Gottfried Prinz„Grundsätzlich unauflöslich, aber…“ – Das Ehe-, Scheidungs- und Wiederverheiratungsverständnis in der Orthodoxen Kirche

About this book deutschenglish

The Orthodox Church teaches the “mystery of marriage”. In addition to this mystery, which is consecrated by the priest or the bishop, it is a “spiritual path, a seeking after God, the mystery of oneness and love, the preparatory portrayal of the Kingdom of God.” And then it is also “a necessity for reproduction.” (Bishop Athenagoras of Sinope).

The author leads with the basic principles of the orthodox anthropology. On that foundation he builds his views upon the orthodox theology of marriage and the “Service of the Coronation”. The Orthodox Church confirms not only the “indissolubility” of marriage, but also its uniqueness. Divorce means no less than dissolving the “mini Church”, which has been formed through the marriage relationship. So divorce is seen as a tragedy.

In spite of these facts the orthodox canon can permit a second (and even a third) marriage – by permitting the pastoral concession in context of “economia”.

Divergences from the ideal of Christian marriage are documented in the first centuries.

The Service of a second (and third) marriage is quite different to the Coronation. So its first part has penitential character.

The human and historic example comes from the 12th century, focussed by the author, as a figurehead for the orthodox practice: the Sacred Tamara of Georgia.

Her first marriage was divorced and she married once again, during the lifetime of her former husband. This fact makes her a person of identification for people in a second or third marriage, a canonised figurehead of „second“ fulfillment combining religious life and remarriage.