The question of how many wives Orthodox Christians are permitted to have is an interesting one. Unlike some other Christian denominations or other major world religions like Islam, Orthodox Christianity has historically had a restriction on polygamy, only allowing for monogamous marriages between one man and one woman. However, the traditions and practices of the faith have varied over time and geographical location, leading to some exceptions and complexities around this issue. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Orthodox Christian teachings on marriage, examine how the traditions have differed between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, look at some historical examples of polygamy being permitted in certain contexts, and discuss the current stance of Orthodox churches today. The article will show that while polygamy has occurred in some limited instances, the mainstream Orthodox position today is to prohibit multiple wives and uphold monogamous marriage as the standard.
Overview of Orthodox Christian Teachings on Marriage
The starting point for understanding the Orthodox perspective on marriage is to look at the teachings of the Church Fathers and important Orthodox theologians over the centuries. Many influential figures and councils upheld marriage between one man and one woman as the proper form of marriage according to Christian principles.
For example, the Apostolic Canons from the 4th century clearly ruled out multiple marriages, stating, “neither bishop, nor presbyter, nor deacon shall put away his own wife under pretence of religion; but if he put her away, let him be excommunicated; and if he persists, let him be deposed.” This established monogamy as the standard for clergy. Additionally, the Council of Neocaesarea in the early 4th century decreed that “if a presbyter marry, let him be removed from his order; but if he commit fornication or adultery, let him be altogether cast out and put to penance.” Here the prohibition of remarrying after becoming a priest is seen as related to the general restriction on polygamy.
Prominent theologians including St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Epiphanius of Salamis all wrote in support of monogamy and against polygamy in their influential works. For instance, St. John Chrysostom wrote, “God from the first ordained one wife for one man. Nor is it lawful for a man to have more than one wife, nor for a woman to have more than one husband.” This viewpoint became the accepted position throughout most of Christian history, with polygamy seen as incompatible with the Christian conception of marriage.
Differences Between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Traditions
While the Orthodox Church formally banned multiple marriages, there were some key differences between the traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy on how strictly this was enforced.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, based in Byzantium and spreading through Eastern Europe and Russia, strictly followed the prohibitions against polygamy laid out by the Church Fathers and regional councils. Marriage was consecrated through the Eastern rite of crowning the bride and groom, which could only be performed once per person, binding them permanently together. Clergy could not remarry or take multiple wives, and neither could the laity. Divorce was permitted in only the rarest of circumstances, so second marriages were very uncommon.
However, the Oriental Orthodox churches of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia at times allowed polygamous marriages in certain contexts based on necessity and pastoral economy. Oriental Orthodoxy includes churches like the Coptic, Armenian, Syriac, Ethiopian, and Indian Orthodox churches. The Vatican’s Annuario Pontificio mentions that Ethiopian Orthodox Christians often chose monogamy but that polygamy was permitted in some circumstances. Some Oriental Orthodox priests and deacons were permitted to marry and have children, unlike their Eastern Orthodox counterparts.
Instances Where Polygamy Was Permitted
While mainstream Orthodox doctrine always upheld monogamy as the ideal, there were some exceptions where Orthodox leaders permitted polygamous marriages to occur under extraordinary circumstances. Some examples include:
– In medieval Serbia, royalty and nobility sometimes practiced polygamy, up to the time of Czar Dusan in the 14th century. This was done mainly for political alliances and producing heirs.
– In Russia in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, during the Time of Troubles following the end of the Rurik dynasty, the number of men dramatically declined due to constant warfare. Tsar Boris Godunov officially permitted polygamy for a time so that women could have husbands and children could be produced.
– In the Greek colonies of southern Italy and Sicily under Byzantine rule in the 9th-11th centuries, polygamy was practiced by some Greek Orthodox nobility. This was likely an influence of Arab Muslim rule of the region prior to Byzantine reconquest.
– In the Ottoman Empire, some Orthodox priests from the Serbian, Greek, Bulgarian, and Romanian churches were permitted to take multiple wives by imperial decree, though the practice was still discouraged.
– In 19th century Armenia, after years of male population decline due to war and emigration, Armenian Church leaders conducted some polygamous marriage ceremonies, particularly in rural areas where women greatly outnumbered men.
So in certain places and times where demographic, social, or political factors necessitated it, Orthodox authorities would grant dispensations for polygamy, despite it going against mainstream church practice. But these were seen as exceptional cases only.
Current Orthodox Teachings Against Polygamy
In modern times, with improved stability and normalized gender dynamics in most Orthodox countries, the Orthodox Church everywhere firmly tells its members that only monogamous marriages are sacramentally valid according to doctrine. Polygamy is seen as a sin and prohibited for clergy and laity alike. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, for example, clearly states, “polygamy is considered a serious sin and was condemned by Saint Paul and the Fathers of the Church.” Likewise, the Coptic Orthodox Church currently forbids polygamy among its followers both in Egypt and abroad.
Some apologetic explanations have been offered at times for the rare instances of polygamy in the past – for example, that they represented a “lesser evil” than the sexual immorality that could have otherwise occurred in abnormal wartime circumstances. However, most Orthodox theologians today reject such reasoning and say these practices were simply erroneous aberrations from the genuine Christian vision of matrimony.
The Orthodox stance aligns with many other Christian denominations in rejecting polygamy as an outdated, patriarchal practice incompatible with the highest Christian ideals of marriage, family, and human dignity. Monogamy reflects the union of Christ and the Church, and allows for the fullest love and commitment between husband and wife. So while polygamy has occurred in some limited instances due to social factors over history, it is clearly condemned today under all circumstances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mainstream Orthodox Christianity permits only monogamous marriage between one man and one woman. While instances of allowed polygamy have occurred in some specific historical and geographic contexts, particularly in Oriental Orthodox regions, this practice has always been seen as at odds with official Orthodox doctrine. The Church Fathers and theologians have consistently upheld lifelong, monogamous marriage as the proper form for Christians, reflecting Christ’s union with the Church. Today, all Orthodox jurisdictions prohibit polygamy without exception and teach that only a monogamous marital bond is sacramentally valid and morally permissible. So the answer to how many wives Orthodox Christians can have today is one – the acceptance of polygamy in Orthodoxy has been limited, contextual, and is now wholly in the past.