Suicidal thoughts are defeated by prayer, – Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) about online games with death

The youth should realize the risks of chatting with people who via Internet games spur to actions which might lead to a suicide. It was said by Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) during his meeting with young people of Borispol eparchy, reports the UOC Information Centre.

In particular, His Eminence gave his comments on the growing incidence of deathly teenager games known as «Blue Whale», «Wake me up at 4.20», and urged not to feel curious about them.

«Suicidal thoughts need to be defeated by praying. A prayer is a possibility to stay with God, Who can protect us from such thoughts and actions. One should preserve chastity, purity, all the best in the human nature. The Internet can pour dirty floods one should shield himself from», remarked the Metropolitan.

He also reminded that puberty age is the time of value reconsideration and inner protests.

«This is the time when man wants to prove something to everybody, even to God. But you shouldn't become self-centred. It's important not to step beyond the boundaries. In our youth we make the most crucial choice – we choose our road in life. It's necessary not to make deeds when there is no point of return», underscored the UOC Chancellor.

According to mass media, social networks have been teeming recently with deathly teenage games. Under the rules of «death groups», a participant has to fulfil a range of tasks, inflicting injuries upon himself and sending photo reports after the tasks have been done. Supervisors track down the game participants by their IP-address and threaten those teenagers who refuse to play further. The ultimate goal of such games is to get a teenager to commit a suicide by means of psychological pressure.

Read also

Iranian authorities accuse protesters of setting fire to 350 mosques

According to the head of Iran's Foreign Ministry, the arson attacks on mosques indicate the organized and externally supported nature of the riots.

Romanian Patriarchate opposes prostitution legalization in country

The Church noted that Holy Scripture and Orthodox Tradition consistently testify to the incompatibility of prostitution with spiritual life.

Poroshenko calls to cancel elections and focus on "language and faith"

The former president stated that an election campaign is unacceptable until the end of the war and proposed focusing the state's efforts on ideological priorities.

SBU confirms use of UOC hierarchs as "prisoner exchange fund"

The Security Service stated that UOC clergy were involved in exchanges when returning citizens from Russian captivity.

Report: 2,000 Christians killed and 3,000 attacked worldwide over two years

The report mentions the situation of Christians in Ukraine: it records the destruction of churches and threats to religious freedom.

U.S. Congresswoman appeals to Vatican over UOC persecution

The legislator linked appeals to the Vatican with complaints about UOC persecution and stated that US taxpayers' money should not be directed to a government that persecutes Christians.