Masturbation in Orthodoxy
The Orthodox point of view on masturbation is based on the words of the Apostle Paul:
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor wicked people, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
According to a number of biblical interpreters, “malakia” is nothing more than masturbation. Therefore, the Orthodox Church takes the issue of bodily purity very seriously and interprets masturbation as a very insidious and dangerous sin.
Prayer to St. John the Long-Suffering
(The demons of fornication inflamed John’s flesh to such an extent that he did not eat anything for several days, burdened himself with chains, buried himself in a hole, leaving only his head and shoulders on top. He once remained in this position for the entire Great Lent.)
Oh, sacred head, like the most blessed Abbot John, do not forget your poor to the end, but remember us always in holy and favorable prayers to God: remember your flock, e. You yourself have saved, and do not forget to visit your children and pray for us, Holy Father, for your spiritual children, for you have boldness towards the Heavenly King: do not keep silent to the Lord for us, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love: remember us unworthy at the Throne Almighty, and do not cease praying for us to Christ God, for grace has been given to you to pray for us. We do not think that you are dead: even though you have passed away from us in body, you remain alive even after death, do not depart from us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the delights of demons and the wiles of the devil, Our good fellow. Even though the relics of your cancer are always visible before our eyes, but your holy soul with the angelic hosts, with disembodied faces, with heavenly powers, stands at the throne of the Almighty, worthy of rejoicing Knowing that you are truly alive even after death, we bow down to you and We pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, so that we may pass from earth to heaven without restraint, from bitter ordeals, demons of the princes of the air and from eternal May we be freed from torment, and may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, who from all eternity have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ: to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His Father who is without beginning, and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion to the Saint, tone 82
In you, father, it is known that you were saved even in the image of receiving the cross, for you followed Christ, and in your deed you taught to despise the flesh, it comes: be diligent about souls, things more immortal: in the same way and with A The angels rejoice, O Reverend John, your spirit.
In you, father, that which is in us in God’s image has definitely been preserved: for having taken up your cross, you followed Christ, and in practice taught to disdain the flesh as transitory, but to take care of the soul, an immortal creation. That is why, St. John, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Kontakion to the Saint, tone 22
Having armed yourself with divine purity of soul,/ and unceasing prayers/ as if you had handed over a copy,/ you have broken through the demonic host,/ John, our Father,// pray unceasingly for all of us.
Having armed yourself with the purity of your soul, with God’s help, and unceasing prayers, like taking a spear firmly, you have overthrown the demonic armies, John, our Father, pray unceasingly for all of us.
Greatness to the Reverend2
We bless you, like Father John, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and interlocutor of angels.
* * *
Is masturbation a sin or a natural need?
However, not all interpreters define the meaning of the word “malakia” as masturbation; some of them translate it as “soft, amenable to pressure” and attribute it to passive homosexuals. However, even if you do not turn to the Holy Scriptures on this issue, you can easily understand why masturbation is a sin.
If we consider masturbation separately as a physical action (touching one’s own body), most likely it is not a sin. However, if we consider this action in its entirety (since it occurs in reality, under the influence of memories, fantasies, dreams and viewing pornography) it is clearly defined as a sin.
Jesus Christ said:
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:28
Because under the influence of images from the screens of the monitor, television, telephone, memories and fantasies, carnal lust (excitement) occurs - the sin of adultery is committed. This is why masturbation is a sin, because... goes hand in hand with lustful passion and without lustful passion it does not manifest itself.
The need for sexual intimacy is natural for humans. However, the natural manifestation of this need is lovemaking between husband and wife, as God established this at the creation of man. Masturbation is an unnatural satisfaction of a natural need, along with homosexuality, lesbianism and other perverted and immoral ways.
Father Vladimir Golovin talks about what a mortal sin is, and whether masturbation belongs to it:
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
Oh, great and wonderful servant of Christ, Holy Hierarch Father Ignatius! Mercifully accept our prayers, offered to you with love and gratitude! Hear us, orphan and helpless (names), who come to you with faith and love and your warm representation for us before the Throne of the Lord of Glory of those who ask. We know how much the prayer of the righteous can do, propitiating the Lord. From the years of infancy you have passionately loved the Lord and having desired to serve Him alone, you have imputed all the beauty of this world for nothing. You have denied yourself and taken up your cross; you have followed Christ. You chose the narrow and sorrowful path of monastic life by your own will, and on this path you acquired great virtues. With your writings, you filled the hearts of people with the deepest reverence and humility before the Almighty Creator; you filled the sinners who fell with your wise words in the consciousness of their insignificance and their sinfulness, in repentance You taught them to resort to God in wisdom and humility, encouraging them with trust in His mercy. You rejected none of those who came to you, but you were a loving father to all and a good shepherd. And now do not leave us, who fervently pray to you and ask for your help and intercession. Ask our humane-loving Lord for mental and physical health, confirm our faith, strengthen our strength, which is exhausted in the temptations and sorrows of this age, warm us with the fire of prayer and cool us. O thou of our hearts, help us, who have been purified by repentance, to receive the Christian end of this life and to the palace of Savior, adorned come together with all the elect and there together with you worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
We advise you to study the Icon of the Presentation of the Lord
Symphony based on the works of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt.
See Gluttony
Reasons for masturbation
Physiological reasons:
- The body's need to receive pleasure from physical stimulation of the sexual organ
- Desire to relieve tension
- The absence of a loved one nearby
- Period of menstruation for girls (if the couple is accustomed to daily sex and it is difficult for the man to endure)
- Pregnancy period
Psychological reasons:
- Bad mood, depression
- Lack of joy, pleasure, happiness in life
Social reasons:
- Easy access to pornography
- Revealing fashion (short skirts, tight jeans and leggings), more and more stimulating sexual desires every day
- Advertising, music videos with naked beauties stimulating passionate desires
Neurological reasons, in cases where masturbation is associated with viewing pornography, sexual fantasies and dreams.
Spiritual reasons:
- Consequences of the heredity of original sin
- Attacks of demons through the suggestion of lustful thoughts
A complete list of our vetted experts who are always ready to help
A person who has undergone such a base and dirty activity must be subject to heavenly punishment and be disgraced not only before believers, but also other people. That is why a man or woman who is unable to resist temptation should regularly read sacred prayers and church conspiracies against masturbation
How to overcome handjob
Advice from priest, Archpriest Andrei Tkachev:
- clear the memory of voluptuous memories and fantasies
- protect your eyes and ears from stimulating sights and sounds
- do not judge anyone (because God allows those who judge to fall into shameful passions, so that they do not become proud: if you love to judge others, you will do disgusting things in order to humble yourself to see your sinfulness)
- don't despair
- you need to be tired in the evening to fall into a dreamless sleep
- stay away from pornography and pornographic words (images and words, jokes below the belt)
- be patient, because Although the enemy is strong, we will defeat
- workout
Recommendations of the Monk Abba Dorotheos for those overwhelmed by fornication:
Checklist with links to explanatory articles:
Prayer to Martinian of Caesarea
He was a firm and unshakable monk in his faith. One woman heard about him. Rich and beautiful. And she decided to seduce the Monk Martian. She changed into rags and took with her a bag of rich clothes and jewelry. In this form she went to the monk’s cell and began to desperately ask him to let her in. I would not let him freeze from the cold or be eaten by wild animals.
The Martian let the woman in, fed her and allowed her to warm herself by the fire. He left him in the outer half of the cell and went into the inner half. At night, the monk was overcome by a lustful passion. And in the morning, leaving his quarters, he found a visitor dressed in rich clothes. She approached Martinian with persuasion. And he almost succumbed to temptation. But instead of agreeing to what was proposed, the monk walked barefoot into the fire. He reproached himself for almost slipping.
Seeing this, the woman was horrified. She fell on her knees before the saint, asking him for forgiveness. The harlot herself, seeing the suffering of the Monk Martinian, completely decided to change her life. She retired to Jerusalem, where she labored for 12 years, asking for forgiveness for her sins.
Prayer against fornication to St. Martinian of Caesarea:
Prayer against handjob
The most correct prayer is a sincere prayer from a pure heart, in simple words.
There is a short, simple and universal prayer to help Orthodox Christians - the Jesus Prayer. It helps in the fight not only against masturbation, but also any other sins and passions. The prayer is repeated slowly (so that thoughts focus on the meaning of each word) as soon as a passionate desire arises until the excitement subsides:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
In addition, in prayer you can call on saints for help - there are a large number of examples of such prayers on the Internet.
Handjob in women, children, men
There is no mention of such indecent female behavior in the Holy texts. But it is also condemned as masculine. In order to atone for their guilt, they should also repent of their deeds and be subject to the same punishment as representatives of the opposite sex. In order to beg for forgiveness, and also not to be subjected to such lust anymore, you can use a prayer against masturbation for women.
It happens that children also unknowingly use handjob. Most often this is due to:
- ignorance,
- violations of personal hygiene rules,
- discomfort in the genital area,
- too tight clothes,
- physical punishment.
To protect their children from such manifestations, parents should adhere to the following rules:
- try to understand the reason for this manifestation and eliminate it,
- try not to scold or frighten the child, but to explain clearly,
- do not interrogate the child,
- pay maximum attention,
- clothes should be loose,
- review your diet
- allow more time to be spent with peers,
- carry out daily water procedures,
- spend enough time in the fresh air.
Also read: Prayer of abstinence
But adultery by a man with another woman or with one with whom he is not legally married is considered a sin. Handjob, which is generally considered meaningful, is also punished. To prevent such a phenomenon and restrain one’s sinful desires, it is recommended to use a prayer against masturbation for men. She will allow them to hold on to their passionate desires and will cope so as not to enter into a sinful relationship with another partner, and thus will not lead to betrayal.
How to confess and repent of masturbation
Believers often confuse the meaning of the words “repent” and “confess.”
Repentance (gr. metanoia) is translated as “a change of thoughts, a change of consciousness.” Confession is the announcement of committed sins.
Repentance can be accomplished in a person without confession. And confession can take place without repentance.
While in church at confession, you need to call the prodigal sin by its name - masturbation, without giving any details. Here is what Alexei Ilyich Osipov, professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, says on this matter:
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