What are the Eastern Orthodox Church's teachings regarding birth control?

Answer 1

It is a little complex..because there is not a complete agreement within the church between modern and traditional teachings..

The situation it not as dogmatic as Catholicism..

Birth control outside marriage is forbidden (as is sex outside marriage)
Within marriage birth control is not condemned but seen as an individual decision but continued use of birth control to avoid children is not approved because one of the purposes of marriage is to have children..

Abortion is condemned unless the mother's life is in danger or incases of rape etc..

Answer 2

From the document of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the Church's stance on modern bioethical problems:

"Among the problems which need a religious and moral assessment is that of contraception. Some contraceptives have an abortive effect, interrupting artificially the life of the embryo on the very first stages of his life. Therefore, the same judgements are applicable to the use of them as to abortion. But other means, which do not involve interrupting an already conceived life, cannot be equated with abortion in the least. In defining their attitude to the non-abortive contraceptives, Christian spouses should remember that human reproduction is one of the principal purposes of the divinely established marital union (see, X. 4). The deliberate refusal of childbirth on egoistic grounds devalues marriage and is a definite sin.

At the same time, spouses are responsible before God for the comprehensive upbringing of their children. One of the ways to be responsible for their birth is to restrain themselves from sexual relations for a time. However, Christian spouses should remember the words of St. Paul addressed to them: «Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency» (1 Cor. 7:5). Clearly, spouses should make such decisions mutually on the counsel of their spiritual father. The latter should take into account, with pastoral prudence, the concrete living conditions of the couple, their age, health, degree of spiritual maturity and many other circumstances. In doing so, he should distinguish those who can hold the high demands of continence from those to whom it is not given (Mt. 19:11), taking care above all of the preservation and consolidation of the family. "

As one can see, there is no outright condemnation of birth control. The Church takes this position because it realizes the various personal issues and problems that lead couples to desire to use birth control. It should be noted, though, that the Church does state that the use of birth control is not preferred. The Orthodox Church wisely deems the use of contraceptives a pastoral matter.