Permits
STEPS OF ISSUING A NEW “ECCLESIASTICAL MARRIAGE PERMIT (EMP)” BY The Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Ottawa, Montreal and Eastern Canada.
- Once the OMECDCC Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Ottawa, Montreal and Eastern Canada resolves that an applicant is eligible for an Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP), the OMECDCC will send the applicant a Notification of Approval of Marriage Permit (Notification). The Notification does not expire, nor does it serve as an official Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit.
- When the applicant intends to marry in the Coptic Orthodox Church, the applicant shall surrender the Notification to the Coptic Orthodox priest who will officiate the marriage at least one month prior to the date of the Crowning Ceremony.
- After the officiating priest affirms that the applicant has remained free of marriage impediments, he, the priest himself, shall request the applicant’s official Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP) from the OMECDCC.
- The Clerical Council shall send the Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP) to the officiating priest directly or to his diocese headquarters.
- The Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP) will only be issued once to the officiating priest. The Clerical Council will NOT reissue another permit or a copy thereof until it thoroughly investigates and determines the reasons.
No person can remarry in the Coptic Orthodox Church unless the Officiating Priest of the Crowning Ceremony is in physical possession of the Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP).
Please contact The Clerical Council for Family Affairs- Americas District : http://ccffaa.org