sacramental marriage, be a true Christian family.