Impediments to Marriage

This document, translated from Syriac, is a decree by Patriarch Mar Aba I addressing bishops and metropolitans regarding marriage impediments. It underscores the necessity of the fear of God as a guiding principle for life and marriage, condemning polygamy and various incestuous relationships. Mar Aba emphasizes the importance of church unity and moral integrity, warning against the consequences of unlawful unions. He provides a framework for repentance and correction for those who have sinned in these ways, reinforcing the idea that disobedience to these decrees will lead to exclusion from the church and divine condemnation.