Optical fiber connecting device

An optical fiber connecting device has a pair of holding elements which are formed on an actuating member and are capable of undergoing elastic deformation as a sheath holding mechanism for securing, to a body, the sheath portions S of the optical fibers F having uncoated fiber elements C to be held by the fiber-element securing member. The holding elements form a pair of passages for guiding the optical fibers F on the body. The holding elements undergo the elastic deformation accompanying the motion, on the body, of the actuating member for closing the fiber-element securing member, and push and hold the sheath portions S of the optical fibers F in the corresponding passages by utilizing their own elastic restoring forces. Each holding element includes a pressing part formed at a free end separated away from a fixed end part, and an engaging part positioned between the fixed end part and the pressing part.