Christian Marriage in Lebanon’s Inter-Confessional Context: Challenges and Opportunities

Christian marriage has traditionally been understood in Orthodox theology as an ecclesial mystery grounded in the unity of faith and shared participation in the Church’s sacramental life. In contemporary Lebanon, increasing interaction among Christians of different traditions has made inter-confessional marriage a significant pastoral reality. Existing scholarship has examined these marriages primarily from juridical perspectives. This article offers a conceptual and interdisciplinary theological analysis of inter-confessional marriage within the Lebanese context by synthesizing biblical, patristic, theological, canonical, and sociological perspectives. It argues that, although unity in faith remains the normative Orthodox ideal of marriage, inter-confessional marriages should not be viewed solely as pastoral problems. Guided by the Orthodox principle of oikonomia, they may also become opportunities for spiritual growth, Christian witness, and mutual enrichment. Building on this synthesis, the article proposes a pastoral framework that integrates doctrinal fidelity with compassionate accompaniment in responding to the realities of religious pluralism. Although developed in relation to Lebanon, the framework offers conceptual insights that may also inform Orthodox pastoral reflection in other religiously diverse contexts. The article thus contributes to the literature by reframing inter-confessional marriage as a pastoral reality and by providing an integrated conceptual framework for Orthodox pastoral practice.