Requirements for Marriage.—The marriageable age for men begins with twenty years, and for women with eighteen years.
Parental consent is required, but if it is arbitrarily denied the authorities of the church may give their consent in its stead.
A man or woman is permitted to have but one spouse at a time.
Consanguinity and Affinity.—Marriage is forbidden between ascendants and descendants. In the collateral line marriage is forbidden between persons related within the seventh degree. Under this rule a person cannot lawfully marry the child of his or her second cousin. The ecclesiastical authorities may upon such grounds as to them may seem sufficient grant a dispensation permitting a marriage within the prohibited degrees.
Marriage is also prohibited between godparents and godchildren, and between godchildren who have the same godparent. Here also the clergy may remove the impediment by dispensation.
Persons suffering from idiocy, insanity, epilepsy or syphilis cannot contract lawful marriage.
Marriage is forbidden when the parties are of different religious faiths.
A person under obligation by religious vow to remain celibate or one who has been sentenced to a state of celibacy by an ecclesiastical court cannot conclude marriage.
Accomplices in adultery may not marry each other. Persons in the military service must obtain the consent of their superiors to contract marriage.
Celebration.—The law of Bulgaria does not permit a civil marriage. If both or one of the contracting parties are baptized members of the Orthodox Greek Church, the marriage service must be in accordance with the rites of that church. Christians who belong to other churches are permitted to be married by the ministers of their faith. Three weeks at least must intervene between the betrothal and the wedding. All marriages must be preceded by the publication of banns.