Suicide

[CovaDaIria]

Gosh, I think I initially posted this in the wrong section, but here it is again:

Hi, this may seem like it's a topic out of the blue. Forgive me that I haven't looked through any of the other threads. I would like to ask what the Orthodox chuch believes about suicide, and where a person's soul goes when they do commit it. I had a classmate commit suicide 9 years ago, and for some reason, I still think about it from time to time, especially on the month of her passing every year. She was Orthodox, and she came from a big, caring and loving family. She was intelligent, athletic, artistic, and extremely kind. She was also very beautiful, not only on the outside, but the inside too. No one saw it coming that she would commit suicide on her 16th birthday. We were all baffled, mixed with deepened sorrow. She overdosed using tylenol pills; to this day I am extremely confused to her actions, as she appeared normal on the outside, and was kind and caring, and didn't really show any signs of taking her life. She was an inspiration to everyone and a great role-model for her fellow classmates. I have prayed for her soul, and it seems like I'll never know why she did what she did. But basically, I want to know what the Orthodox church believes about suicide and where the soul goes when one commits suicide. Even to this day, I feel like I should have done something to see the signs, but like I said, no one expected this, not from a girl who had it all...

[Wiffey]

Gosh, I think I initially posted this in the wrong section, but here it is again:

Hi, this may seem like it's a topic out of the blue. Forgive me that I haven't looked through any of the other threads. I would like to ask what the Orthodox chuch believes about suicide, and where a person's soul goes when they do commit it. I had a classmate commit suicide 9 years ago, and for some reason, I still think about it from time to time, especially on the month of her passing every year. She was Orthodox, and she came from a big, caring and loving family. She was intelligent, athletic, artistic, and extremely kind. She was also very beautiful, not only on the outside, but the inside too. No one saw it coming that she would commit suicide on her 16th birthday. We were all baffled, mixed with deepened sorrow. She overdosed using tylenol pills; to this day I am extremely confused to her actions, as she appeared normal on the outside, and was kind and caring, and didn't really show any signs of taking her life. She was an inspiration to everyone and a great role-model for her fellow classmates. I have prayed for her soul, and it seems like I'll never know why she did what she did. But basically, I want to know what the Orthodox church believes about suicide and where the soul goes when one commits suicide. Even to this day, I feel like I should have done something to see the signs, but like I said, no one expected this, not from a girl who had it all...

All I can tell you is what my priest told me when my cousin killed himself:

Suicide is a grave sin, but God alone knows whether the person was in their right mind when they did it or if they repented at the very end. So we must always pray for God's mercy in these situations. I remain hopeful in God's mercy and pray for my cousin all the time. Pray for your friend, it is the only thing you can do for her...