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Catholic Weddings Documentation

It is possible to organize Catholic Church wedding ceremony only in case that bride and groom have not been previously married and that both of them have been baptized. The bride and the groom must inform the Catholic priest from their local parish that they want to marry abroad. The priest will ask for their Birth Certificates and Baptism Certificates and upon viewing them he will instruct them for the further documentation that is required. Have an idea of the documents the priest will ask you to have:

• A Baptism Certificate. This document should be requested and dated close to your wedding date.
• A Freedom to marry Certificate. This document is the assurance that you are free from any canonical impediment for marriage.

• These certificates must be obtained from the parish priest in whom you were baptized and must be dated within 3 months of your marriage.
• If the date of your confirmation is not written in the parish in which you were baptized, you should ask for it in the same parish in which you were confirmed.
• Take these certificates to your present parish priest who should make the prenuptial inquiries and catechetical instruction.
  
• Written permission must be obtained from your Bishop to have your marriage performed out of your parish and here in Santorini . This is according to Canon 1115 of the Codex Juris Canonici. Please discuss with your pastor.
• Certificate stating you have completed the "PRE-CANA" instruction class, retreat or meetings.
• Single status letter - Letter of impediment (translated & authenticated)

All documents require to be translated ONLY by Greek authorities, such as a Greek Consulate or Embassy (in your city or country) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens .
Find a list of Greek Consulates and Embassies in your country by clicking here.

Important Notes

•  The Greek Authorities require that ALL Documents requested above (except Divorce decree/ Death Certificate/ Adoption Certificate) must be issued NO more than 3 months prior to the wedding date.

•  All authenticated translated documents to be faxed at least 30 days prior to the wedding date to Fax Number +30 22860 /////// . Then we will take the documentation to the Catholica priest of the church wherer the wedding ceremony is going to be held.

•  Please bring all your original documents with you to Greece .

•  The official certificate on the marriage is issued within three working days after the wedding event and forwarded to the married couple's home address, in case they have left the island of Santorini .

•  There is only one Catholic Church on Santorini, in Fira village. At St. John ceremonies can take place from Monday to Sunday at any time.

•  There is not all year long an English speaking Catholic priest on the island – please ask for more info.

If you have any question or any doubt about the documentation required for your wedding, please do not hesitate to contact us.
No question is silly for us.
Always remember that if you come in Santorini you should be done with the paperwork, otherwise you will have problems with getting your marriage license.