There is no such person who would not know that it is impossible to pray for the souls of people who committed suicide. They are not buried in consecrated ground either, only behind the church fence. Of course, suicides are not buried in the temple. This is a well known fact. But where did this rule come from? Indeed, neither in the Bible nor in other ancient sacred texts is there any mention of whether it is possible to pray to the Lord for mercy on the soul of a suicide, or not. But in the canonical texts it already exists and is one of the most well-known.
Who first spoke about the inadmissibility of commemorating suicides?
Prayer for a suicide was banned by Timothy of Alexandria, who lived in the 4th century. This man was distinguished by high education, intelligence and zealous service to the Lord.
Timothy of Alexandria participated in the II Ecumenical Council, held in Constantinople. This man fought against Arianism all his life and succeeded a lot in this. He himself adhered to the doctrine,speaking of the single essence of the Holy Trinity.
In 380, this man was elected head of the Alexandrian Christian see. From that moment on, he began to be referred to only as Timothy the First of Alexandria. He himself studied with Athanasius the Great and, of course, was his follower, as was his brother, Peter of Alexandria.
Who enjoyed authority during his lifetime and created many sacred texts recognized by the church as canonical, after his death this man was also surrounded by honor. He was canonized and is revered in the rank of Saint. Day of honoring the memory of Timothy of Alexandria - February 13.
How did this rule come about?
VI The Ecumenical Council approved in the rank of canonical texts known as "Eighteen Answers on Moral Purity and on Communion" by Timothy of Alexandria. This was done by the second canon of the Council. The answers were not a treatise as such. However, it was precisely this work in those distant times that the clergy often turned to when incomprehensible situations, difficulties or ambiguous circumstances arose, finding explanations in the text.
Among these answers was a ban on praying for the souls of suicides. However, the word "prohibition" is not the most appropriate definition. The texts were rather explanatory in nature, because they were answers to the most pressing questions that Christian ministers had at the end of the 4th century. And their author was, although very respected, surrounded by honor and a fairly high-ranking priest, head or leaderChurch still was not.
Why did this rule come about?
Why is prayer for the repose of the souls of the suicidal considered a sin? What are the reasons why these people should not be buried? What are the reasons for this belief? What guided the priests, asserting this rule? Such questions are invariably asked by all those unfortunate people who have experienced suicide in the family or among loved ones.
For what reasons, at the end of the fourth century, the head of the Alexandrian see considered inappropriate the funeral of suicides and their burial near temples, now it is impossible to establish for certain. It is only known that this rule was directly related to those who rejected Christ and his Church, to those who fell away from the faith. In other words, it in no way applied to those who did not receive holy baptism or to pagans, non-believers. The ban on funerals applied only to those who had gone astray and left the bosom of Christ.
Probably, the prayer for the suicide began to be considered by Timothy of Alexandria, and after him by other clergymen, not entirely appropriate and even unacceptable due to Arianism and the dawn of other heresies.
Why can't we bury suicides and pray for their souls?
It is generally accepted that suicide is one of the most serious sins for a Christian. Probably everyone knows the saying: "God endured and commanded us." This folk tale captures as accurately as possible the essence of what suicide is for a Christian.
A person who independently interrupts his life interferes with God's providence, in fact, rejects it. And whatcan it be harder for a Christian than to reject the Lord? Intervene in his trade and disrupt it? In fact, thereby putting himself on the same level with God, no less. In other words, those who consciously and independently leave this life, oppose God and his Church. The Lord does not send unbearable trials to a person - this is what the clergy think. Accordingly, nothing can justify such a sin as interrupting one's own life.
Those who dare to do such an act as praying for suicides seem to share this sin with the dead. According to numerous testimonies of spiritual ascetics who dared to pray for mercy to the souls of people who committed suicide, after these actions, an inexpressible spiritual heaviness is felt. A void appears in the soul, which is filled with longing, despondency, and besides this, thoughts that are completely alien to the nature of a person who prayed for a suicide appear. These thoughts may well be called demonic temptations. Prayer for a suicide leads to all this, according to the descriptions of spiritual ascetics.
What are the rules today?
In recent years, it has been widely believed that the church has allowed funerals and prayers for suicides. But this is not at all true: the official position of the leaders of all Christian denominations, without any exceptions, is one and unchanging - a prayer for a suicide is not read in the temple, and a funeral service is not held for such a person.
However, there is a so-called "special rank". Exactlyhe is the very “loophole” that is used in cases where it is necessary to pray for the soul of a suicidal person or to bury him in a Christian way.
As for the ban on suicide prayers, it has never been absolute. For the souls of these people, they always prayed outside the temples and outside the church service. This is what the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church recalls in its address to ministers and believers. This appeal, in general, gave rise to a rumor that the church rules regarding suicide have changed. In fact, the act simply calls on the clergy not to be categorical and to support the relatives and friends of the deceased, teaching them consolatory prayers.
What is a "special rank"?
A special rank is a part of service, prayer, but not for a suicide, as people who are in deep grief and sincerely believers often misunderstand, but for them, that is, for the loved ones of the deceased. It is called just that - "The rite for the prayerful consolation of the relatives of the arbitrarily deceased." This is by no means a funeral service, much less a prayer for the soul of a suicidal person.
But this does not mean at all that within the framework of a special rank it is impossible to sing the funeral service of the deceased and bury him in a Christian way. This option has been practiced in Catholicism for a long time, and in Orthodoxy it is the exception rather than the rule, but it is still possible. However, the relatives of the deceased will have to show considerable humility and patience, meekness. The point is that the church does not recognize the sin of suicide for those who were mentally ill. That is, you need to collect allpossible medical certificates and come to the priest, and together with him, at the appointed time, go to an audience with the local church head. Often, the issue of allowing funerals and commemoration is resolved difficultly and for a long time, sometimes even at the level of the metropolitan.
Before you decide to take such a step as receiving a special rank, you need to try to abstract yourself from grief and think about whether there is a right to it. After all, a church funeral and commemoration is not a magic spell, it is not something like a ticket to heaven. It is impossible to deceive the Lord, therefore, in most cases, it is still preferable to pray for a suicide, which is read at home.
What is "cell prayer"?
Prayer in private is carried out outside the temple, outside the framework of the church service. That is, if people, being at home, ask the Lord to have mercy on the souls of suicidal, this is the cell prayer for the suicidal.
Under this concept lies not only an independent appeal to the saints or to God himself. A clergyman, an ascetic, and just any indifferent pious person can pray in this way for the soul of a suicide.
The most famous of all cell texts is Lev Optinsky's prayer for the suicidal.
Who is Lev Optinsky?
In the world this man was called Lev Danilovich Nagolkin. He lived at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. He was born in 1772 and died in 1841. Although historians argue about the date of birth, many adhere to the version that thisman in 1768.
Lev Danilovich lived a difficult life that ended within the walls of Optina Hermitage. He was canonized in the status of a reverend, and during his lifetime he is revered for his extraordinary insight and numerous cases of miracles. This man is the founder of eldership in Optina Hermitage.
How Lev Optinsky's prayer appeared
Lev Optinsky's prayer for the suicidal arose thanks to a particular case. The elder was known and respected, had a large number of students, and ordinary people often turned to him for guidance or advice.
One day a young man turned to the old man for help, being in an inconsolable state due to his father's suicide. The name of this young man was Pavel Tambovtsev, and the story itself was documented in the chronicles of the monastery. Of course, the young man was interested in what prayer should be for a suicidal father and whether it is possible in principle, is there any hope for the soul of the deceased.
The elder did not refuse the grief-stricken young man advice and help, explaining how to pray in such a situation and giving an example of the right words. This prayer became truly popular and spread without any church connivance.
How to read this prayer? Prayer text
There is no single, concrete answer to the question of what kind of prayer to read for the suicidal. You can ask for God's mercy by reading passages from troparia, psalms, other texts, or simply pray in your own words.
Prayer, which he cited as an example, according to legend,to the young man Optina Elder who turned to him, in the modern version of reading it sounds like this:
“Recover from me, Lord, for the soul of the lost slave (the name of the deceased). Seek and have mercy, Lord. Inscrutable are Your ways and inscrutable plans and destinies are unknown to us. Do not put, Lord, in my sin (proper name) this prayer to You. I fall to your mercy with hope. May Thy will be done.”
In instructions to those who need prayer for a suicidal husband, son, wife, daughter or other loved one, the Optina Elder advises to show humility and accept as an axiom the fact that the Lord loves the deceased disproportionately more than anyone was from people. Such confidence will give strength to the one who prays, strengthen his spirit and determination. It will allow you to avoid heaviness in the soul and demonic temptations.
Whom to pray to?
As a rule, a prayer for suicides - hanged, drowned, or those who have chosen a different way of leaving life - is addressed directly to the Lord. This is not surprising, because no one but God can forgive and accept the soul of a suicidal person.
However, in addition to the Lord directly, Archangel Michael also helps. Prayers to him for the souls of suicides arose because of wars, when people laid hands on themselves in order to avoid some terrible fate. There is a belief that on the night of the day of his veneration, from November 20 to 21, Archangel Michael lowers his wing into the flaming abyss of Gehenna and rescues souls, purifying them before the eyes of the Lord. It is believed that if you ask Michael for mercy that night, then the soul of the deceasedwill be saved and rest.
They also pray to the Most Holy Theotokos. As a rule, inconsolable mothers and daughters of those who have voluntarily passed away turn to her.
How to pray to Archangel Michael?
Prayer to the Archangel Michael for the suicidal can be said not only on the day of his veneration, but also at any other time. There are no strict canons prescribing special pronunciation rules for such home prayer. You can turn to the archangel using ready-made texts or praying "from the heart", that is, in your own words.
The so-called mixed prayers are also well known, in the texts of which a person turns not to Michael, but to God, asking him that the archangel remove from purgatory the soul of a relative who committed suicide or just a loved one.
An example of the text of such a prayer:
“Lord Almighty, All-Seeing and All-Merciful! Do not leave me (proper name) in grief. Lighten my terrible cross and do not put in sin a prayer for your mercy for the soul of a slave (the name of a suicide). He did not know what he was doing, Lord, your servant (the name of the suicidal person) was in a demonic dope. I beg you, Almighty, direct the great archangel, crushing demons, save the soul of your servant (the name of the suicide) and cleanse it from sin, wickedness and all kinds of filth. I trust in your strength and mercy, Lord, and I pray for myself for comfort in my grief. I pray you, God, do not leave me alone with temptation. And send the great archangel to save my soul from demons and filth, save me from the fall. I trust in your strength and mercy, staying in your love. Don't leaveLord, do not let the soul of your dead servant perish (the name of the suicide). Save my soul (proper name) from death, do not allow sin, Lord.”
Praying directly to the archangel can be like this:
Great warrior of the Lord, Archangel Michael! I turn to you (proper name) with humility in my soul and obedience to the will of the Lord. I beg you for compassion for my grief and mercy. Deliver, great archangel, the soul of the servant of God (the name of the suicide) from a terrible fate, from eternal death. Search in the midst of the flames of hell, cleanse and present before the Throne of Heaven. Do not leave, Michael, in the hour of trial, intercede, free from the shackles of death, help to find peace for the soul of the suffering and the lost.”
Those Christians who have decided to pray for the soul of a person who committed suicide are turning to Michael with requests for the protection of their own souls.
You need to pray for help for yourself in avoiding demonic attacks immediately before reading the text for the soul of a suicide. In addition, you should definitely visit the temple and pray for the protection of your soul in front of the image of the archangel daily.
