Questions & Answers

Divorce

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Marriage and Family › Divorce

The question

Does the Coptic Orthodox Church allow divorce? For example, if one of the couple has an affair, does the Church divorce the two?

The answer

In very seldom situations usually instigated by infidelity, the Church may permit divorce. However, the request to dissolve the marriage must first be investigated by a clergical committee.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Does the Church oppose divorce because of the verse that says, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6)?
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Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2124 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.