DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 833-456-4566
HopeLine United Kingdom: 0800 068 4141
Lifeline Northern Ireland: 0808 808 8000
United States National Suicide & Crisis Hotlines: 1-800-784-2433
Australia Lifeline: If life in danger Call 000 & 24/7 Crisis Support Call 13 11 14
Since the Fall, our human state bears the consequences of that offence. Hence, we are in a state that cannot attain eternal life without the sacrament of baptism and the grace of God. A medical and psychological point of view can also confirm that this fallen state exposes an unfortunate fact: both Christians and non-Christians are not immune to suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the act of deliberately taking one’s life. Likewise, suicidal behaviours are deliberate actions that place someone in a life-threatening situation. This includes overdosing on a drug or deliberately crashing a car.
In Australia alone, suicide is the third-leading cause of premature death, with an age-standardized suicide rate of 12.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
So how can the Orthodox church, in Australia and all over the globe, reach out to those in need? Well, let us find out.
It is important to note that historically, the Orthodox Church fathers and communities have condemned suicide as heinous. This is because the broad doctrine of the Orthodox Church regards life as a gift from God. Hence, when a person destroys their life by their own hand, the Orthodox Church perceives this as a betrayal to the human mission of enhancing one’s life and practicing repentance.
Saint Augustine described the practice of suicide as condemnable: “…That no man ought to inflict on himself voluntary death” (City of God 1.27). Likewise, Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “Whereas God punished such men [those who commit suicide] more than murderers, and we all regard them with horror, and justly; for if it is base to destroy others, much more is it to destroy one’s self” (Commentary of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians 1.4).
These are just two examples that the Orthodox Church would use to justify the prohibition on practicing Orthodox burial ceremonies for those who committed suicide.
Now, because of this initially fixed doctrine, no one in the Orthodox church was permitted to bury those that committed suicide. However, after more research and dogmatical writings were discovered, the Orthodox Church, in her grace, wisdom, and mercy, finally recognized that not all those that killed themselves were mentally sound. Hence, from the year 1880, the Orthodox Church and its clergy were permitted to conduct Orthodox burials for those who committed suicide.
Now, in the twenty-first century, our Orthodox Church continues to grow and learn about suicide — at a pace on par with the Medical Science Community. As a result, Orthodox burials continue to be conducted for the individuals who commit suicide. This is done on the grounds that the deceased suffered from an ailment verified by medical professionals and the ecclesiastical leadership of the Church.
So, the Orthodox church humbled itself to change over time, in line with Christ’s legacy of showing grace and truth (John 1:14).
But now the crucial question wails before us: What can I do to alleviate the rates of suicide in my community?
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
As the Bible verse above suggests, we are all accountable for the circumstances produced by our actions. Now, I emphasize that there is no reason to think that everyone will not be held accountable for their own sin, just that we bear a greater responsibility as Christians.
In support of this concept, the term “stumbling block” suggests that we must be vigilant in our efforts to not be a stumbling block to others. Moreover, Christ uses the strongest language i.e., “millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea”, to emphasize the seriousness of this matter. So, let us pray that we never play the role of one of the “stumbling blocks” in another person’s life.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Of the people I knew who killed themselves, I can say that their primary motivation was to make their own pain stop. These individuals do not want to die or inflict pain upon their family and friends. All they want is to stop living in pain, and while they are in such a debilitating mental state, suicide becomes the only option to make that pain go away.
It is always hoped that we toil for being children of light and children of daytime (Agpeya Prayer Book’s General Absolution). For by doing so, we manifest peace, kindness, gentleness and love; fruits of the spirit that fly in the face of Orthodox teachings, and steer all people to NEVER consider suicide as a viable option.
Maria Iskander is a woman of God with a fiery spirit, positive mindset and stubborn personality. She has loved writing since childhood. Now, at 23 years of age, she has released numerous poems, blogs, lyrics; and most recently a book that delve into the mind of St Athanasius of Alexandria.
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