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Father I have another question relating to marriage. I was married & divorced in the Greek church & then remarried to my Italian husband also in the Greek church. There was a debate a few weeks ago where some said that you are still tied to a marriage in the eyes of the Greek church!!! I believe this not to be true but would like to to confirm this. Thank you
Answer to Question 15.
When the Sadducees questioned Christ saying: “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He said unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:3-9). In other words, a person entering marriage is required to remain in it. The breaking of marital fidelity is disobeying God's will and, therefore, a grievous sin. The Lord made clear to the Jews the true significance of marriage. Referring to the Scriptures regarding the union between man and woman, the Lord reinforced the principle of indissoluble marriage in definite terms: “Wherefore they (man and woman) are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Thus Christ teaches that marriage is indissoluble, but the Church allows for divorce other than for adultery as a “Economia” a dispensation or leniency towards the canons because the most important aspect of Christian life is not whether we live by the law, but that we find salvation. Someone in an incompatible marriage with no love and where hatred exists or where there is danger to life is released from this marriage in the hope that they will find peace elsewhere. If the Church issues a divorce then that marriage is permanently dissolved. In heaven we will not be husband and wife because as the Lord again pointed out to the Sadducees “In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30 )
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