Matrimony

Matrimony

Christian marriage is one of the seven sacraments, which is performed in a church by means of which the grace of the Holy Spirit is obtained. Holy Matrimony is based on the Bible. (Gen. 1:27,28, 2:18, Mt. 19:4-6). The Canon of the Church requires that before matrimony is instituted the following conditions should be met.

• Both couples should be Christians to obtain the grace of God
• Both should belong to the Orthodox Tewahido Church. If any one of them is not a member, he/she should first be a member of the Church.
• No pre-martial sexual relationship is permitted.
• Both should consent to be united in marriage.
• No marriage is allowed within seven generations so as not to break the rule of kinship that forbids marriage between close family relations. (Lev. 18:6-21; Deut. 7:3-4).
• As the marriage of Christians epitomizes the unity between Christ and the Church, it shall not be broken. (Eph. 5:32),
• In our Church one to one marriage only is allowed.
• Re-marriage cannot be conducted by any one of the two partners unless divorce is affected because of adultery or one of the partners dies. (Mt. 19:6-9)
• Bishops and priests celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony.
• Matrimony is not performed without Holy Communion. (Fetha Negest Article 24:899 –     Ancient  book of the Ethiopian Church)
• Parents should be consulted and their consent should be secured.