APPLYING FOR AN ECCLESIASTICAL DIVORCE

The parish priest must exert every effort to reconcile the couple and avert a divorce. However, should he fail to bring about a reconciliation, and a civil divorce has been obtained, he will transmit the petition of the party seeking the ecclesiastical divorce, together with the decree of the civil divorce, to the Spiritual Court of the Direct Archdiocese District. The petition must include the names and surnames of the husband and wife, the wife’s surname prior to marriage, their addresses, the name of the priest who performed the wedding, and the date and place of the wedding. The petitioner must be a member of the parish through which he or she is petitioning for divorce. Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese who have obtained a civil divorce but not an ecclesiastical divorce may not participate in any sacraments of the Church or serve on the Parish Council, Archdiocesan District Council, Metropolis Council or Archdiocesan Council until they have been granted a divorce by the Church. (Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Yearbook)

The process for obtaining an ecclesiastical divorce begins by meeting with the priest, who will advise and counsel on how the divorce will proceed. If it is determined that ecclesiastical divorce should be sought, the following items must be submitted to the parish priest:

• The ecclesiastical divorce petition (original)
• A copy of your ecclesiastical marriage license (original)
• A copy of your civil divorce decree (copy)
• A money order paid to the “Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America” for $250