Orthodox Teaching On Divorce/Remarriage

[AJB4]

This was a real eyebrow-raiser for me. Is is true that the Orthodox church lets people divorce and remarry?... I think it's wrong, that's all.

Matthew 5:"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

How come the Orthodox church doesn't treat divorce and adultery as the same thing as in the above verse? Does the Orthodox church somehow justify divorce?
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Sorry just ignore this I did a 'forum search' and this topic has already been done to death. Thank you. :wave:

[InnerPhyre]

From OCA.org

QUESTION:

You said:

" Orthodox Church recognizes the sanctity of marriage and sees it as a life-long commitment. However, there are certain circumstances in which it becomes evident that there is no love or commitment in a relationship. While the Church stands opposed to divorce, the Church, in its concern for the salvation of its people, does permit divorced individuals to marry a second and even a third time.

"The Order of the Second or Third Marriage is somewhat different than that celebrated as a first marriage and it bears a penitential character. Second or third marriages are performed by "economy" -- that is, out of concern for the spiritual well being of the parties involved and as an exception to the rule, so to speak."

But, unless I am mistaken, Jesus said that unless the divorce is because of adultery (Mt 5:31-32), or it is because a non-believer wants out of the marriage (I can't find the source), the divorcees cannot remarry.



ANSWER:

Thank you for your enquiry concerning answers which had been previously offered with regard to second and third marriages and the world’s Orthodox population.

Of course I am aware that Christ’s scriptural injunction admits adultery as the only reason for divorce. The question that I had answered involved the contemporary practice of the Orthodox Church rather than the scriptural injunction. I have been a priest for nearly 25 years. I have seen quite a number of couples seek divorces. I have never seen a case that did not involve adultery -­ whether it be a case of giving oneself over to another person, or to another thing, such as alcohol, drugs, work, etc. One can surely put their spouse in a secondary position as a result of becoming infatuated, obsessed and/or controlled with/by another person; one can also surely put their spouse in a secondary position as a result of becoming infatuated, obsessed and/or controlled with/by power, wealth, addictions, careers, etc.

In the answer that was given the principle of economia ("the Church, in its concern for the salvation of its people") was being emphasized.

[MariaRegina]

... see next post ...

[MariaRegina]

From OCA.org

QUESTION:

You said:

" Orthodox Church recognizes the sanctity of marriage and sees it as a life-long commitment. However, there are certain circumstances in which it becomes evident that there is no love or commitment in a relationship. While the Church stands opposed to divorce, the Church, in its concern for the salvation of its people, does permit divorced individuals to marry a second and even a third time.

"The Order of the Second or Third Marriage is somewhat different than that celebrated as a first marriage and it bears a penitential character. Second or third marriages are performed by "economy" -- that is, out of concern for the spiritual well being of the parties involved and as an exception to the rule, so to speak."

But, unless I am mistaken, Jesus said that unless the divorce is because of adultery (Mt 5:31-32), or it is because a non-believer wants out of the marriage (I can't find the source), the divorcees cannot remarry.



ANSWER:

Thank you for your enquiry concerning answers which had been previously offered with regard to second and third marriages and the world’s Orthodox population.

Of course I am aware that Christ’s scriptural injunction admits adultery as the only reason for divorce. The question that I had answered involved the contemporary practice of the Orthodox Church rather than the scriptural injunction. I have been a priest for nearly 25 years. I have seen quite a number of couples seek divorces. I have never seen a case that did not involve adultery, whether it be a case of giving oneself over to another person, or to another thing, such as alcohol, drugs, work, etc. One can surely put their spouse in a secondary position as a result of becoming infatuated, obsessed and/or controlled with/by another person; one can also surely put their spouse in a secondary position as a result of becoming infatuated, obsessed and/or controlled with/by power, wealth, addictions, careers, etc.

In the answer that was given the principle of economia ("the Church, in its concern for the salvation of its people") was being emphasized.

Wow! Thanks for reprinting this.

Notice how the Bible never refers to divorces as annulments as the Catholic Church does. Many Catholic annulments are granted for the 'immaturity' on the part of one or both spouses where one spouse cannot make a total commitment to the spouse that true love involves. This use of the term 'immaturity' covers a lot of ground.

Within Orthodoxy, I have never heard of the word 'annulment' employed, unless it was a civil annulment. Furthermore, my priest told me that the Orthodox Church does not grant divorces, only the courts do. During separation and after the civil decree is issued in favor of a divorce, the couple undergoes a time of strict penance for three to seven years, where they cannot receive the Holy Sacraments of the Orthodox Church. This time of penance is a time of reflection and repentance. Divorce, therefore is highly discouraged and frowned upon.

In order to receive the Holy Sacraments, a divorced and repentant person must apply to a Ecclesiastical Court to be reinstated to the Holy Mysteries. Notice, that not all persons applying for a second or third marriage will be given the blessing by the Bishop to do so.

The marriage ceremony for a second or third marriage, even for a widow or widower, is penitential in nature with prayers of forgiveness for the previous marriage.

It is important to note that in Orthodoxy, the Crowning Ceremony does not include marriage vows "to death do us part." Marriage with Orthodoxy is therefore not a contract but truly a Holy Mystery.

Within Orthodoxy, it is Christ Who marries the couple and that marriage will endure even in the age to come where spouses will recognize each other, although there will be no marriage or the begetting of children in heaven. This is why widows and widowers are encouraged to be celibate following the death of their spouse. However, young widows and widowers may remarry only with the Blessing of their Bishop following the teachings of St. Paul, so that they can properly raise their young children and they won't burn in sin.

[Oblio]

We're not legalistic like some others. We believe in forgiveness and repentence.

[Annabel Lee]

We're not legalistic like some others. We believe in forgiveness and repentence.

Would this be economia?

(You know, learning about the EO church is like learning another language)

[MariaRegina]

Would this be economia?

(You know, learning about the EO church is like learning another language)
Yes, the Blessing by a Bishop to allow a previously divorced person to marry again is called economia. Again, not everyone who asks to marry in the Orthodox Church is granted his or her request. The Church looks at each situation and prayerfully considers whether or not the granted request will be for the salvation of their souls.

[Annabel Lee]

Yes, the Blessing by a Bishop to allow a previously divorced person to marry again is called economia. Again, not everyone who asks to marry in the Orthodox Church is granted his or her request. The Church looks at each situation and prayerfully considers whether or not the granted request will be for the salvation of their souls.

Thanks Aria :)

[Akathist]

I have a really hard time believing that someone who has been beaten and leaves for the sake of physical wellbeing and the protection of children should be sentenced to a lifetime of social isolation and never allowed to marry again.

While I was never abused by my husband he just disappeared and stopped communicating with me and has now lost his immigration rights so he can't return to the U.S. Do you honestly think that it is right and proper that in my early 40's I should never be allowed to marry again?

To tell you the truth, the idea of annulment was one of the reason's I refused to join the Catholic chuch. That makes no sense. I am not ever going to pretend that I was not married to someone that I loved with all of my heart.

However, if the Orthodox Church said I was never allowed to marry again under any circumstances I am telling you, I think I would just kill myself. I can not bear the idea of being alone the rest of my life.

When I read questions like the OP asked in this thread I feel so incredibly judged and as if I am having stones thrown at me personally. I know this was not directed at anyone particular, but I want to point out that people who have been abandoned and abused really hurt. We probably are not to blame but we blame ourselves and so many in society blames us as well. The person to put the blame on is the abuser or abandoner. If you said the church was not going to allow them to remarry, I would say, that that is closer to some kind of real justice. But the victim is hurting enough and we don't deserve a lifetime sentence of solitary confinement.

Fortunately, the Orthodox Church is about healing and here we look at each situation individually and Priests and Bishops with the focus on what is best spiritually for the individual not and setting a precendent that must be followed regardless of situations. I am greatful for the potential economy in my own situation but mostly I am greatful because this is one of the initial reasons I looked at Orthodoxy to begin with.

[buzuxi02]

The Church uses ekonomia (applying the rules loosely or disregarding them due to situation) in certain lousy marriages. As scripture says of the Ekklesia;

Matthew 16.19- 'And i will give you the keys of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.