The lecture addresses the topic of the family, especially the issue of divorce, explaining the biblical and Orthodox Church position, with a comparison to some other churches.

🔹 Biblical Teaching on Divorce

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III affirms that Holy Scripture permits divorce only for the cause of adultery, based on the words of the Lord Christ in the Gospels, where the exception is clearly stated and cannot be ignored.

🔹 Rejection of Expanding Divorce Reasons

He explains that claiming there is absolutely no divorce leads to serious pastoral problems, which has caused some churches to expand the reasons for annulment of marriage, thereby emptying the sacrament of its true meaning.

🔹 Difference Between Divorce and Annulment

He clarifies the difference between divorce and annulment. Annulment means that the marriage never truly existed, while divorce ends a real marriage, warning against abusing annulment claims.

🔹 Practical Pastoral Experience

He shares his real pastoral experience in examining personal status cases, showing how some people manipulate claims illogically after many years of marriage.

🔹 Marriage and Difference of Faith

He presents the teaching of Apostle Paul regarding marriage between a believer and an unbeliever, emphasizing that the believing party sanctifies the unbelieving one, and that preserving the marriage is the original principle in hope of the other’s salvation.

🔹 Permission of Separation When Faith Is Abandoned

He explains that the Church allows separation if one party changes faith and refuses to continue, according to the Apostle’s words: “The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases.”

🔹 Spiritual Purpose

The core message is preserving the holiness of the sacrament of marriage, with faithfulness to Holy Scripture, without rigidity that destroys souls or leniency that empties the commandment of its meaning.

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