Quite often, couples are faced with the issue of registering family ties at the legislative level. However, for many, an Orthodox wedding is the most important point in family life, and they see no point in formalizing the marriage. But here a fairly reasonable question arises: “ Is it possible to get married without registering a marriage at the registry office??».
A wedding , or in other words a “ church marriage ,” is a special ceremony performed by ministers or high priests of the cathedral. This ritual is considered sacred and connects the lives of young couples, while God seems to approve of their relationship and further cohabitation, and also blesses the newlyweds for the birth of children.
It is worth noting that from a jurisdictional point of view, weddings do not play any important role. Since according to the law, an official marriage is only registration in the registry office.
Is it possible to get married without signing at the registry office?
As of 2021, religion does not interfere with such processes. But in addition to religious rules, there are internal church laws. According to which, a wedding ceremony without an official marriage is impossible . These measures were not taken by chance, because there are often cases when married men came to marry “fictitious wives.”
Considering that Christianity does not allow polygamous relationships and polygamy, the priest must somehow determine the seriousness of the relationship. For this purpose, the “passport stamp verification system” was introduced.
Is it possible to get married in church?
Despite the fact that the church does not approve of divorce and family breakdown, since during the wedding people take an oath of fidelity for life, there is still such a thing as debunking. Let's consider how you can debunk a marriage and whether it is possible. There is no special procedure for carrying out such a procedure. However, there are no clearly established deadlines and rites of debunking.
Wedding is one of the most beautiful and mysterious procedures
However, the church identifies the main reasons for which debunking takes place. These include:
- infidelity of one of the spouses;
- serious illness;
- mental illness;
- death;
- the absence of one of the spouses for more than five years (recognized as missing);
- imprisonment (more than three years);
- conclusion of a second marriage;
- accepting another faith;
- inability to have children;
- marriage between relatives;
- abortion without medical indications;
- excessive use of alcohol and drugs.
Interesting information! Thus, there is no definite answer to the question of whether it is possible to debunk. Since divorce is not provided for in heaven, however, the church allows it to occur. But, this permission is presented in the form of the possibility of a second wedding.
What does it take to get debunked in church? It is impossible to describe a clear plan of action, since as such there is no separate procedure providing for the dissolution of a marriage. In addition, each ritual is purely individual and original. Many clergy completely deny recognition of this procedure, since it is believed that a marriage made in heaven is the strongest and most indestructible.
However, in reality this is not at all the case. Many couples who have not fully realized the seriousness and responsibility of the sacramental ritual wish to divorce in heaven. However, this is impossible. It is only possible to create new bonds, which seems to presuppose the breaking of old ones. Many couples, after an official, documented divorce, do not even think about the fact that their marriage continues to exist. However, especially believers are very puzzled by this issue. So what to do?
A divorce certificate is the main document proving the fact of a secular divorce.
Initially, you need to divorce your former spouse in accordance with the rules of family law (through the registry office or court). If a husband and wife mutually want this and do not have children or property disputes, then they need to contact the registry office. In all other cases, go to the magistrate's court with a statement of claim. Before going to the registry office or court, you will need to pay a fee and collect documents.
You will need to write a statement on the spot. After the expiration of a certain period for the implementation of this procedure, you will need to come for a certificate. The latter, in turn, will be official proof of the fact of divorce. However, after a legal divorce, it will not be possible to come to the church and ask for debunking, since it does not provide such services.
So how to get debunked? To do this, you must first visit the church where the sacrament took place, or any other nearby one. This is done so that the abbot has a conversation with the former spouses, finds out the reasons for the separation and talks about the possible consequences.
Note! You can get divorced at the time of a new wedding, which is possible after creating a new family and getting married. However, the priest himself does not make such decisions, so you need to contact the regional bishop for a blessing. And only after receiving it can you marry your new spouse in any church.
Since divorce can only be done in one case - upon entering into a new marriage, this process can be formalized unilaterally without the consent of the ex-spouse. Joint submission of a petition when formalizing the dissolution of family ties will be rejected. Because the church does not specifically provide for divorce. The severance of a church union is provided for only when a new one is created. Otherwise, the whole sacrament would be turned into an ordinary bureaucratic procedure.
How much do such services cost? Their cost is not specified, unlike a divorce in the registry office or court, where the payment of a state fee is required, the amount of which is strictly established and approved by legislative acts. The cost of debunking is provided only by the desire to make a donation to the temple.
If in any sacred institution its servants demand payment for any actions, then it is better to refuse to perform them and contact a higher service.
Hierarchy of the Orthodox Church
Ways to get married without registering with the registry office
Still, a church marriage is possible without a stamp in the passport. There is only one way to do this. To do this, the church deacon must be confident in the authenticity of their relationship and feelings for each other. Parishioners who visit the temple for a long time and the clergyman sees how their relationship develops can prove the seriousness of their intentions.
There are also cases where couples can get married without registration. But there must be fairly compelling reasons for this. One of these conditions is a threat to life. If one of the spouses is facing a complex operation or being sent to a particularly dangerous place, then at the discretion of the priest, in some cases a wedding will be possible.
Such a ceremony is possible provided that it takes place on the same day when the marriage is registered at the registry office. If the procedure is scheduled earlier, then by notifying the priest in advance and presenting the appropriate certificate, the rector of the temple will be able to perform the ceremony.
It is worth remembering that a wedding does not have any legal force. That is, any government bodies do not guarantee compliance with obligations and fulfillment of marital norms, due to the fact that such a “family unit of society” does not appear in the law.
However, there are exceptions here too. A wedding certificate can serve as proof of the marriage bond. Most often this affects issues of alimony, children's law and division of inherited property.
You can get married without registration, but is there any point in this, since the church does not keep special records. That is, only one church knows about the wedding, and the document it issues does not obligate anyone to anything.
Modern wedding rules in the Russian Orthodox Church
The modern Orthodox Church interprets church marriage as a union concluded between a woman and a man and illuminated by God for the further birth of children and life together until the end of their days. It is very difficult to debunk a marriage in a church, so confessors advise preparing for a wedding as one of the most important steps in life.
A wedding is considered possible and justified only when there is an official conclusion on the registration of the marriage, that is, it is legally recorded in the civil register.
The laws of the Russian Orthodox Church provide for a categorical refusal to marry if:
- one of the parties is in another marriage: church or legally fixed;
- if those wishing to get married are blood relatives;
- if there is a possible consanguinity up to the 4th-5th generation;
- if people are spiritually related;
- for those who were already in more than 3 marriages before the wedding;
- monastics or those who have taken a certain rank;
- those who have not reached the legal age for marriage;
- recognized as incompetent, with appropriate documentary evidence;
- between adopted children and adoptive parents;
- between people, one of whom has changed gender.
Reference! Items concerning prohibitions on marriage for clergy are regulated by special commissions under the diocesan bishop.
What do you need for a wedding?
The wedding ceremony requires going through a certain procedure, which begins with frank and most honest communication with the church minister. Thanks to this, some everyday and spiritual issues will be resolved. After all, when turning to the church, you need to understand that spiritual life will be no less important than carnal life.
As mentioned above, for the ceremony it is necessary to present a valid registration at the registry office in order to determine the existence of a legal marriage.
It would also be logical that only baptized couples can take part in the ceremony. However, if a baptized spouse goes to a wedding for the sake of his other half, then such a gesture will be regarded as coercion and the clergyman may refuse to perform the ceremony for the couple. Thus, a wedding is possible only if there is mutual consent.
The priest is often interested:
- the attitude of newlyweds towards divorce, fornication;
- are there any plans for a child?
- whether the child will be taught God's principles;
- past relationships, reason for divorce.
As you can find out, the questions will concern not only future relationships, but also past ones; this information will help the priest assess the seriousness of the intentions. The priest will also answer all your questions and conduct a short teaching, where he will touch on the issues of primacy, obedience, and other things.
It is also worth finding out about video accompaniment, whether it is possible, how long the wedding ceremony lasts and how exactly it will take place. All this will be needed in the future to avoid awkward moments.
Upon completion of this procedure, it is necessary to collect the relevant documents and utensils:
- candles;
- icons of Christ and Mary;
- rings;
- marriage certificate;
- towel
Before consolidating marriage ties in a church ceremony, the young couple must fast and then take the sacrament.
Wedding order:
- engagement;
- engagement;
- wedding.
Each point is carried out on a separate day. At the end of everything, a Certificate of Church Marriage is issued.
How do clergy feel about civil marriage?
Clergymen rarely make exceptions to allow weddings if the marriage is not officially registered. Cohabitation without a registration in the registry office is called “living in sin.”
During a wedding, only couples who are officially registered or free from obligations can become witnesses. This is an unspoken rule that is discussed by priests in advance when discussing organizational issues. Wedding is an important step for Orthodox people, which is encouraged by the church only after confirmation of serious intentions.
