Are Eastern Orthodox Annulments Valid?
January 23, 2018
Full Question
Does the Church accept an annulment granted by an Orthodox archbishop?
Answer
No, the Catholic Church does not accept annulments granted by non-Catholic churches or faith communities.
Generally speaking, the Eastern Orthodox do not issue annulments; they issue an "ecclesiastical divorce." While similar to a Catholic annulment in that there are an investigation and a judgment by the appropriate church authority, it differs in its focus and grounds. There are limited grounds on which the Eastern Orthodox would issue an actual annulment, but such a decree would have no juridic validity in the Catholic Church. A separate Catholic investigation would need to take place.
