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. FOREIGN MARRIAGES.--The law of Bulgaria does not recognize the foreign marriage of Bulgarian subjects unless the following elements are present: 1. The foreign marriage must comply with all the laws and rules of the foreign country where it is concluded. 2. If the parties are baptized members of the Orthodox Greek Church the marriage must be solemnized by a priest of that church. This rule applies even though in the country where the marriage was concluded a civil ceremony is sufficient. DIVORCE.--The Church and State both permit absolute divorces. The causes are: 1. Adultery of either spouse. 2. Drunkenness and disorderly conduct. 3. Cruel and abusive treatment. 4. Threat to kill. 5. Incurable impotence. 6. Absence of the husband for four years coupled with failure to support wife. 7. Sentence to prison for an infamous offense. 8. False accusation of adultery. 9. Wife's desertion of the husband continued for three years. DIVORCE PROCEDURE.--As before stated the suit for divorce must be brought before the ecclesiastical court.