“Enter into matrimony” Marriage certificate from the Catherine Limperis archive. Source: Immigrec
Signatures under the gaze of “immigration” agency
A woman who emigrated to Canada as a bride, describes the pressure she was put
under by the immigration agency, in order to confirm that they got married
within the time limit they had given them.
RES.: And the wedding took place after how long?
ΑΝ.: It took place afterwards that… there weren’t any
churches at the time, except for Holy Trinity. After forty days.
The twenty-ninth of July. July. I found…
RES.: It had to take place immediately?
ΑΝ.: It had to, it had to because the immigration had been
calling on the phone every day at the house where I lived to learn why.
Why? Because I had been brought here now. Why? Because all the papers were signed.
Yes, will you have him? I will have him, yes. I signed underneath. So, here
now it’s telling you why? For what… When our turn came, there was only Holy Trinity, 29 July.
The father gave us the paper with which we got married in the Orthodox way.
We had performed a civil marriage before... a civil one because at the time you couldn’t,
you first had to perform the civil and then the Orthodox one.
RES.: I understand.
ΑΝ.: And with the paper which the priest gave us at… Holy Trinity
the next day at the immigration. To go and give it.