Permits & Renewals

STEPS OF ISSUING A NEW “ECCLESIASTICAL MARRIAGE PERMIT (EMP)” BY THE CLERICAL COUNCIL FOR FAMILY AFFAIRS – AMERICAS DISTRICT

  • Once the Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Americas District (CCFFAA) resolves that an applicant is eligible for an Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP), the CCFFAA 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 CCFFAA.
  • 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).

STEPS OF RENEWING A “MARRIAGE PERMIT” THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE FORMER GENERAL CLERICAL COUNCIL IN CAIRO

  • If an applicant wishes to renew a Marriage Permit that had been issued by the former General Clerical Council in Cairo prior to July 1, 2015, the applicant must send the following documents by regular mail to the Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Americas District (CCFFAA):
    1. A scanned copy of the original Marriage Permit issued by the former General Clerical Council in Cairo that is usually marked as being valid for one year from the issuance date.
    2. A recent Church Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CCNIM) issued by the applicant’s Father Confessor. The CCNIM must be less than one month old at the time it is mailed to the CCFFAA, signed by the Father Confessor and sealed by the official stamp of his parish. If the Father Confessor deems appropriate, he may use the recommended CCNIM form that can be downloaded from the “FORMS” section of this website.
    3. A completed “Expired Marriage Permit Renewal Application” form along with a cheque in the amount of US $50.00 paid to the order of “Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.” On the memo line, the applicant shall write “Expired permit renewal Fee”
  • After the CCFFAA verifies the authenticity of items 1.a. and 1.b. above, it will send the applicant a Notification of Approval of Marriage Permit (Notification). This Notification does not expire nor does it serve as an official Ecclesiastical Marriage Permit (EMP).
  • 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 CCFFAA.
  • 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), that replaces the old Marriage Permit issued by the former General Clerical Council in Cairo, 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).

RENEWING OF MARRIAGE PERMITS ISSUED BY DIOCESAN CLERICAL COUNCILS

  • The Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Americas District (CCFFAA) has no jurisdiction over any of the diocesan clerical councils in or outside North America. All permits issued by diocesan clerical councils should be renewed by the issuing council.