Canon 397

The patriarch, with the consent of the synod of bishops of the

patriarchal Church or, if there is danger in delay, of the permanent synod, can grant the removal of the clerical state to clerics having domicile or quasi-domicile within the territorial

boundaries of his own patriarchal Church and who are not bound by

the obligation of clerical celibacy or, if bound, are not petitioning a dispensation from this obligation; in other cases the

matter is to be deferred to the Apostolic See.