Greek hierarch speaks about theological meaning of heterosexual marriage

Metropolitan Nikolaos (Hatzinikolaou) of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki. Photo: huffingtonpost.gr

Metropolitan Nikolaos (Hatzinikolaou) of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki of the Orthodox Church of Greece explained the theological meaning of heterosexual marriage according to Orthodox theology.

He disagreed with the idea that "if two people love each other, why not get married, even if they are of the same sex."

The Greek hierarch explained that "the goal of love is to provide unity," and "to create psychosomatic unity, both of souls and bodies, people must complement each other, rather than be the same."

"Anatomically, this is a man and a woman," emphasized the bishop, stating that "heterosexuality is necessary for the unity of people."

He also reminded that "man is psychosomatic" as seen in marital intercourse, which is predominantly a psychosomatic function, with the goal being psychosomatic unity.

"In this union, there is its own sacredness. Therefore, it is a sin to violate sanctity. The body is intended for sacred use. If it is used in a dry sexual sense, it is its degradation. This use must also go through the union of souls. The union of souls is not only in the psychological sense but also in the concept of the soul, as the Church understands it, which is related to consecration," emphasized the hierarch.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the spokesperson for the Greek government stated that authorities would not confront the Church on the issue of same-sex marriages, but they would still pass a law legalizing them.

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