Self-Defense: Is it allowed?

[drewmeister2]

Is self-defense to the point that you may have to kill someone to defend yourself acceptable in Orthodoxy?

Thanks .

[gimme your lunch money]

In the book "Father Arseny", Father Arseny is described, at one point, using physical force to defend another in-mate (they're in a Soviet labor camp). This other in-mate is threatened with a knife by another man, whereupon Father Arseny, by lightly (he was a weak "old" man) hitting the latter man's arm, throws back the man by a healthy amount of force.....obviously a miracle was involved. Father Arseny was the blessed recipient of another miracle the next day as well; with the same in-mate who he defended. So no, I do not think "turning your cheek" precludes defense of yourself or a friend.

[drewmeister2]

Thanks .

So I would think murder is allowed in the case of self-defense?

[gimme your lunch money]

I don't think we should conscientiously pursue murder in our attempts to defend, but if one accidentally causes death in their attempt to defend, I would simply confess the incident to a Priest, and I'm sure he would grant you a safe absolution.

[drewmeister2]

So murder in war is a sin?

[DavidHawthorne]

Christ is in Our Midst!
I have found these words from the Prologue helpful in understanding this issue- it is from the selection on May 11 for Sts. Cyril and Methodius:
"In the encampment of the Saracens they asked St. Cyril: "How could Christians wage war and at the same time keep the commandment of Christ about praying to God for their enemies?" To that, St. Cyril replied: "If two commandments were written in one law and given to men for fulfilling, which man will be a better follower of the law: the one who fulfills one commandment or the one who fulfills both?" To that, the Saracens replied: "Undoubtedly, he who fulfills both commandments." St. Cyril continued: "Christ our God commands us to pray to God for those who persecute us and even to do good to them; but, He also said to us: greater love cannot be shown in this world than if one lay down his life for his friends." "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (St. John 15:13). That is why we bear the insults which our enemies do to us individually and we pray to God for them; and, as a society, we defend one another and give up our lives, that you would not somehow enslave our brethren, would not enslave their souls with their bodies and would not kill them in body and soul."

In Christ,
Rd. David

[OrthodoxKnight]

So murder in war is a sin?

I think Murder and Killing Are 2 different things.