The Metropolis of Denver Registry

The Registry Office serves His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah in matters concerning the procedures for, and administration of, Sacraments and Services celebrated in the parishes of the Metropolis.

The Chancellor, Father Luke Uhl, oversees the functions of the Registry Office, and directly handles all matters concerning the Spiritual Tribunal and Ecclesiastical Divorces.

The Registrar, Presvytera Ruth Uhl, routinely handles all other Registry matters, including the processing of ecclesiastical Marriage licenses; filing of Baptism, Chrismation, and Death certificates; and the issuance of transcripts.

Archdiocese Pastoral Guidelines

• Pastoral guidelines for Baptisms
• Pastoral guidelines for Funerals and Memorial Services
• Pastoral guidelines for Marriages
• Pastoral guidelines for Ecclesiastical Divorces
• Pastoral guidelines for Fasting in he Orthodox Church

Metropolis of Denver Administrative Guidelines

• Administrative Guidelines for the Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation (.pdf file)
• Administrative Guidelines for the Mystery of Marriage (.pdf file)
• Certificate of Freedom to Marry (.pdf file)
• Administrative Guidelines for Submitting a Petition for an Ecclesiastical Divorce (.pdf file)
• Administrative Guidelines for Filing Death Certificates and Celebrating Memorial Services (.pdf file)
• Death Certificate (.pdf file)
• Administrative Guidelines for Preparing Transcripts of the Certificates for Various Mysteries (.pdf file)

Records and Parish Registers

Each parish maintains its own records of births, marriages, and deaths. There are three separate registry books for:

• Baptisms and Chrismations,
• Marriages, and
• Deaths.

The Parish Pastor is personally responsible for maintaining these registers correct and up to date.

Certificates and Transcripts

The Parish Pastor prepares Baptism and Chrismation certificates; copies are sent to the Metropolis Registry for filing.

After the completion of a Marriage, the Parish Pastor sends the completed license to the Metropolis Registry and a Certificate of Marriage is prepared for the Metropolitan's signature. Certificates are then mailed directly to the newly-wed couple.

No "copies" or "duplicates" of certificates can be made. Instead, a transcript of data in the parish registry is prepared by the Parish Pastor and sent to the Metropolis Registry for the Metropolitan's verification of the Priest's signature. The completed and verified transcript is then mailed to the individual who requested it.

Marriages

A Parish Priest must have two licenses to celebrate the Mystery of Marriage:

• The Episcopal License to Marry issued by the Metropolitan, and
• The civil wedding license obtained by the couple.

The couple must meet with the Parish Pastor and fill out the Affidavit for License to Marry two months before the scheduled wedding. The Priest will submit this Affidavit for review by the Registry Office, which will then prepare the Marriage Licenses for signature by the Metropolitan.

Ecclesiastical Divorces

An Ecclesiastical Divorce may be granted by the Metropolitan on the recommendation of a Spiritual Tribunal. The Parish Pastor must meet with the petitioner requesting an Ecclesiastical Divorce, and submit the requisite forms and other materials to the Registry Office for consideration by the Spiritual Tribunal.

Metropolis Vital Statistics

Archdiocesan Vital Statistics

Metropolis Geographic and Population Statistics