Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Serbia)

“Women who have had abortions are under penance to abstain from Holy Communion until they have repented. This is a great sin before God, and it is a reason why such terrible misfortunes have befallen our nation [Serbia].”

— Elder Thaddeus

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, page 149

Interviewer: Will the Lord forgive those women who have had multiple abortions, but have repented sincerely? What can they do to redeem their sin?

Elder Thaddaeus: A woman who destroys the fruit of her womb commits a great sin. She is destroying life itself, for God alone is the Giver of life and He makes possible the conception of a human being in the womb. He gives life and a woman destroys it. Great repentance is necessary, from the depths of her soul. Otherwise she will be condemned as a murderess. No creature on earth kills its young—only man, the rational being. This is a great sin, and if a woman does not repent from the depths of her soul, she will be condemned as a murderess. Will she pass through the toll-houses? There is no sin that can not be forgiven but the sin of unrepentance. True and sincere repentance is required for such a sin, and it must never be repeated again. Our people are terribly guilty of this sin. Entire villages have disappeared. When I was a child there were one hundred and ten homes in Vitovnica. Now less than half of them are standing. It is a sad thing that we Serbs will soon be a minority in our own land, for other nations will come and populate our lands. This is very sad. People also make a mistake when they divide their property among their children. In Germany, for example, this is not the case. Only one son stays on the farm; the others must find work. Here in Serbia, small pieces of land are divided into yet smaller pieces. What will we do when it is not possible divide the land any further? But look at the gypsies! They have neither home nor land nor bread to eat, but their tents are full of children! It is very sad what we are doing to ourselves. Let us repent and become better, if we can!

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, page 179