dcc@melbcopts.org.au
Matrimony is a holy sacrament in the Church as stated by the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6, NKJV)
Thus, the union between the husband and wife is sacred and blessed and it serves the salvation of both. Marriage is two-fold, a civil union and an ecclesiastic sacrament. The civil part, though registered through the registered ministers of religion, can only be dissolved through the civil courts according to the law of the land. The council then handles the ecclesiastic union according to the teachings of the Holy Bible and the Church.
As human beings living in the world with weak natures, circumstances can present itself where separation is necessary. Sometimes for the safety or the wellbeing of one of or both parties. Though separation for a lengthy period can enable the courts to dissolve the civil union and grant a divorce court order, it is not a valid reason for the Church to grant dissolution of the ecclesiastic union.
The teaching of the Holy Bible regarding divorce can be understood through the following verses:
“Furthermore it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32, NKJV)
“He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”” (Matthew 19:8-9, NKJV)
“So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”” (Mark 10:11-12, NKJV)
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18, NKJV)