BEGINNING OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY LAW AT THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE FOR THE YEAR 2023

Jerusalem, February 28, 2024

 The Christian family law of the Jerusalem Patriarchate for the year 2023 amendment will come into effect, in all ecclesiastical courts, starting March 1, 2024.

 It was approved by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in its session held on October 5, 2023 in Jerusalem. This law comes in implementation of the vision of His Beatitude Patriarch K.K. Theophilos III in modernizing church laws to keep pace with the times, as this law included fundamental amendments while preserving the basic spiritual aspects of the law for the peace and benefit of the community spiritually and to further assist them pastorally.

 Among the most prominent amendments included in this law are wills, adoption, inheritance, custody, establishing a Christian family home, and accelerating judicial procedures, especially for issues of alimony, guardianship, and custody.