Orthodox marriage

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I’m posting this thread here because I know that many of our Orthodox brothers and sisters frequently post in this forum.

I am friends with a couple who are Catholic. Both were married before. She was not married in the Catholic Church so if I am correct, no need for an annulment. He on the other hand was married in the Church and later in life he and his first wife divorced.

The two met and were married outside of the Church, with the intent of getting it blessed. However, his witnesses have not “cooperated,” as they put it, and has not been able to get an annulment. In their spiritual journey they are now attracted to the Orthodox Church. Would they be able to have their marriage blessed in the Orthodox Church, or do the same “rules” apply?

I only ask because they are very God loving family, but this marriage situation has been on their minds for quite some time.

Thanks and God bless,
ZP
 
It will be handled strictly in a pastoral manner according to the judgement of the Bishop. NOTHING creates a precedent in such matters.

However, keep in mind that the Orthodox Church teaches that the Priest confers the Mystery of Matrimony on the couple, and not each upon the other (as in the Latin Church).
 
If they both converted to Orthodoxy, I am quite sure that the priest would happily bless their marriage. The Orthodox are much more relaxed about many pastoral issues. If they were married in the Catholic Church, it is possible that the Orthodox bishop will recognise their marriage through divine economia.
 
ziapueblo said:
I’m posting this thread here because I know that many of our Orthodox brothers and sisters frequently post in this forum.

I am friends with a couple who are Catholic. Both were married before. She was not married in the Catholic Church so if I am correct, no need for an annulment. He on the other hand was married in the Church and later in life he and his first wife divorced.

The two met and were married outside of the Church, with the intent of getting it blessed. However, his witnesses have not “cooperated,” as they put it, and has not been able to get an annulment. In their spiritual journey they are now attracted to the Orthodox Church. Would they be able to have their marriage blessed in the Orthodox Church, or do the same “rules” apply?

I only ask because they are very God loving family, but this marriage situation has been on their minds for quite some time.

Thanks and God bless,
ZP
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As long as they have obtained civil divorces no Catholic annulment will be needed and since the Orthodox Church doesn’t recognize the sacraments of other confessions no ecclesiastical divorce will be necessary either.

Some jurisdictions such as the Greek Archdiocese require that couples who convert to Orthodoxy have their marriages blessed in the Church within one year of being received. Any Orthodox priest would be happy to bless the marriage of a convert couple.

Yours in Christ
Joe
 
I have a question, also. This couple appears (from the original post) to be seeking to join the Orthodox Church soley to escape the marriage regulations in the Catholic Church (although I can’t really assume that, I’m going by the OP). Is that a good idea? I would think that if one would convert to Orthodoxy it would be because they truly believed in it, and the priest would want them to be true believers, not just because they want to rectify a marriage situation.

In the Catholic Church we have people becoming Catholic because their intended spouses are Catholic, not because they really believe it. Which is bad, and many end up falling away.

I know the priests cannot always determine the hearts of people and it is not in all their control, but I would think this would be a major consideration to be addressed, because while you can fool priests and bishops, you can’t fool God.

Now I realize this couple may truly believe in Orthodoxy, I cannot judge that, but I know this happens because I know people who have done that, to please their spouses and under family pressure.

What do others think about this?
 
CB_Catholic said:
I have a question, also. This couple appears (from the original post) to be seeking to join the Orthodox Church soley to escape the marriage regulations in the Catholic Church (although I can’t really assume that, I’m going by the OP). Is that a good idea? I would think that if one would convert to Orthodoxy it would be because they truly believed in it, and the priest would want them to be true believers, not just because they want to rectify a marriage situation.
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I agree with you. As I know the couple, they are very frustrated with the Church because of their marriage situation. To be quite honest, as I have told them, the Church cannot be faulted in this case. That being said, they are very faithful Catholics and I can understand their frustrations.

For them, seeking the Orthodox Church is mainly due to the state of affairs of their marriage. Like you CB Catholic I question their motives, is it a good thing? They wish to receive the Holy Eucharist and not feel scandalized every time they do so.

Just yesterday I read this article, Marriages Should Be Assumed Valid, Says Pope. Maybe it’s best that they assume their marriage is valid, but continue to try to get the previous marriage annulled?

I
 
ziapueblo said:
. . . She was not married in the Catholic Church so if I am correct, no need for an annulment. . . .
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This is probably not of primary interest here, but I offer the following that others not be misled. Any attempt at marriage must be evaluated by the Tribunal to be declared invalid. This is the simplest case; it is called Defect of Form. The local priest prepares the paper work and submits it to the Tribunal for review. If all is in order they approve it. It usually takes less than a month.
 
Dear brother ziapueblo,
ziapueblo said:
I am friends with a couple who are Catholic. Both were married before. She was not married in the Catholic Church so if I am correct, no need for an annulment. He on the other hand was married in the Church and later in life he and his first wife divorced.
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AFAIK, she would still need a formal annulment, though it should be relatively easy. As noted by someone else, the Church PRESUMES all marriages to be valid - this is done to protect the sanctity of the Sacrament.
The two met and were married outside of the Church, with the intent of getting it blessed. However, his witnesses have not “cooperated,” as they put it, and has not been able to get an annulment.
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What bearing do the witnesses have for the annulment process?
In their spiritual journey they are now attracted to the Orthodox Church. Would they be able to have their marriage blessed in the Orthodox Church, or do the same “rules” apply?
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I wonder how many convert to Orthodoxy or Protestantism because of this matter? Just thinking out loud.

Blessings,
Marduk
 
mardukm said:
…

What bearing do the witnesses have for the annulment process?
. . .
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Some cases, e.g. Catholic married outside the Church, one of the parties was not baptized, one of the parties had a previous marriage which has not been declared invalid etc. the facts can be proved by documentation. However, those that go to the formal annulment process depend on some defect of intent in one of the parties. There is seldom any written evidence to support this; so the tribunal is dependent on witnesses to things that were said at the time, e.g. intent not to have children, lack of intent for a permanent union, etc.
 
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