Orthodox wedding

[sunandstars]

My friend is a Greek Orthodox Christian, although she does not practice. She is sentimental towards her families heritage though.

She was married and is now civilly divorced. At the wedding, there was no crowning, and I don’t believe it was a religious affair.

She is dating an Italian catholic who would want to marry in the Church.

Would a Orotbodox divorce be sufficient to render her free to marry, one would she need to get an annulment from the Catholic Church?

If she needs a Catholic annulment, Is this something she can persue herself before he pops the question?

Will she need a dispensation to marry a Catholic? Will he need one to marry an Orthodox?

 

[TheLittleLady]

This is a question for the Tribunal Office at his Diocese. They should be open again middle of next week.

 

[Vico]

My friend is a Greek Orthodox Christian, although she does not practice. She is sentimental towards her families heritage though.

She was married and is now civilly divorced. At the wedding, there was no crowning, and I don’t believe it was a religious affair.

She is dating an Italian catholic who would want to marry in the Church.

Would a Orotbodox divorce be sufficient to render her free to marry, one would she need to get an annulment from the Catholic Church?

If she needs a Catholic annulment, Is this something she can persue herself before he pops the question?

Will she need a dispensation to marry a Catholic? Will he need one to marry an Orthodox?

Catholic and Orthodox do not have the same practice with regard to marriage. Orthodox have what is called a penitential marriage even though the prior marriage was valid. In addition to a penitential marriage, Orthodox also have a declaration that a marriage did not occur (like Catholic annulment) which would allow for a normal marriage (not penitential).

A Catholic marriage requires bride and groom to be free to marry (no prior bond) so a Catholic tribunal will have to consider the matter to see if the Orthodox marriage was valid (per Catholic Church) or not. If it was valid then no marriage can occur. If it was invalid, and there are no other undispensible impediments, then it would be possible. Also, Catholic and Orthodox marry with permission rather than dispensation.

Latin canon law: CIC

Can. 1124 Without the express permission of the competent authority, marriage is prohibited between two baptized persons, one of whom was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it after baptism, the other of whom belongs to a Church or ecclesial community not in full communion with the Catholic Church.

 

[1ke]

Would a Orotbodox divorce be sufficient to render her free to marry, one would she need to get an annulment from the Catholic Church?

The couple would need to attend marriage preparation in the Catholic Church, perhaps both Churches or with the priests working together.

The Catholic priest conducts an investigation of freedom to marry, just like with any other couple. She will need to provide documentation from the Orthodox Church, such as sacramental records, her marriage and divorce documents, etc.

If she did not marry in the Orthodox Church initially or at any time after the civil marriage then this would be a matter of paperwork, as it was not a valid marriage.

If she did marry in the Orthodox Church, the fact that the Orthodox priest may marry her anyway, does not make her free to marry from the Catholic perspective and she may indeed need a decree of nullity from the Catholic Church.

Will she need a dispensation to marry a Catholic? Will he need one to marry an Orthodox?

The Church has very specific guidelines for a Catholic marrying an Orthodox. They need to be married by the Orthodox priest for the Orthodox to consider them married. This is permission the Catholic priest gives to the Catholic, not a dispensation.

They should both talk to the Catholic priest and verify her freedom to marry before they move forward with any marriage plans.

 

[sunandstars]

Thank you for this information. Her wedding took place in the Bahamas as part of a resort package deal. There was no orthodox priest there.

And then after that, the marriage wasn’t even consummated for several years because the groom kept refusing her. It happened after about five years, but by then all had been lost. She ended it not long after that.

Sounds like she would get an annulment through lack of form in her Church.

She does live about two hours away from the nearest O Church. I’ll tell her to make contact soon, since she’s convinced it won’t be long before he asks the big question.

Her faith is not, ahhh, well formed. But she wants to honor her family’s heritage. He on the other hand, comes from a big Italian family that expects him to toe the line. She’s happy with what that will mean in the future.

 

[1ke]

Sounds like she would get an annulment through lack of form in her Church.

The Orthodox don’t have the same concept of nullity that the Catholic Church does.

It is best if they speak with both pastors— Orthodox
and Catholic. There will be preparation steps needed in both Churches.