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HOLY MATRIMONY
As a sacrament, Holy Matrimony, through the outward signs of the exchanging of vows and exchanging of rings, bestows upon the man and woman,
in their union, the grace to live together in godliness and love.
St. Paul has likened the marriage of a man and woman to that of the union between Christ and his Church. He calls it a great mystery Our Lord spoke of marriage and said, as recorded in Matthew 19: 5-6: "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Thus, the Anglican Communion, as in the Orthodox Churches, does not condone divorce nor condone remarriage while one of the partners still lives.
Note: When a divorce does occurr, the matter is taken up with the bishop, as is also the matter of remarriage, when the circumstances for an
Ecclesiastical Annulment may be appropriate.
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