The Eastern Orthodox Church generally regards committing suicide as a sin. Why? Because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Our lives – and everything in them – are a gift, which God gave to us out of love. And suicide is a rejection of God’s gift of physical life, a failure of stewardship over the body He gave to us. It is an act of despair and a transgression of the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not kill (Exodus 20:13). Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19); we must take care of them and persevere in the hope that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The plague of moral relativism
The National Library of Medicine defines suicide as the act of deliberately taking one’s own life. This includes any action that might cause a person to die (e.g. purposefully crashing a car). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States and the third leading cause of death in 15-29 year old’s globally in 2021. In America, suicide deaths in 2022 reached nearly 50,000. And this does not count attempted suicides (which totals approximately 1.6 million).
With the spread of moral relativism, man has become God. He is now the authority on what is right, good, and true for him, but not for anyone else. Because of this approach, many people see suicide as a viable option to alleviate their pain and suffering. Because God isn’t really part of the picture anymore. He has become a ball of clay that people can remold to suit their moral tastes.
Suicide is the ultimate rejection of God
God is the Source, Giver, and Sustainer of life. To willfully take our life, then, is to willfully cut ourselves off from the Source of our life. In doing this, we project a sense of irreversible hopelessness, a despair even God cannot fix. God, Who sent His Son into this world precisely to give us the faith and hope to see, accept, and share His divine love. In Him, there is no situation, no problem that is too great to overcome. Whether it’s overwhelming odds, abusive relationships, wretched upbringing, addictions, or any other unfortunate circumstance. He reminds us that what overwhelms us today is often forgotten tomorrow, if only we focus on Him in faith, cling to Him in hope, and become one with Him in love. With His help, we can overcome anything.
Suicide, therefore, is and will always be the ultimate rejection of God and His love for us. Killing ourselves means rejecting the presence of God in the most fundamental sense, as a part of each of us. Further, we become guilty of the sin of pride, because we made a decision reserved for God alone.
We know that God is merciful. But this does not mean we should use our freedom as an opportunity for sin. As Orthodox Christians, we cannot justify suicide simply because God is merciful. By that reasoning, we could justify just about anything. Think of how silly you would sound using that excuse before God. “Well, God, I knew [insert sin here] was wrong, but I did it anyway because I knew you would forgive me.” Trying to take advantage of God’s loving kindness in such a manner will not end well for anyone who attempts it.
The Church does not condemn those who commit the sin of suicide
After having said this, we must make something crystal clear. The Church does not judge anyone who has committed or attempted suicide. Judgment belongs to God alone. Rather, as the hospital for the soul, the Church approaches all who are suffering with the utmost compassion. Those considering taking their own lives are in need of medical and spiritual care. The Orthodox Church recognizes this, and can help shed a light in the darkness.
There are, of course, many factors to consider in cases of suicide. But complex as the issue may be, one thing is quite certain: Our lives are not our own but are a gift from God that must be used wisely, nurtured lovingly, and accepted thankfully, regardless of the life’s difficulties. Our life is not ours to take, it is God’s. Just as judgment is God’s as well.
Can an Orthodox Christian who commits suicide receive an Orthodox burial?
The canons and practice of the Church prohibit an Orthodox burial for a person who has committed suicide. However, in her mercy and wisdom, the Church understands not all who killed themselves were mentally sound. The Church Fathers tells us if the person who committed suicide had “no control of himself” or was not “of sound mind, whether […] as a result of a demon or of an ailment of some sort,” and this was verified by medical professionals and the ecclesiastical leadership of the Church, that person could then receive an Orthodox burial (Question XIV of the 18 Canons of Timothy, Archbishop of Alexandria. Pedalion, p. 898). If mental instability is absent, and/or the person held a philosophical view affirming the right to suicide, or allowed despair to overcome good judgment, he/she will not receive an Orthodox burial.
Conclusion
Suicide is never a valid solution to life’s trials and difficulties; instead, it prevents us from putting the problem behind us, with God’s help.
We leave you today with a bit of inspiration and hope in the midst of the terrible tragedy of suicide. As Father Seraphim Solof writes: “We recognize that Jesus Christ came into the world to save us, and can rejoice in it. The world – and our families and friends – will not be better off without us. Christ came into the world and into our lives willingly, knowing us intimately in all of our darkness and pain, knowing the cost and yet loving us completely, ‘to the end’ (John 13:1).”
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, seek spiritual help immediately. Talk to your priest. He can help you locate further resources. May God’s grace be with you all, brethren. Amen.
Keep Reading: Why The Orthodox Church Does Not Allow Cremation