Orthodox Guide For Confession

The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution!
THE PRIEST’S GUIDE FOR

THE RITE OF CONFESSION:
With Instructional Materials and Articles on the Sacrament.
THE RITE OF CONFESSION IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Complied & arranged by:

Fr. Isaac Henke, Priest & Pastor
CHRIST THE SAVIOUR ORTHODOX CHURCH
Of
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX AUTONOMOUS CHURCH (ROAC)
Revised: Friday, June 08, 2007
1
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS: CONFESSION:……………………..…63
1) HOLY REPENTANCE: Preface and 17) STEPS NECESSARY FOR AN ACCEPTABLE

Instruction Concerning How It CONFESSION:……………………..…69
Behooves A Confessor to Behave 18) NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR A
and To Instruct Without FATHER CONFESSOR:………………..71
Contradiction Them That Come To
19) THE RITE OF PRACTICING THE
Him.
SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION:……....75
…...........................................................5
20) RITE OF A PRIEST’S CONFESSION:...…83
2) THE ORDER OF CONFESSION:
Preparatory Notes for Priests: 21) PRAYER & CONFESSION AN
…………………………………………7 APOSTATE:…………………………..85
3) EXHORTATION TO THE PENITENT 22) SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR
BEFORE CONFESSION: PENITENTS:……………………….…87
…………………………………….…..9 23) A CATECHISM ON CONFESSION:…....95
4) THE RITE OF CONFESSION: 24) CONFESSION & THE SACRAMENT OF
……………………………………….11 RECONCILIATION:…………………...99
5) EXHORTATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL 25) PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION
FATHER TO THE SPIRITUAL CHILD II:…………………………………...103
AFTER THE CONFESSION OF SINS:
…………………………………….….21 26) ST. BASIL’S LAMENT FOR SIN:…..…107
6) CONCERNING PENANCE: 27) AN ORTHODOX CONFESSION WHICH

………………………….……………23 LEADS A MAN TO HUMILITY:…..…..111
28) A SINCERE CONFESSION OF AN

INDEX OF ARTICLES ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN:………..….115
7) CANON FOR CONFESSION:………….25
8) PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION:…..29 "When the first order of angels fell from the
9) SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION:……...34 angelic glory and became demons, the other
nine orders humbled themselves and
10) CONFESSION: ……………….………39
worshipped the All-Holy Trinity, and remained
11) REASONS FOR INNER DISCORD:…….41 in their place and rejoice forever. We, too, my
12) CONFESSION: FROM AN ATHONITE brethren, must reflect what an evil thing pride
PAMPHLET:………………………….51 is - that it cast down the devil from angelic
glory and he will always burn in Hell - and
13) JOHN OF KRONSTADT: SAINT OF that humility kept the angels in Heaven, and
COMMUNION, SAINT OF CONFESSION: they rejoice perpetually in the glory of the Holy
……………………………………….55 Trinity. Let us then, my brethren, avoid pride,
14) CONFESSION WITH SAINT JOHN OF because it is the first daughter of the devil, it is
KRONSTADT:……………………….. 59 a path that leads to Hell; and let us have
humility, because it is angelic, and is a path
15) HOW TO MAKE A CONFESSION:…... 61 that leads to Paradise".
16) SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE AND -St. Cosmas Aitolos
3
4
HOLY REPENTANCE Give heed, that thou fear not a man

PREFACE AND INSTRUCTION CONCERNING
in his fall, that thou give not the Son
HOW IT BEHOOVES A CONFESSOR TO BEHAVE of God into unworthy hands, that
AND TO INSTRUCT WITHOUT thou be not ashamed of Him because
CONTRADICTION THEM THAT COME TO HIM of them that are glorious on the
It is the duty of him that is the earth, and that thou commune not
recipient of human thoughts to be a even him that wears a diadem.
model of all good things, and to be For the divine canons do not
abstinent, humble, and virtuous, permit the unworthy to be
himself praying every hour unto communed, since they are regarded
God, that He may give him the word as pagans. If they will not repent,
of understanding to correct them woe unto them, and to them that
that make haste unto him. First of all commune them. Give heed, he says;
it is his duty himself to fast thou seest that I will not permit such
Wednesday and Friday throughout things.
the year, as the divine canons direct,
Keeping these and similar
since from these he has to direct
precepts, and before all things,
himself and others what to do.
preserving the Church dogmas
But if he himself be ignorant, a immovably, thou shalt save thyself
profligate, and a lover of pleasure, and them that hearken unto thee.
how can he teach virtue unto others?
If any without proper
And who would be so unwise as to
authorization from the local Bishop
hearken unto him concerning that
dare to be the recipient of thoughts
which he (that is, the penitent) has to
and to confess, such shall rightly
say, seeing him a disorderly person
receive punishment as a transgressor
and a drunkard, and teaching others
of the divine canons; for he not only
not to be intemperate, or to follow
ruins himself, but as many as are
any virtue whatever, while he
confessed by him, they are not
himself is unable to do this? For eyes
confessed, and as many as are bound
are more believing than ears, says
or loosed, they are not corrected,
the divine Scripture.
according to the Sixth Canon of the
Therefore, take heed unto Council of Carthage, and according
thyself, O Confessor, for if one sheep to the Forty-third of the same
be lost through thy negligence, it Council.
shall be required at thy hands. “For
cursed,” says the Scripture, “is he that
does the work of the Lord negligently.”
(Jer. 48:10) And the great Basil says,
5
THE ORDER OF CONFESSION prayers for Confession will be in the
Preparatory Notes church at one time for all those
wishing to confess; they are read
Confession must be performed
before Confession at the end of a
at any time: the shepherd of souls
Divine Service, e.g., at the end of
must be prepared to confess any
Matins or Vespers, or at Divine
repenting Christian at any time—
Liturgy.
even when it may be inconvenient
for him. Also, the following Exhortation
may be said (or one similar) for all
If anyone comes to Confession
penitents together, before each one
who is unknown, the Confessor
comes forward for their individual
must first inquire as to who he/she
confessions.
is, whether he/she is married or
unmarried, how long has it been
since his/her last confession, and
who confessed him/her previously.
Perhaps he/she has left
his/her previous Confessor? Has
he/she fulfilled any penance laid by
the previous Confessor? Has he/she
been confessed according to the
rules of the Holy Orthodox Church?
Is he/she under excommunication,
or any other penance by a Bishop?
And if the one coming to him is
bound by a Bishop, then the
Confessor is not permitted to confess
him/her, and he/she must be sent to
the Bishop who bound him/her.
In preparation for Confession,

a Gospel Book, or an Icon of the
Savior, and a Cross are placed on an
analogion. Then the beginning
prayers (Trisagion, Psalm 50 and the
two following prayers) are said.
Usually the reading of the
6
EXHORTATION TO THE the dread Judgment. But if you hide
PENITENT BEFORE anything, before me, from the One
CONFESSION God, then you will be accused before
My beloved Child in the Holy the universal assembly, and you
Spirit, N., it is good that you have shall not be delivered from eternal
come to Holy Repentance, for there, punishment.
as by a spiritual font, you will wash Do not hide anything because
the sins of your soul, and, as with of infirmity, for I will not be angry at
heavenly medicine, it shall be healed you, neither will I make public your
of death-bearing wounds. sins; but I will heal you with
Only strive that your heart gentleness of soul. And when you
might be broken on account of all confess, expose everything, and I will
your sins, and that you may confess not censure you; uncover your sins,
them truthfully to the Lord your and I will not be as a stranger to you.
God Who is with us invisibly, before Do not speak to me about
me, the wretched one, who have those who participate with you in
received from him the power of sins, for to speak of the weakness of
absolution, hiding nothing and in our neighbors is evil. Confess only
nowise lying. But call to your sins, not idly, but with a
remembrance everything that you pricked heart, and, with good intent,
have done, and confess them. For the to preserve yourself henceforth from
hiding of sins is soul-destroying like transgressions; for without this
deception, and lying is death- it is not possible to have true
bearing; for the sake of both, all sins repentance.
confessed will not be forgiven. And
In this way, then, having
as the Mystery is not fulfilled
ordered your heart, give glory to the
because of this action of lying, new
Lord. Confessing your
deadly sins are born.
transgressions before me, a sinner,
But do not conceal even one and receiving absolution, you will be
sin, not even because of shame, for I freed from the bonds of sins, you
also am a man subject to passions, will be cleansed, and you will be
able to fall into similar sins, and I healed spiritually by the grace of
have experience of the weakness of God.
man. And when despising the shame The Confessor leads the one that comes
which you shall expose to the One to confess (but not two or more) with
God, through me, you will not be uncovered head before an icon of our Lord Jesus
accused of these sins before the Christ. And he begins:
Angels of God and before all men at
7
THE RITE OF CONFESSION holy Spirit: both now
Priest: Blessed is our God and ever, and unto ages
always; now and ever, of ages. Amen.
and unto ages of ages. Our Father, who art in
Penitent: Amen. heaven, hollowed be thy
Name; thy kingdom
Priest Glory to Thee, our God, come; thy will de done
glory to Thee. on earth, as it is in
O Heavenly King, O heaven. Give us this day
Comforter, the Spirit of our daily bread; and
Truth, Who art in all forgive us our trespass,
places and fillest all as we forgive those who
things; Treasury of good trespass against us; and
things and Giver of life: lead us not into
Come and dwell in us temptation, but deliver
and cleanse us from us from evil.
every stain, and save our Priest: For Thine is the
souls, O gracious Lord. kingdom, and the power,
Penitent: Holy God, Holy Mighty, and the glory: of the
Holy Immortal: Have Father, and of the Son,
mercy on us. (thrice) and of the Holy Spirit:
Glory to the Father, and now and ever, and unto
to the Son, and to the ages of ages.
holy Spirit: both now Penitent: Amen.
and ever, and unto ages Lord, have mercy. (Twelve
of ages. Amen. times - 4 x 3 sets)
All-holy Trinity, have Priest: O come let us worship
mercy on us. Lord and fall down before
cleanse us from our sins. God our King.
Master, pardon our
O come let us worship
iniquities. Holy God,
and fall down before
visit and heal our
Christ our King and our
infirmities for thy name
God.
sake.
O come let us worship
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
and fall down before the
Glory to the Father, and very Christ our King and
to the Son, and to the our God.
8
Psalm 50(51) Deliver me from
Penitent: Have mercy on me, O God, bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of
according to Thy great mercy; and my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice
according to the multitude of Thy in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou
tender mercies blot out my shalt open my lips, and my mouth
transgression. Wash me thoroughly shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me hadst desired sacrifice, I would have
from my sin. For I know mine given it; with whole burnt-offerings
iniquity, and my sin is before me Thou shalt not be pleased. A
continually. Against Thee only have sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit;
I sinned and done this evil in Thy a broken and humbled heart God
sight; that Thou mightest be justified will not despise.
in Thy words and victorious when Do good, O Lord, in Thy good
Thou art judged. For behold, I was pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls
conceived in iniquities, and in sins of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt
did my mother bear me. Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of
For behold, Thou hast loved righteousness, with oblation and
truth; the hidden and secret things of whole burnt-offerings. Then shall
Thy wisdom hast Thou revealed they offer young bulls upon Thine
unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me altar.
with hyssop, and I shall be made And these Troparian, TONE 6:
clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I Have mercy on us, O Lord, have
shall be made whiter than snow. mercy on us, for laying aside all
Thou shalt make me to hear joy and excuse, we sinners offer to Thee, as
gladness; my humbled bones shall to our Master, this supplication:
rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my Have mercy on us.
sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and to the Holy Spirit:
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy O Lord, have mercy on us, for in
presence, and take not Thy Holy Thee have we put our trust. Do not
Spirit from me. Restore unto me the be angry with us, nor remember our
joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy iniquities, but look down on us even
governing Spirit establish me. I shall now, as Thou art compassionate, and
teach transgressors Thy ways, and deliver us from our enemies; for
the ungodly shall turn back unto Thou art our God, and we are Thy
Thee. people; we are all the work of Thy
hands, and we call on Thy name.
9
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now
Amen. and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
O Blessed Theotokos, open the Let us pray to the Lord.
doors of compassion to us whose And another Prayer:
hope is in thee, that we may not
perish, but be delivered from O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the
adversity through thee. For thou are Living God, the Shepherd, and the
the salvation of the race of Christian Lamb that taketh away the sins of
people. the world, Who gavest remittance
unto the two debtors, and didst
Then, Lord, have mercy (40 times). grant remission of her sins unto the
The Priest says: harlot: Do Thou Thyself, O Master,
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. loose, remit and pardon the sins,
transgressions and iniquities,
And this Prayer:
whether voluntary or involuntary,
O God, our Savior, Who, by whether known or unknown,
Thy prophet Nathan didst grant whether by mistake or in
remission of his sins to the repentant disobedience, which Thy servants
David, and didst accept the penitent have wrought, and whatsoever they
prayer of Manasseh: Do Thou have done, as men bearing flesh and
Thyself, in Thy customary love for living in the world, being beguiled
mankind, accept this, Thy servant, by the devil.
N., who repents of the sins he (she)
has committed, overlooking all that And if by word, or by deed, or
he (she) has done, forgiving his (her) in knowledge, or in ignorance they
unrighteousness, and passing by his have sinned, or have despised the
(her) transgressions. word of a Priest, or are under a
priestly anathema, or are fallen
For Thou, O Lord, hast said: “I under their own anathema, or are
desire not the death of a sinner, but bound under an oath, do Thou
that he turn from his way and live”; Thyself as Thou art good and gentle,
and that sins shall be forgiven even O Master, be pleased that these, Thy
unto seventy times seven. For as Thy servants, be loosed by Thy word,
majesty is incomparable, so is Thy forgiving them their own anathema
mercy immeasurable. For if Thou and oath, according to the greatness
shouldest mark iniquities, who of Thy mercy.
should stand?
Yea, O Master and Lord, O
For Thou art the God of them Lover of Mankind, hearken unto us
that repent and unto Thee do we who are entreating Thy grace for
send up glory: to the Father, and to these Thy servants; and, as the
10
greatly-merciful One, overlook all the All-Holy and Life-Creating

their transgressions, and deliver Spirit.
them from eternal torment. For Thou And vouchsafe me, poor and
hast said, O Master: “Whatsoever naked of all virtue, to fall with tears
you shall bind on earth shall be at the feet of my spiritual father, and
bound in heaven, and whatsoever call his holy soul to mercy, to have
you shall loose on earth shall be mercy on me.
loosed in heaven.”
And grant, O Lord, unto my
For Thou only art sinless, and heart humility and good thoughts,
unto Thee do we send up glory: to becoming a sinner, who hath
the Father, and to the Son, and to the consented to repent unto Thee, and
Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto do not abandon unto the end the one
the ages of ages. soul, which hath united itself unto
After this, he says to him (her): Thee and hath confessed Thee, and
Priest: Behold, My Spiritual instead of all the world hath chosen
Child, Christ stands invisibly here Thee and hath preferred Thee.
receiving your confession. Do not be For Thou knowest, O Lord,
ashamed, neither be afraid, and hide that I want to save myself, and that
nothing. Rather, do not be afraid to my evil habit is an obstacle. But all
tell all that you have done, so that things are possible unto Thee, O
you may receive forgiveness from Master, which are impossible for
our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, His man. Amen.
Holy Icon is before us. I am only the And then the priest shall question him (her)
witness, bearing testimony before diligently, question by question, and shall
Him of all that you shall say. But, if await his (her) answer to each question.
you conceal anything you shall have Customarily, the Confessor sits, while the
the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, penitent kneels before the Analogion.
that having come to the Divine ______________________
Physician, you not depart unhealed.
And first of all he shall question him (her)
PRAYER OF ST. SYMEON THE NEW concerning his (her) faith, saying:
THEOLOGIAN Priest: Tell me, Child: Do you
Penitent: O God and Lord of all! believe that which has
Who hath the power over every been transmitted and
breath and soul, the only One able to taught by the Catholic
heal me, hearken unto the prayer of Apostolic Church which
me, the wretched one, and, having was planted and
put him to death, destroy the serpent nourished in the east and
nestling within me by the decent of which has spread from
11
the east into all the proceeds from the Father; Who with
universe and which the Father and the Son together is
abides even to this day worshiped and glorified; Who spoke
undivided and by the prophets.
unchanged? And do you In one Holy Catholic, and
doubt any of its Apostolic Church.
traditions?
I acknowledge one baptism for
And if he (she) believes in an Orthodox
manner, without doubt, let him (her) read the
the remission of sins.
Symbol of Faith: I look for the resurrection of
THE CREED the dead, and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
Penitent: I believe in one God, the
Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven And when this is finished, the Priest
shall question him (her):
and earth, and of all things visible
and invisible. Priest: Confess now, therefore,
of all your sins which
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
you have committed to
the Son of God, the Only-begotten,
the present hour:
begotten of the Father before all
ages. Light of Light; true God of true
God; begotten, not made; of one The questions that follow in the Book of
essence with the Father, by Whom Needs, coming down from Byzantine times,
all things were made; Who for us although retained in earlier editions, are not
now asked. (They are, however, appended at the
men and for our salvation came
end of the Order of Confession.) Instead, the
down from Heaven, and was Confessor waits for the penitent to reveal his
incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the (her) offences, and, when necessary, asks
Virgin Mary, and became man. And suitable questions, according to the penitent’s
He was crucified for us under condition, sex, age, etc.
Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was __________________________________
buried. CONFESSION OF ST. JOHN OF
And the third day He rose again, KRONSTADT
according to the Scriptures, and I CONFESS TO THE LORD
ascended into Heaven, and sits at the MY God and before you as witness,
right hand of the Father; and He reverend Father, all my countless
shall come again with glory to judge sins which I have committed till the
the living and the dead; Whose present day and hour: in thought,
Kingdom shall have no end. word, and deed. Every day and
And in the Holy Spirit, the every hour I sin through ingratitude
Lord, the Giver of Life, Who to God for His great and numberless
12
blessings to me and for His most immoderation in food and drink.

gracious providence and care for me, I have sinned by self-
a sinner. importance, disobedience,
I have not kept the vows of my willfulness, self-righteousness, and
baptism, but have made myself the seeking of approval and praise.
unwanted before the face of God. I have sinned by unbelief, lack
I have sinned before the Lord of faith, doubts, despair,
by lack of faith and by doubts despondency, abusive thoughts,
concerning the Orthodox Faith and blasphemy and swearing.
the Holy Church; by ungratefulness I have sinned by pride, by
for all of God's great and unceasing having a high opinion of my self,
gifts; His long-suffering and His narcissism, vanity, conceit, envy,
providence for me, a sinner; by lack love of praise, love of honors, and by
of love for the Lord, as well as fear, putting on airs.
through not fulfilling the Holy
Commandments of God and the I have sinned: by judging,
canons and rules of the Church. malicious gossip, anger,
remembering of offenses done to me,
I have not preserved a love for hatred and returning evil for evil; by
God and for my neighbor nor have I slander, reproaches, lies, slyness,
made enough efforts, because of deception and hypocrisy; by
laziness and lack of care, to learn the prejudices, arguments, stubbornness,
Commandments of God and the and an unwillingness to give way to
precepts of the Holy Fathers. my neighbor; by gloating,
I have sinned: by not praying spitefulness, taunting, insults and
in the morning and in the evening mocking; by gossip, by speaking too
and in the course of the day; by not much and by empty speech.
attending the services or by coming I have sinned by unnecessary
to Church only half-heartedly, lazily and excessive laughter, by reviling
and carelessly; by conversing and dwelling upon my previous
during the services, by not paying sins, by arrogant behavior, insolence
attention, letting my mind wander and lack of respect.
and by departure from the Church
before the dismissal and blessing. I have sinned by not keeping
my physical and spiritual passions
I have sinned by judging in check, by my enjoyment of
members of the clergy. impure thoughts, licentiousness and
I have sinned by not respecting by being unchaste in thoughts,
the Feasts, breaking the Fasts, and by words and deeds.
13
I have sinned by lack of abundance of the Mercy of God.

endurance towards my illnesses and Therefore, by the Grace of
sorrows, a devotion to the comforts God, forgive and absolve me,
of life and by being too attached to reverend Father, and bless me to
my parents, children, relatives and partake of the Holy and Life-giving
friends. Mysteries of Christ for the remission
I have sinned by hardening my of my sins and for eternal life.
heart, having a weak will and by not PRIEST: In all these things which
forcing myself to do good. you have confessed you
I have sinned by miserliness, a must henceforth be on
love of money, the acquisition of your guard. For you
unnecessary things and immoderate receive a second baptism,
attachment to things. according to the
I have sinned by self- Christian Mystery. And
justification, a disregard for the you must see to it that,
admonitions of my conscience and God helping you, to
failing to confess my sins through make a new and good
negligence or false pride. beginning.
I have sinned many times by But, above all, you must

my Confession: belittling, justifying not take these sins which
and keeping silent about sins. you have confessed
lightly, lest you become a
I have sinned against the Most- cause of scorn to men
holy and Life-creating Mysteries of and the angels; for these
the Body and Blood of our Lord by things are not befitting a
coming to Holy Communion Christian. But may God,
without humility or the fear of God. by His grace, help you to
I have sinned in deed, word live honorably, uprightly
and thought, knowingly and and devoutly.
unknowingly, willingly and At the end the penitent bows their head and the
unwillingly, thoughtfully and priest, reads the following prayer of absolution:
thoughtlessly, and it is impossible to PRIEST: Bow your head unto the
enumerate all of my sins because of Lord.
their multitude.
Let us pray unto the
But I truly repent of these and Lord.
all others not mentioned by me
PENITENT: Lord, have mercy.
because of my forgetfulness and I
ask that they be forgiven through the
14
PRIEST: O Lord God of the of the Son, and of the Holy

salvation of Thy servants, Spirit. Now, having no further
merciful, compassionate and care for the sins which you
long-suffering; Who repents have confessed: Depart in
concerning our evil deeds, not peace, knowing such sins are
desiring the death of a sinner, as far from you as the East is
but that all should turn from from the West. Amen.
their evil ways and live. Greek Form
Show mercy now on Thy May God Who pardoned
servant/handmaiden [name] David through Nathan the
and grant to them an image of Prophet when he confessed his
repentance, forgiveness of sins sins, Peter who wept bitterly
and deliverance, pardoning all for his denial, the Harlot
there sins, whether voluntary weeping at His feet, the
or involuntary. Publican and the Prodigal;
Reconcile and unite them to May our same Merciful God
Thy Holy, Catholic and forgive you all things, through
Apostolic Church, through me a sinner, both in this world
Jesus Christ our Lord, to and in the world to come, and
Whom, with Thee, are due set you uncondemned before
dominion and majesty, now His terrible Judgment Seat. (In
and ever and unto ages of the name of the Father, and of the
ages. Son, and of the Holy Spirit…)
PENITENT: Amen. Now, having no further care
At the end the penitent comes forward, kneels on for the sins which you have
the kneeler (if able), and the priest laying his stole
confessed, depart in peace;
upon their head pronounces the following
absolution over the Penitent: knowing that your sins are as
far from you as the east is from
PRIEST: May our Lord and God,
the west!
Jesus Christ, by the grace and
compassion of His love for
mankind, forgive you, my And finally, the Priest, while saying the
child, [name], all your Absolution, signs the penitent with his right
transgressions. And I His hand with the Sign of the Cross.
unworthy Priest, through the Then:
power given me, forgive and Priest: It is truly meet to bless
absolve you from all your sins, thee, O Theotokos, ever blessed
in the Name of the Father, and and most pure and the Mother
15
of our God, more honorable and holy living; and those who
than the Cherubim and, more pray with us, and who have
glorious beyond compare than been partakers of Thy Mystical
the Seraphim. Without Table, preserve free of
defilement thou gavest birth to condemnation unto their last
God the Word. True breath.
Theotokos, we magnify thee. May it be unto them a
Glory to the Father, and to the sanctification of soul and body,
Son, and to the Holy Spirit, unto the keeping of Thy
now and ever, and unto the Commandments; and thus
ages of ages. Amen. may we be granted to attain
And the Dismissal. Thy Heavenly Kingdom,
together with all who have
been well-pleasing unto Thee
After this, the Priest gives the Cross to the from all ages:
penitent to kiss.
The penitent rises, kisses the Cross and the
Through the prayers and
Gospels and, receiving a blessing from the intercessions of our holy, all-
priest and the embrace of Christian fellowship, pure, most blessed and
steps away thanking God, and saying the glorious Lady, the Birthgiver of
following prayer (attributed to St. John God and Ever-Virgin Mary, of
Chrysostom).
the Patron Saint of this Holy
Penitent: What praise, of what Church, St. John Chrysostom,
hymn, or what thanksgiving, and of all Thy Saints, have
or what recompense shall we mercy on us and save, for as
offer unto Thee, the Only God, much as Thou art good and
Who lovest mankind? lovest mankind; now and ever,
For when we were condemned and unto ages of ages.
to destruction and immersed in Amen.
our sins, Thou didst bestow
freedom upon us, and hast
given us the immortal and And the Spiritual Father makes an exhortation
to the Spiritual Child after the confession of his
heavenly nourishment of the (her) sins:
Body and Blood of Thy Christ.
Therefore we pray Thee:
Deliver us from judgment,
together with Thy servants
who minister unto Thee.
Keep us and them in honor
16
EXHORTATION FROM THE this to you that you might be
SPIRITUAL FATHER TO THE counted worthy of the remission of
SPIRITUAL CHILD AFTER THE your iniquities—all of them. Like the
CONFESSION OF SINS dust from the face of the earth by the
My beloved Child in the Holy wind, they have been carried away
Spirit, N, the unconquerable mercy from your soul by the grace of the
of God, the Lover of Mankind, Holy Spirit. Like the leprosy of
desiring not that one sinner should Na’aman by the waters of the
perish, but summoning all to Jordan, for the sake of your tears
repentance, for the sake of the they have been cleansed.
inheritance of future good things, And as through the word of
does not leave you to rot spiritually the Lord the Ten Lepers were made
in sins, for it is better that you healthy in their bodies, thus has been
should obtain life eternal. done today, rendering your soul safe
And He is well pleased to turn from harm through the word of
unto you, the apple of His eye, His absolution from our Lord.
own deep compassion, and to touch And, as the Paralytic, who for
you with the finger of the grace of thirty-eight years lay by the Sheep
the Holy Spirit, rousing you, that Pool, having been healed by the
you might quickly arise from the word of the Lord, heard from the
sleep of sin, to stand up from the bed Lord, “See, thou art well. Sin no more”
of transgressions, and to receive the (John 5:14), likewise, the same has
most important healing of soul- been given you, through grace: at the
destroying harm—Holy Repentance; word of petition by me a sinner
and to make manifest your own being freed of paralysis of the soul,
sickness through confession of sins you hear from my wretchedness:
in the presence of me who am “See, thou art well. Sin no more.” “Sin
unworthy, and to receive, with joy, a not”.
penance for sins that works for good.
I say, that having been given
For this you must always the precious pearl by the grace of
render great thanksgiving unto Him, God through repentance you not be
for this is not done according to your found destroyed, and that you not
sins which you have committed, nor be deprived of the meet adornment
has this been given you according to of Heaven. “Sin not”, that the lamp
your transgressions, but according to of your soul not be extinguished,
the compassion that proceeds out of inflamed with the fire of the love of
His own goodness has He been God, by whose radiance you may be
merciful to you. And He has done able to walk easily the dark path of
17
this life, and that it may be easy for repentance, you not only be
you to enter into the land of delivered of eternal torment, but also
unblinking light, and again, without that you may be counted worthy, by
this, to suffer on this path that God, of unending life for your good
always brings harm from the snares work, from whom will always come
and delusion of enemies, and, assistance to you for all your good
having run to the doors of the beginnings, for the performing of
chamber of the heavenly good deeds, and mercy and blessing
Bridegroom, finding it necessary to all the days of your life, and that you
remain with the foolish virgins who may be counted worthy to receive in
had their lamps extinguished, to be the future age the gift of eternal life.
left outside.
I say in a few words, “Sin no Then a penance is given him (her) opposite its
more”, that you not be likened unto transgression.
mindless beasts, according to one of
the proverbs adopted by St. Peter: “It
has happened unto them according to the
true proverb: ‘The dog turns to his own
vomit again’, and, ‘the sow that was
washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2
Pet. 2:22); for those who are like these
beasts shall not enter into the
heavenly Kingdom. Henceforth, sin
no more, that having come to repent
of sins, you not continue to sin.
[Yet, a penance is laid upon you,
which you must strive to fulfill with
diligence and devotion, and beyond this,
as far as it is possible for you to do, to do
it well; for this is not according to the
multitude of transgressions, but is
applied taking into account usual
human weakness, hoping on the merciful
kindness of God Who is well-pleased to
accept the efforts of them that are not
able and to crown them.]
Abiding in continual
repentance for sins, strive to increase
good deeds, that, through
18
etc.
CONCERNING PENANCE In that penance is not
(At this point in the Book of Needs there reparation to God for sins, it is
follow instructions concerning the imposition possible and perfectly correct not to
of a penance, which, according to the canons, lay it on a penitent who, with a pure
consists of prohibition from Holy Communion heart and with tears, repents for
for a lengthy time (one, two or many years)
because of certain grave sins. These have not his/her own sins and promises
been translated.) henceforth with all his might to
refrain from them.
Penances consisting of
Other Directives Concerning
exclusion from communion of the
Penance
Holy Mysteries (excommunication)
A distinctive penance is for a long time, is imposed for more
assigned according to the gravity of weighty sins. Such penances,
the sins, the age of the penitent, the according the canons of the Holy
circumstances, and also the measure Fathers, are applied for such sins as:
of his/her repentance. apostasy, heresy, incest, adultery,
Assigning a penance to the murder, sodomy, bestiality, perjury,
penitent consisting of the exercise of oath-breaking, witchcraft, and
some sort of virtue, the Confessor defilement of graves. (In times past,
must choose virtues opposite the penances for such sins consisted of
sins that have been confessed. Thus: exclusion from Communion for a
covetousness presupposes the few or even many years, even
distribution of alms; fornication— extending to the end of one’s life.)
fasting; weakness in Faith and Only the Bishop has the power to lay
Hope—the imposition of prayers; such penances. In such cases, he
etc. But, it must also be taken into must be consulted.
account whether or not it is possible For less weighty sins,
for the penitent to fulfill the penance exclusion from communion of the
assigned to him/her; that is, a Holy Mysteries is permitted the
penance must not be assigned that is Priest, but, a penance consisting of
impossible to fulfill. For example, exclusion from the Holy Mysteries
the distribution of alms is not for a long time is not permitted.
assigned to one who is poor; or, for
A penance consisting of
one occupied with many
exclusion from church services, or a
burdensome obligations—overly-
publicly announced exclusion from
frequent attendance at church
communion of the Holy Mysteries, is
services and lengthy time in prayer;
laid only by the Bishop.
19
If, due to the seriousness of the

sin(s) confessed a penance has been
laid upon the penitent consisting of
abstinence from communion of the
Holy Mysteries, then the Prayers,
“Lord God of the salvation...” and
that of absolution are not read.
When the term of the prohibition has
ended, then, after Confession, before
the reading of the aforementioned
Prayers, it is necessary to read a
special Prayer on the Absolution
from Penance, which follows the
ORDER OF CONFESSION. It is
necessary, however, that it be read
over the one being absolved in
private, and not at Divine Liturgy.
Absolution is possible only
from the Priest who laid the
penance. It is not possible for
another Priest to absolve him/her
who has been penanced, excepting
circumstances when the one under
penance is dying. In such cases any
Priest may absolve, providing
him/her with the Holy Mysteries
before death.
A Priest is not permitted to
absolve one under penance if such
was laid by the Bishop.
20
CANON FOR CONFESSION All-pure, and the fearful tribunal, but by

habit I am terribly a prey of evils. But help
INTRODUCTORY NOTE me.
This little known Canon in preparation for The corrupter of what is good now seeing
Confession is to be found in the Greek Great me naked, leaderless and far from God of
Euchologion. As the concluding prayer makes
godly virtues, is eager to swallow me
clear, the Confession is in preparation for Holy
down. Sovereign Lady, rescue me.
Communion. The prayer might well be used as
a prayer of absolution when penitents come for Ode 3. None is holy as you.
Confession before the Liturgy. I have shamefully befouled my soul,
The Gospel, from that according to St Mark, is Sovereign Lady, Mother of God, through
translated from the Church‘s text. Virtually all numberless offences, wretch that I am.
modern editions of the Greek and all modern And, wholly in the grip of despair, as I am,
translations, following the reading of the best where may I now go?
manuscripts, omit the final verse, “But if you
Alas, I have defaced that which is
do not forgive, neither will your Father in
according to God’s image by my proud
heaven forgive you your offences“.
disposition, wretch that I am! And where
--------------------------------------------------------- now may I go? But hasten, O Virgin help
CANON OF SUPPLICATION me.
TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF There is altogether none born in this life
GOD AT THE CONFESSION OF A among mortals who has done the lawless
SINNER deeds of dire licentiousness as I, loving
Lady; for I have befouled divine Baptism.
A Composition of Monk Euthymios, the
Chancellor I have reached the limit of evils, All-holy
Virgin; but speedily help me; for heaven
Ode 1. Tone 6. Crossing the sea.
and earth bitterly cry out against my
How may I lament my sordid life, numberless outrageous acts.
Sovereign Lady, and the multitudes of my
Ode 4. Christ my power.
numberless evil deeds? What may I say to
you, Pure Virgin? I am at a loss and I quail. Ranks of Angels and the armies of heaven,
But help me. the Powers of your Son tremble at your
might, Pure Lady; while I, though
From where shall I, wretch that I am, begin
despaired of, am in the grip of
to tell my wicked deeds and my dreadful
foolhardiness.
offences? Also what will then become of
me? But, Sovereign Lady, before the end The whole earth is amazed and trembles as
take pity on me also. it watches one who dreadfully and
wickedly does outrageous deeds.
I have trodden every road of sins, O
Immaculate, and have in no way found the I have wickedly befouled the temple of the
path of salvation. But I run to you, loving body, and the Temple of Lord, which
Lady: Do not despise me as I repent from mortals enter trembling, I the prodigal,
my soul. alas, enter without shame.
I think continually on the hour of death, O Do not make me, Sovereign Lady, do not
21
make me a stranger, who have been the assaults of the foe, loving Lady; for
estranged from the shelter of your Son and before the end the Corrupter grinds his
am utterly unworthy. But wash me clean teeth at me, seizing me as a prisoner
also from the stain of my offences. stripped bare of virtues.
Ode 5. By your divine light, O Good One. Ode 7. An Angel made the furnace.
Adam transgressed one commandment of The Crafty One has heated the flame of my
your Son, O Virgin, and suffered exile. But passions sevenfold and with adulteries of
how may I lament the abyss of my the heart has slain me utterly. But with the
offences, I, rebel and transgressor against streams of my tears water me, Mother of
God? God, and do not reject me.
Cain was revealed of old as a destroyer Sovereign Lady, do not let me be drowned
and murderer of his brother before he had in the mire of my offences; for the most
been cursed by God. But what then shall I evil foe, seeing me in despair, loving Lady,
do who have dared all? For I have slain my laughs at me. But with your mighty hand
soul, and now I am not ashamed. raise me up again.
I have rivaled dread Esau, I have defiled My wretched and unfeeling soul, fearful is
soul and body by gluttony and pleasure, the judgment and terrifying and unending
befouling my life with drunkenness and the punishment; but none the less fall
lechery. Who would not weep at me, down now before the Mother of your
wretch that I am. Judge and God, and why did you despair
By your divine light, O Good One, heal the of yourself?
passions of the soul, which the Corrupter All my hope, Sovereign Lady, I the
has sown in me. Deliver me from his bitter prodigal have placed in you. Do not turn
captivity. For he laughs as he sees me your face away from me; do not shut your
leaderless. compassionate heart against me, Mother of
Ode 6. Watching life’s sea. God, but help me.
My life is dissolute, my soul filthy and my Wretch that I am, I have become dark by
life utterly wretched, while I have defiled the multitude of my numberless evils, and
my whole body by wicked deeds. changed for the worse in the eye and the
Therefore hasten, O Virgin and help me. mind of my soul. Bring me swiftly
therefore with the beams of your light to
The end is upon me and I cannot endure, the sweetness of dispassion.
loving Lady. My conscience reproves me,
for it sets before me my wicked deeds and Ode 8. From the flame you made dew
well up.
the disorder of my life; and I quake with
fear at the tribunal of your Son, pure Virgin Mother, who gave birth to God, one
Virgin. of the Trinity, and carried him in your
arms, quench the fiercely flaming furnace
Truly, O all-pure, the fearful and
of the passions and wash my soul with
unquenchable river of fire and the
streams of tears.
unsleeping worm await the burning fever
of my flesh. But deliver me from them by I tremble at death’s coming, O all-pure,
your prayers. and do not wholly fear that judgment;
while I do not wholly cease from doing
I am in the grip of terror and I quail before
22
evils. Take pity and save me by your Principalities, Archangels, Dominions and
prayers before the end. Seraphim, Powers, Authorities and Angels,
Thrones with the many-eyed Cherubim as
Grant me never silent groans and a fount
of tears, Sovereign Lady, that I may wash they and we now honor your Offspring,
away my many faults and incurable Virgin Mother, we all devoutly glorify you.
wounds, so that I may reach eternal life. Then:
I have declared to you the multitudes of It is truly right to called you blessed, who
my evils, for no one else in the world has gave birth to God, ever blessed and most
angered God, your Son and Lord, as I, pure and Mother of our God. Greater in
Sovereign Lady. Reconcile me to him honour than the Cherubim and beyond
speedily by your prayers. compare more glorious than the Seraphim,
without corruption you gave birth to God
Master, compassionate by nature, do not
the Word; truly the Mother of God we
stand me with the condemned at the hour
magnify you.
of judgment, but at the prayers of your
Mother, have mercy and place me with the And at once the Gospel according to
sheep at your right hand. Mark [11:22-26]
Ode 9. It is impossible for humans to see The Lord said: Have faith in God, for
God. Amen I say to you, if anyone tells this
mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into
See, I approach you, O all-pure, with great
the sea’, and does not doubt in their heart,
fear and love, for I, your servant, know the
but believes that it will happen, it will be
strength of your fervent prayer. For the
done for them. So I tell you, whatever you
supplication of a Mother, O all-blessed, has
ask for in prayer, believe that you are
great strength with her Son. For he is
receiving it, and it will be yours. Whenever
moved by compassion.
you stand praying, forgive, if you have
Take with you the Choirs of Archangels anything against anyone; so that your
and the multitude of the hosts on high, the Father in heaven may also forgive you
Forerunner, the companies of Apostles, the your offences. But if you do not forgive,
Prophets, Martyrs and Ascetics, and neither will your Father in heaven forgive
Martyr Bishops, and make intercession for you your offences.
me, pure Virgin, to God.
Then:
May I find your help, pure Virgin, both
Have mercy on us, O God, according to
now and at the moment when my spirit
your great mercy, we pray you, hear and
departs. Speedily rescue me from the
have mercy.
demons and deliver me from their tyranny,
O all-immaculate, and do not let me, Also we pray for mercy, life, peace, health,
loving Lady, be handed over to them. salvation, visitation, pardon and
forgiveness for the servant of God N.
I await a compassionate Judge who loves
mankind, your Son, pure Virgin. Do not And that he/she may be pardoned every
disdain me, but make him merciful to me, offence, both voluntary and involuntary.
to stand me then at the right hand of his For you, O God, are merciful and love
most pure tribunal, O all-praised; for in mankind, and to you we give glory, to the
you have I hoped. Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now
23
and for ever, and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
And this Prayer of our venerable Father
John of Damascus.
Let us pray to the Lord.
Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who
alone have authority to forgive sins, as you
are good and love humankind, overlook all
the offences of your servant N., both in
knowledge and in ignorance, voluntary
and involuntary, in deed and word and by
thought, and count him/her worthy to
partake of your divine, holy, immaculate
and immortal Mysteries; not for
burdensome misery and punishment and
increase of sins, but for sanctification,
illumination, purification, support, a
pledge of eternal life and your heavenly
Kingdom; for a wall and help and a
warding off of every foe, for the wiping
away his/her offences and for the glory of
your might. At the prayers of our most
holy Lady, Mother of God, of the honored,
heavenly, spiritual, immaterial, bodiless
Powers and of all the Saints, who have
been well-pleasing to you from every age.
Amen.
All texts and translations on this page are

copyright to
Archimandrite Ephrem ©
24
PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION • Have been argumentative or

stubborn?
I, a sinful soul, confess to our Lord, God,
and Savior Jesus Christ, all of my evil acts Third Torment: Spoke evil of others
which I have done, said or thought from • Have you spread rumors or
baptism even unto this present day. gossiped in thought or in word?
First Torment: Idle speech • Have you slandered anyone
• Have you spoken without thinking? wanting to or intending to injure the
Or spoken too much? Or spoken reputation of another?
anything that is impure? Or • Have you given bad ideas or words
shameless? Or without need or to people?
order? Or unreasonable? Or
unclean? • Have you laughed at other's
deficiencies or misfortunes?
• Have you thought or said angry
words or foul words? • Have you maligned treated anyone
with malice or shown hatred toward
• Have you participated with or sung or abused or wronged or injured
worldly shameless songs in word or anyone?
thought?
• Have you condemned anyone? Or
• Have you laughed unnecessarily or declared others unfit?
excessively? Or laughed about
things that you shouldn't have • Have you made fun of people in
laughed about or found funny? thought, word, or action? Or
mocked in a harmful way?
• Have you acted too silly?
• Have you reproached anyone or
Second Torment: Lying reflected on anyone abusively?
• Have you kept the vows of your • Have you taunted, teased, or
baptism? tempted anyone?
• Have you failed to keep oaths or • Have you insulted anyone?
promises to God?
Fourth Torment: Gluttony
• Have pronounced the name of God
without reverence? • Have you eaten before I put on the
sign of the cross?
• Have you falsely confessed your
sins? Or was insincere about, • Have you eaten when you were not
belittled, justified, or kept silent hungry?
about your sins during confession? • Have you eaten too much at one
• Have you lied? time or became too full during the
fasts?
• Have you been sly or secretly
mischievous? Or have you been • Have you eaten without having
deceptive or hypocritical? thankfulness to God?
• Have you honestly obeyed traffic • Have you eaten like a slob or out of
laws? control stuffing food in your
25
mouth? have throughout the day?
• Have you consumed too many • Have you failed to keep in continual
alcoholic beverages to the point of prayer trying always to keep your
being drunk? mind on serving God?
• Have you respected the feasts and • Have you dwelled upon your
fasts as much as I should? previous sins?
• Have you broken the fasts? • Have you fallen into despondency?
Or given up hope or not having
• Have you not looked forward to the
faith in God that He can and will
fasts taking in mind the true
change you?
meaning and purpose of them?
• Have you forgotten to pray at
• Have you eaten too many sweet
certain times during the day?
foods for the enjoyment of them or
had a love of sweets? • Have you rushed through or not
said your morning and evening
• Have you had gluttonous fantasies?
prayers whole-heartedly?
Fifth Torment: Sloth
• Have you attended the services
• Have you taken efforts to remember completely?
and extensively learn the
Commandments of God and the • Have you been fully prepared to go
precepts of the Holy Fathers by to Church to worship? Or have you
reading spiritual things? gone to Church only half-heartedly,
lazily, and carelessly?
• Have you kept your physical and
spiritual passions in check all the • Have you conversed during the
time? Or had a general carelessness services about things not having to
about doing things having to do do with the service?
with the salvation of your soul? • Have you paid complete attention
• Have you devoted yourself to the during the services?
comforts of life? • Have you let your mind wander or
• Have you lacked endurance daydream or think other ungodly
towards my illnesses and sorrows thoughts during prayer or services?
by not struggling against your • Have you left the Church before the
passions as much as you should? dismissal and blessing?
• Have you been idle? Or not worked • Have you forced yourself to do
as hard as you could have? Or fallen good at all times?
asleep at work? Or not wanted to
• Have you had a weak will?
get out of bed?
Sixth Torment: Stealing
• Have you complained about having
to work or attend long services or • Have you stolen anything or
say long prayers? thought seriously about stealing
something?
• Have you cared to praise and thank
God as much as I could or should
26
Seventh Torment: Avarice and love of Tenth Torment: Envy
money
• Have you envied anyone? Or been
• Have you loved riches? jealous?
• Have you been content with what Eleventh Torment: Pride
God gave you? • Have you been prideful?
• Have you wished in your mind that • Have you thought myself better
you had more money than you do
than anybody else?
already?
• Have you considered yourself
• Have you acquired unnecessary
worthy while considering others
things? Or had and immoderate
unworthy?
attachment to material things?
• Have you had a high opinion of
• Have you been too concerned or
yourself in any way?
caught up with material things?
• Have you talked down to anyone?
• Have you been too concerned with
things having to do with the flesh? • Have you compared or measured
yourself up to anyone?
• Have you bought things in
exchange for proper tithing? • Have you looked out for other
people's faults rather than your
• Have you been greedy or selfish? own?
• Have you worried about money or
• Have you tried to conceal the
financial circumstances instead of shortcomings of others while trying
putting your trust in God? to conceal your virtues?
• Have you had fantasies about
• Have you been critical of other
material wealth or having riches? people or criticized anyone?
Eighth Torment: Usury
• Have you been arrogant, vain, or
• Have you gained riches by conceited?
exploiting people?
• Have you relied completely on
• Have you accepted bribes? yourself rather than God?
• Have you acquired something that • Have you bragged or boasted of
belonged to another? things that you have accomplished?
Ninth Torment: Injustice Have you loved praise and honors?
Have you put on airs?
• Have you judged anyone?
• Have you been prideful of the good
• Have you acquitted the guilty and deeds that you have done?
condemned the innocent all for the
sake of gain • Have you failed to give proper
honor or obey your parents or
• Have you been unjust in anyway? superiors appointed by God? Have
• Have you accused an innocent you been disobedient?
person of committing an act that • Have you thought yourself self-
they did not do?
27
important? • Have you imagined ways you could
• Have you been self-willed instead of have revenge on anyone?
trying always to do the will of God? Fourteenth Torment: Murder
• Have you been self-righteous? Have • Have you wounded anyone is some
you self-justified your sins? way?
• Have you disregarded the • Have you had any violent or
counseling of your conscience? destructive thoughts?
• Have you failed to confess any of • Have you had any harmful thoughts
your sins through negligence or aimed towards anyone?
false pride?
• Have you wished evil upon anyone?
• Have you been impatient or anxious
• Have you been angry with people
about anything in which you
without a just cause?
shouldn't be that way about?
Fifteenth Torment: Magic, sorcery,
• Have you been prejudice towards poisoning, and incantations
anyone for any reason?
• Have you thought about your past
• Have you had prideful fantasies of interest in magic and things relating
power, fame, or glory? to magic?
Twelfth Torment: Anger and • Have you imaged Holy things
Ruthlessness having some sort of magical
• Have you felt anger? properties?
• Have you said anything unfeeling Sixteenth Torment: Fornication
towards anyone? Have you harmed • Have you had any sensual or lustful
or hurt anyone's feelings in any thoughts? Carnal thoughts?
way?
• Have you daydreamed about
• Have you carried on arguments amorous and lustful things and
with anyone about anything in your found them sweet?
head?
• Have you made impure glances?
Thirteenth Torment: Bearing grudges
• Have you touched yourself in a
• Have you nurtured evil thoughts
lustful or passionate way that was
against anyone?
pleasing or arousing?
• Have you returned evil for evil?
• Have you had blasphemously
• Have you remembered wrongs lustful thoughts about saints and
anyone did to you in the past? holy people?
• Have you bore any grudges instead • Have you been unchaste in thought,
of understanding, loving, and word, or deed?
forgiving?
• Have you waken up from lustful
• Have you kept in mind when bad dreams and found them
anyone made offences towards you? pleasing to think about?
28
• Have you had fantasies of lust or God?
fornication? • Have you been too attached to
Seventeenth Torment: Adultery parents, relatives, and friends?
• Have you had any adulterous • Have you answered the telephone
thoughts with married people? during prayer?
Eighteenth Torment: Sodomic sins Twentieth Torment: Lack of compassion
and cruelty of the heart
• Have you sinned against your
nature? • Have you lacked mercy,
Nineteenth Torment: Heresies forgiveness, compassion, and love
for anyone?
• Have you participated in Holy
Communion having as much • Have you felt hatred toward
humility or the fear of God as you anyone? Or any other manifestation
should? of hatred?
• Have you loved and feared the Lord • Have you been unfriendly to
always? anyone? Or been cruel?
• Have you turned away from the • Have you ridiculed anyone?
Orthodox confession of faith by • Have you rejoiced at the
apostatizing and agreeing with false misfortunes of other's?
doctrines or beliefs?
• Have you had abusive or violent
• Have you lacked faith? thoughts?
• Have you doubted or had • Have you been polite and friendly
misconceptions about the faith? while driving on the roads and
• Have denied holy things or had a highways?
negative attitude towards them? I have sinned in deed, word, and
thought, voluntarily and involuntarily,
• Have you been grateful for all of
knowingly and unknowingly, in
God's great and unceasing gifts, His
knowledge and in ignorance, willingly and
mercy, His long-suffering, and His
unwillingly, thoughtfully and
providence?
thoughtlessly, by day and by night, and it
• Have you fulfilled the Holy is impossible to enumerate all of my sins
Commandments of God, the canons, because of their multitude. But I truly
and the rules of the Church? repent of these and all others not
• Have you blasphemed or swore in mentioned by me because of my
thought or word? forgetfulness and I ask that they be
forgiven through the abundance of the
• Have you thought curse words mercy of God.
when you pray?
© All Rights Reserved St Nicholas
• Have you turned words of prayer Russian Orthodox Church, Dallas Texas
into profane words or filthy
The Sacrament Of Confession (Index)
concepts?
• Have you feared man instead of
29
SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION slaves".
Perhaps the most misunderstood "You did not choose Me," Jesus told the
sacrament of the Christian Church is Twelve, "but I chose you and appointed
confession (or repentance). How did it [ordained] you." (John 15:16). To these
originate? What role does a priest play? Is same disciples Jesus promised, "It is not
there a special procedure for confession? you who speak but the Holy Spirit" (Mark
The Holy Scriptures hold answers to these 13:11). Whom God calls, He equips. Paul
questions. writes to Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God
which is in you through the laying on of
God's Word promises "If we confess our my hands" (2 Tim. 1:6). It is the grace of the
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us Holy Spirit which enables the priest to
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 serve God and the people. Priests are only
John 1:9). The faithful are to bring their the visible instrument of God's mercy at
sins to God in repentance and receive the performance of the Mystery, which is
cleansing and forgiveness. performed invisibly through them by God
The early Christians would stand and Himself. It is God (the Holy Triune) who
confess their sins to God in the presence of forgives our sins.
the whole congregation. Jesus encouraged Thus the Church has encouraged her
His followers to walk in the light together, faithful: If you know you have committed
to confront problems corporately, to "tell it a specific sin, do not hide it but confess it
to the church" (Matt. 18:17). Thus James before coming to the Holy Eucharist. St.
writes, "Confess your trespasses to one Paul wrote, "Let a man examine himself,
another" (James 5:16). But as time went on and so let him eat of the bread and drink of
and the Church grew in numbers, the cup" (1 Cor. 11:28), and "If we would
strangers came to visit and public judge ourselves, we would not be judged"
confession became more difficult. Out of (1 Cor. 11:31).
mercy, priests began to witness confessions
of sin privately on behalf of the Church. King David learned a lesson regarding his
sin which is recorded for our benefit. For
Jesus, giving His disciples the authority to about a year, he had hidden his sins of
forgive sin, said, "If you forgive the sins of adultery with Bathsheda and the murder
any, they are forgiven them; if you retain of her husband (2 Sam. 11:1-12:13).Then,
the sins of any, they are retained" (John confronted by Nathan the prophet, David
20:23; c.f. Matt. 16:19, 18:17-19). From the repented from his heart and confessed his
beginning, Christians understood that the sin in a psalm which is used for general
grace of ordination endowed the shepherd confession to this day (Ps. 51). The joy of
of the flock with the discernment and salvation was restored to him.
compassion to speak the words of
remission, on behalf of Christ, regarding People ask, "Can't I confess to God
the sins of those who confess and turn privately?" Certainly, though there is no
from sin. For God has promised the clear biblical basis for it. Even general
removing of sin from us "as far as the east confession occurs in the Church. In His
is from the west" (Ps. 103:12). St. John mercy, God provides the sacrament of
Chrysostom says, "The priests decree confession (more properly called the
below, God confirms above, and the sacrament of repentance) to give us
Master agrees with the opinion of His deliverance from sin and from what
30
psychologists call denial. It is easy to pray
in isolation, yet never come clean. It is far
more effective to confess aloud to God
before a priest, and benefit from his
guidance and help.
It is essential to remember that the
remission of sins in the Sacrament is an act
of mercy. It is given for our spiritual profit,
"for edification, and not for destruction" (2
Cor. 10:8).
Thus we come before the holy icon of
Christ, to whom we confess, and are
guided by the priest, our spiritual father, in
a cleansing inventory of our lives. When
we tell God all, naming our sins and
failures, we hear those glorious words of
freedom which announces Christ's promise
of forgiveness of all our sins. We resolve to
"go and sin no more" (John 8:11).
(Reference: The Orthodox Study Bible, p 571.
Copyright © 1993 by St. Athanasius Orthodox
Academy, Nelson ISBN 0-8407-8391-4)
31
A PREPARATION FOR heretics and schismatics? Have I neglected

my duties to God through fear of ridicule
CONFESSION or persecution? Have I failed to pray to
God does not desire the death of a sinner, God faithfully'? Have I put myself before
but rather that he turn away from his sins God?
and live. In the Holy Sacrament of Penance Second Commandment
we have the means whereby we may
obtain forgiveness of our sins, and be Have I made an idol of any person or
restored to the favor of God, our heavenly thing? Have I given to anyone or anything
Father. the worship that is due to God alone?
Have I set before myself the Holy life of
In order that you may make a good Jesus and tried to imitate Him? Have I read
confession it is necessary for you to the Holy Scriptures regularly? Have I been
prepare yourself carefully. Ask God to give irreverent during Church Services, let my
you Grace to make a thorough attention wander, or been insincere? Have
examination of your conscience, courage to I neglected to receive Holy Communion
make a sincere and complete confession, regularly or without due preparation?
and strength to amend your way of life in
the days to come. Third Commandment
Begin your examination with the time of Have I profaned the Holy name of God in
your last Confession; try to recall whether any way? Have I cursed anyone or
you omitted anything through carelessness anything, or sworn a false oath? Have I
or lapse of memory, or from fear of failed to give proper reverence to holy
embarrassment. Examine yourself with the persons and things? Have I had due
assistance of the form of self-examination respect for the clergy of the Church or
according to the Ten Commandments of hindered them in performing God's work?
God which follows. Have I broken any solemn vow or
promise? Have I entered into any unlawful
It is most necessary that you be truly sorry contract or made an unlawful promise?
for the sins which you have committed,
and that you firmly purpose amendment Fourth Commandment
of your manner of living. Have I stayed away from Church on
Self examination based on the Ten Sundays or prevented others from going?
Commandments Have I done unnecessary work on
Sundays? Have I spent the day in
First Commandment unwholesome fashion or profaned it by
Have I believed in God the Father, the Son, improper conduct? If I could not go to
and the Holy Spirit? Have I failed to trust Church because of illness or other grave
in God and His mercy? Have I complained cause, have I prayed at home? Have I
against God in adversity? Have I been caused anyone else to profane the Lord's
thankful for God's blessings? Have I Day? Have I kept the Fasts and Festivals
doubted the Christian faith and the prescribed by the Church?
teachings of the Church? Have I tried to Fifth Commandment
serve God and keep His Commandments?
Have I given way to superstition? Have I Have I respected my parents and been
frequented the religious meetings of obedient to them? Have I been guilty of
deception, or caused them pain by my
32
words or actions? Have I neglected them smoked too much? Have I been lazy, idle,
or failed to help them? Have I done my or wasted my time? Have I led others to
duty towards my family? Have I been commit sinful acts? Have I been unfaithful
wanting in love or kindness towards my to any trust confided in me?
husband (or wife), or harmed him (or her) Eighth Commandment
in any way ? Have I set my children a good
example and tried to bring them up Have I stolen anything or wished to do so?
properly? Have I corrected their faults Have I kept anything that did not belong
with patience and not with anger? Have I to me? Have I tried honestly to find
over-indulged or spoiled them? Have I owners of lost articles I have found? Have I
neglected my God-children and failed in cheated anyone? Have I paid my debts?
my obligations towards them. Have I Have I lived within my income, and not
worked for my employers honestly and wastefully and extravagantly? Have I
diligently? Have I treated fairly all those given to charitable causes in proportion to
who have worked for me? Have I honored my means? Have I been honest and
God as my Heavenly Father by treating upright?
others as my brothers, and have I honored Ninth Commandment
the Church as my spiritual Mother by
Have I told lies, or added to or subtracted
honoring and practicing my religion in
from the truth? Have I made careless
accordance with her teachings?
statements or spoken evil of anyone? Have
Sixth Commandment I told any secrets entrusted to me, or
Have I caused the injury or death of any betrayed anyone? Have I gossiped about
one, or wished that I were dead? Have I anyone or harmed their reputation? Have I
done anything to shorten my own life or concealed the truth, assisted in carrying
that of someone else by injuring health, or out a lie, or pretended to commit a sin of
through evil and intemperate living? Have which I was not guilty? Have I tried to see
I given way to anger, or harmed others the good in others rather than their
with words or actions? Have I defamed shortcomings?
others who needed help, or failed to stand Tenth Commandment
up for those unjustly treated? Have I been
Have I envied anything good that has
cruel to anyone? Have I mistreated animals
come to others? Have I been jealous of
or destroyed any life unnecessarily? Have I
another's good fortune? Have I wished for
failed to forgive anyone or harbored evil
anything that was another's? Have I
thoughts against them?
damaged or destroyed the property of
Seventh Commandment others? Have I wished for things God has
Have I given way to impure thoughts, not given me, or been discontented with
words, or deeds? Have I committed any my lot? Have I been stingy? Have I held
unworthy actions alone or with others? back anything due another? Have I hoped
Have I degraded myself in any way, or for the downfall of anyone so that I might
forgotten human dignity? Have I read gain by it? Have I failed to be gracious and
immoral books or magazines, or delighted generous to anyone. Have I expected God
in obscenity of any kind? Have I associated to give me that which I would refuse one
with bad companions or frequented of my fellow men?
unsavory places? Have I eaten or drunk or
33
CONFESSION in Confession.
BY FR. DIMITRI TSAKAS The priest would hear the person's sins,
offer guidance and encouragement and
Confession is an important and integral then pray over the person. This is how
aspect of Christian life. Its foundation is confession is still practiced today.
Scriptural and its practice goes back to Confession is totally based on the Bible
Apostolic times. The ongoing forgiveness and Holy Tradition. Any person who is
of sins in the Church rests in Him that seriously trying to live an Orthodox
makes all things possible in the Church: Christian life will go to Confession
the Holy Spirit sent by Christ from the regularly. They will choose a priest they
Father to those who are His. feel comfortable with and make time to
When Jesus sees the Apostles after His confess their sins and seek guidance in
resurrection, He breathes on them and their spiritual life. The priest is not a judge,
says, "Receive the Holy Spirit! If you but a fatherly friend. He cannot forgive
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If sins, only God does that, but Christ has
you retain the sins of any, they are given him the authority to hear sins and
retained. "(John 20:22,23). The presence pray over the person for forgiveness. The
and the power of Christ's forgiveness priest helps our confessions to be more
remains in the Church in which all of His reflective, less rationalized and more
gifts reside. honest, He can act as a mirror for us which
feeds back things we would be more likely
Jesus tells His disciples to hear the sins of
to avoid on our own. The priest may guide
the people and impart His forgiveness, just
us into a deeper prayer life and Scripture
like at the Last Supper He tells them to
reading. He slowly becomes what the
perform what we know as the Eucharist
Orthodox call, our Spiritual Father,
and Holy Communion. Confession was a
nurturing us with the words of Christ,
public part of Christian life in the early
through the power of the Holy Spirit, in
Church. In his epistle, James teaches his
our Journey to the Father.
readers to "confess to one another" (James
5:16). In fact, in the early Christian Church, If you haven't been to confession, then
confession was public. Secret and private pray for guidance, see a priest and make
confession (at home by oneself) is a some time to get together. Ask him how
modern idea completely unknown in the you should prepare and then make the
Bible and throughout Christian history. A commitment to seek regular confession in a
Confession which is not made before God, spirit of sincere repentance and faith in
humanity and creation, is no confession at God. The rewards to your life will be
all. This is the Orthodox Faith. immense.
In the early Church, confession was made
to the whole congregation. Afterwards the
priest read a prayer over the person which
manifested God's forgiveness. With time
this practice became difficult to keep up
because of growth in Church membership.
Confession to the whole congregation
ceased by the fourth century and the priest
came to represent the whole congregation
34
REASONS FOR INNER DISCORD contrast to other religions and

philosophical teachings that are powerless
BY ARCHIMANDRITE ALEXANDER in spiritual warfare, only the Christian
(MILEANT) faith has all the necessary resources and
THE GREATEST PARADOX OF OUR can strengthen us to overcome sin and
LIFE is that while we all instinctively strive achieve moral perfection.
for happiness, most of the time we are The first turning point of spiritual healing
unhappy and dissatisfied even when no is in the Sacrament of Baptism. Here the
danger threatens us. Philosophy is helpless believer is cleansed from all sins and is
in satisfactorily clarifying the reason for spiritually reborn for righteous living.
this paradox. The Christian faith, however, However, the predisposition towards sin,
explains that the reason for our which is interwoven with his free will, is
dissatisfaction and dark feelings lies within not completely eliminated. As time passes,
ourselves. It results from our sinfulness - an individual falls into sin due to carefree
not only from our personal sins but also ways, inexperience, and different
from our very nature that is marred by the temptations. Supposedly eliminated, sin,
primordial sin. Sinful corruption is the similar to cancerous cells left after surgery,
main source of our grief and suffering. begins to propagate once again, gaining
Sin is a spiritual sickness that grows and strength and striving to totally control the
expands with time like cancerous cells. Left individual's will. The individual once
unchecked, sin gains in strength and again becomes spiritually sick and
enslaves its victim, and in doing so, it consequently unhappy and bitter.
taints his mind, weakens his will towards In this difficult and dogged battle with sin,
good, permeates him with uneasiness and the Sacraments of Confession and
bitterness, arouses in him passionate Communion are powerful tools available
feelings and evil thoughts and compels to us. In the Sacrament of Confession the
him to sin again and again. penitent Christian, in the presence of the
We all are, to a greater or lesser degree, spiritual confessor, opens to God his
damaged by sin, although we often fail to darkened and sick heart and allows the
recognize the full extent of our inner heavenly light to enter, cleanse and heal it.
sickness. The main reason that the Lord In Confession, as in Baptism, the great
Jesus Christ came to our world was to rebirthing power of the crucified Son of
eradicate in us the roots of sin and return God is concealed. This is the reason that
to us spiritual health and with it eternal after this Sacrament, the truly penitent
bliss. However, because sin is so intimately person feels cleansed and renewed, as a
interwoven with our mind and will, with newly baptized infant. He obtains new
our subconscious, it cannot be removed strength to battle the evil within himself
instantly or by external means. It is and to restart a righteous life.
essential that we become actively involved To help our reader gain the most benefit
with its extermination, but even our own from Confession, we will explain here the
efforts are not enough to accomplish total meaning and strength of this Sacrament
eradication of sin. Only the grace of Christ and provide some aids in preparation for
can give us complete spiritual recovery. confession and prayers read during this
Indeed, this is the essence of the great Sacrament.
advantage of the Christian faith. In
35
LOOKING INTO ONESELF Mary of Egypt. Having been a reckless and
passionate sinner from her youth, after
IN OBSERVING THE COURSE OF OUR
visiting the Resurrection church in
FEELINGS and thoughts, we become
Jerusalem she repented deeply, went to the
quickly convinced that within us
desert and after living there the rest of her
constantly battle two entities: one good
life she became one of the greatest saints.
and one evil. Real Christian life begins
(She died at the beginning of the 6th
only after we consciously elect the good
century.) The Church observes her
and reject the evil. When we disregard our
memory in the 5th week of Lent as an
spiritual growth, passively succumbing to
example of true repentance.
our desires and tendencies, whatever they
may be, not making any evaluation of Often a person, even when considering
them, we are not yet living a Christian life. himself a Christian, pays no attention to
Only when we become painfully aware of his shortcomings and for many years lives
our shortcomings, when we judge unconcerned with any moral
ourselves in the light of the Gospel and improvement. Then suddenly, sometimes
decide to improve our moral condition, after a personal tragedy and sometimes
only then can we begin to ascend on the without any apparent reason, his spiritual
path to salvation. The Gospel has many eyes open, and he decides to turn to God.
vivid examples of the sudden change in He becomes a completely different person.
people who decided to turn to God. One of In many cases, though, this turning to God
them is illustrated by the parable about the happens slowly after much hesitation and
Pharisee and the Publican (Lk. 18:4-14). repeated falls.
The Pharisee is an example of self Let us now verify whether the above
deception. He frequents the temple and conditions apply to us. Observe carefully
observes the established religious rituals. your actions during the last several days,
Yet it cannot be said of him that he is a your feelings and intentions, words you
pious person, because he is quite content said. Just yesterday, for example, you
with himself, full of pride, and despises cruelly hurt someone with harsh words, or
others whom he considers not so religious. with an insulting suspicion, or by a caustic
He boasts of his righteousness because he sneer. It has been three days now that you
fails to see his own moral deficiencies - have been disturbed by some dirty, base
lack of compassion and love, selfishness desire, and you not only did not drive
and formalism - to mention a few. The away this sinful desire, but even dwelt on
Publican, on the other hand, illustrates a and enjoyed it. Or you were given an
sinful person who realizes his poor moral opportunity to do something good for
condition and repents. He judges only somebody, but you felt that this would
himself and wants to become a better disrupt your peace and comfort, so you
person. He asks God only for mercy and failed to do it. If you were observant and
guidance, and God accepts his prayer conscientious, you would realize that
while He rejects the boasting of the passions comprise a great deal of your
Pharisee. Jesus Christ makes the repentant existence, that your whole life is like a
Publican an example for us so that we large braid made of small and great sins:
thoroughly examine our hearts and make unkind thoughts, feelings, words and
every effort to correct our moral condition! deeds. If we pay no attention to the moral
Another genuine repentance is seen in St. content of our life or think that it is quite
36
normal, we still are pagans in our The heavenly visitor slit open his chest
mentality. We will have no reason to try to with a knife, took out his heart, cut it into
change. Our true spiritual life will begin pieces, and removed from it all the spoiled
only after we say decisively, "No, I do not and corrupt parts. Then he carefully
want to slide down any more! I want to replaced the heart in its original spot, and
become a true Christian!" finally healed the wound as well. The
youth awakened and felt cleansed of all his
But as soon as you choose the path to
sins. He was so happy that God had
righteousness, you will discover that the
accepted his repentance in such a sudden
battle against bad habits and temptations is
and unexpected way and relieved him
extremely difficult, painful and exhausting.
from this unbearable burden. In truth,
You will see how frequently impure
wouldn't it be good," asks Bishop
thoughts, feelings and desires, often
Theophane, "if we could experience a
against your own will, take hold of you
similar healing from a light-bearing
and push you toward sinful actions. In
Angel!" And such an Angel is available to
many cases, only some time after you have
us. It resides in the healing Grace of our
uttered a cruel or offensive word or have
Redeemer which operates through
perpetrated an unkind deed, you begin to
repentance in the Sacrament of Confession!
realize that you should not have spoken so
or have done that. But before you have We know that Jesus Christ brought to earth
actually sinned, you did not understand the holy life. Through the Holy Sacraments
where your thoughts and feelings were of the Church this life is transmitted to all
pushing you. So over and over again we of us. Confession or Repentance is one
fall into actions that we later regret. This is such sacrament. It is not just a ritual or a
the way we start to learn the great truth of venerable old tradition but is an extremely
the words of the Apostle Paul: "For what I powerful tool for moral healing and
will to do, that I do not practice; but what I correction. It responds to one of the most
hate, that I do" (Romans 7:15). Where do essential demands of our damaged nature.
we find help, and how can we be delivered To decline Confession is the same as
from our inner conflicts? Some people suffering from some physical ailment and
share their difficulties with someone in the knowing the right medication but, due to
family or a close friend; some visit a laziness, not using it and thereby letting
psychiatrist. But these are only partial and the illness run rampant.
often ineffective solutions. Only after you
POWER OF THE
experience the total difficulty of spiritual
warfare and the ineffectiveness of human SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION
means do you begin to realize how
FOLLOWING THE TEACHING OF OUR
effective is the regenerating power of
SAVIOR and His Apostles, we believe that
Divine Grace.
the Sacrament of Repentance cleanses the
A prolific pre-revolutionary spiritual soul of the repentant Christian and heals
writer, Saint Theophane the Recluse, his spiritual ills so that after the absolution
relates the following story: "There was a of his sins, he once more becomes innocent
youth who was greatly saddened because and sanctified, as he was after Baptism.
of his numerous sins. Once in grief he fell Confession reinstates the living ties
asleep. And there, in his dream, as if out of between the Christian and the Body of
the sky, he saw coming down an Angel. Christ, i.e. the Church. The power of this
37
Sacrament comes from the blood of the penitent opens his soul to God, the true
Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who and loving Physician, and asks for mercy
because of his infinite love and compassion and help in the battle with bad tendencies.
toward us took upon Himself all our sins, Such heartfelt contrition is necessary so
nailed them to the cross and suffered what that the effectiveness of the Sacrament will
we had to suffer as transgressors of God's extend not only to the removal of
commandments. Freed from the burden of committed sins but also to bring the Divine
sins, the Christian once again rises to remedy into the receptive soul and
spiritual life and gains strength to strive strengthen it against future temptations.
for moral perfection. Upon finishing his confession the penitent
To receive the most from the Sacrament of kneels before the cross and the gospel, and
Repentance, a person must prepare for it the priest-confessor places the stole upon
with prayer, reading of Scripture and his head and prays for the absolution of
introspection. Fasting is an old and a sins. The priest requests the heavenly
helpful tool for repentance and spiritual Father not to turn away from the repentant
renewal. as He did not turn away from the prodigal
son but to again make him a new creature
From the external aspect, the Sacrament of
and a worthy member of His Divine
Repentance consists of two parts: a) the
Kingdom. At this time the invisible Grace
verbal confession of all sins done by the
of God descends upon the Christian and
repentant, and b) the prayer of absolution
renews within him the spirit of
administered by the pastor-confessor. The
righteousness.
loud articulation of one's sins, i.e.
confession, is an indispensable factor of Jesus Christ spoke twice of the Sacrament
true repentance because it forces the of Repentance. The first time He said to the
penitent to overcome pride, which is the Apostle Peter that He "will give him the
source of most of our spiritual ills. Besides, keys of the kingdom of heaven so that
the acknowledgment of one's faults and whatever he will bind on earth will be
bad habits draws a person closer to bound in heaven and whatever he will
overcoming them. This is a well known loose on earth will be loosed in heaven"
psychological fact. Many non-religious (Matthew 16:19). Some time later He gave
people go to psychiatrists and receive help the authority to forgive and to retain sins
just by openly discussing their inner to all the apostles. This was done in
difficulties. The Sacrament of Confession, conjunction with their task to resolve
beyond the psychological, has a problems among the members of the
sacramental aspect, because through it Church: "If your brother sins against you,
operates the healing power of the Grace of go and tell him his fault between you and
Jesus Christ. him alone. If he hears you, you have
gained your brother. But if he will not
Repentance, to be effective, should not be
hear, take with you one or two more, that
limited just to awareness of ones sinfulness
by the mouth of two or three witnesses
or to a cold admission of unworthiness. It
every word may be established. And if he
should be accompanied with a deep feeling
refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church.
of regret and a sincere desire to become a
But if he refuses even to hear the Church,
different person. It requires the decision to
let him be to you like a heathen and a tax
battle with one's evil inclinations and the
collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever
will to correct one's way of life. The
38
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, repented, Jesus forgave him and reinstated
and whatever you loose on earth will be him as an Apostle. After the Pentecost,
loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:15-18). The when the Apostle Peter started to preach
Lord solemnly established the Sacrament the Gospel, he called to repentance even
of Confession soon after His Resurrection. those Jews who crucified the Messiah (Acts
He appeared to His disciples and said to 2:38), and later he called to repentance
them, "Peace unto you! As the Father has Simon, who was a sorcerer and at the end
sent Me, I also send you." And when He became a heretic (Acts 8:22). Saint Paul,
had said this, He breathed on them and before becoming an apostle, hated the
said: `"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you Christian faith, persecuted the Church and
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven took part in the death of the first martyr,
them; if you retain the sins of any, they are the deacon Stephen. Later he was forgiven
retained" (John 20:21-23). The apostles by God and received from Him abundant
transmitted this power to absolve and to grace. Remembering God's infinite mercy,
retain sins to their disciples - bishops and St. Paul once absolved a person guilty of
priests - who were to continue their task of incest, subjecting him first to temporary
saving human souls. excommunication (2 Corinthians 2:7).
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on the With all this one should remember that
authority given to the pastors of the absolution of sins in the Sacrament of
Church "to bind and loose," wrote, "What Confession is an act of mercy, not of
the priests determine on earth, God affirms thoughtless pity. It is given for the spiritual
on high in Heaven. Here the Master benefit of man "for edification and not for
conciliates with the opinion of His your destruction" (2 Corinthians 10:8). This
servants." However, the priest-confessor fact places a great responsibility on the
does not absolve sins by his own power, priests when they perform this Sacrament.
and there is nothing mechanical in the The Holy Scripture mentions instances or
prayers of absolution. The priest-confessor conditions in which sins are not forgiven.
is only a witness of one's repentance and a Specifically, it mentions that blasphemy
mediator of Divine Grace. God appointed against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven
him to be an instrument of His mercy. either in this world nor the next (Matthew
Ultimately it is up to the repentant to make 12:31-32). In addition it speaks of especially
his soul receptive to the healing Grace. devastating "mortal sins." "All wrongdoing
By its wide magnitude and power, the is sin," explains the Apostle John, "but
invisible work of Grace in the Sacrament of there is a sin leading to death. I do not say
Repentance covers all of man's that he should pray about that [person
lawlessness. There is no sin which is who commits such mortal sin" ( John 5:16).
beyond forgiveness. What is crucial here is The Apostle Paul teaches that "it is
to have sincere regret for committed sins impossible for those who were once
and to decide to become a better Christian. enlightened and have tasted the heavenly
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "I did not come gift, and have become partakers of the
to call the righteous, but sinners to Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word
repentance" (Matthew 9:13). New of God and the powers of the age to come,
Testament Scriptures are full of examples if they fall away, to renew them again
of God's mercy to sinners. Great was the through repentance, since they crucify
Apostle Peter's sin of denial, but when he again for themselves the Son of God, and
39
put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4- stumble in many things" (James 3:2). The
6). All these warnings refer to people with Apostle John teaches that even Christians,
a cynical attitude toward God; they either not only pagans, need to cleanse their
reject His mercy or they don't want to conscience: "If we say we have not sinned,
abandon their sinful habits. we make Him a liar, and His word is not in
us. If we confess our sins, He [Jesus Christ]
In all cases the reason for unforgiveness
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
comes not from any limitations of the
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
Sacrament of Confession but from the
(1 John 1:9-10).
unrepentance of the sinner. Indeed, in the
case of speaking offensive words against The Holy Fathers of the Church explain
the Holy Spirit, how can any sins be that the absence of a penitent attitude
forgiven when His mercy is ridiculed and occurs in people not because they are
rejected? On the other hand we must actually sinless but because of their
believe that even the sin of blasphemy can spiritual hardening. Indeed, the brighter
be forgiven when it is followed by a true the light, the clearer one detects the dust
repentance. St. John Chrysostom says the and other defects on objects. Similarly, the
following about this: "For even this guilt closer man approaches God, the clearer he
[blasphemy against the Holy Spirit] was sees his shortcomings and the humbler he
forgiven to many repentant Jews. Many of becomes. In the lives of saints we see that
them who blasphemed against the Holy the more they succeeded in Christian
Spirit [during Jesus Christ's preaching] virtues, the more unworthy they felt about
later believed, became Christians and themselves. Even saints who performed
everything was forgiven to them" (Sermon great miracles repented with grieving and
on the Gospel of Matthew). The Fathers of tears of their insignificant faults and
the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 A.D. considered themselves unworthy.
in the city of Nicea, near Constantinople)
AID TO REPENTANCE
said the following about mortal sins: "A
mortal sin is the one which remains A SPIRITUAL LEAFLET FROM MOUNT
unrepented ... These [sinners] will have no Athos gives the following directive:
share with the Lord, unless they humble "Intending to confess, before going to the
themselves and turn away from their priest, seclude yourself, beloved brother,
transgressions." even if for an hour. Put aside all secular
matters, collect your thoughts and
The Gospel teaches that all must be
thoroughly examine your conscience: How
allowed to repent, "I say to you that there
did you sin in thought, word or deed? In
will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
what did you offend God and your
who repents than over ninety-nine just
neighbor? Try to remember all the sinful
persons who need no repentance" (Luke
events and their details. After this pray,
15:7). These words include Christians who
grieve and wash your conscience with
have fallen into sin.
tears of repentance. Feeling relief in your
Some contemporary Christians mistakenly heart, make a firm resolve to fight your
believe that their faith alone makes them bad habits and to become a better
holy and free of sin and that for this reason Christian. After preparing yourself in this
there is no necessity to repent of anything. way, go to the priest-confessor believing
Referring to these self-satisfied "righteous" that God will forgive you --- for He has
ones, the Apostle James writes, "For we all never rejected a contrite and humble heart.
40
When you come to the priest, confess blasphemous thoughts. Forgive me, O
without shame, do not hide anything, do Lord, and help me to become a better
not try to `save face.' For many of us have Christian.
become accustomed to putting up a front Sins of the tongue: I have sinned, my Lord,
for others, and try to appear better than we by idle talk, unnecessary laughter,
really are. Being used to hypocrisy, we are speaking in the church and by using Your
often ashamed to honestly admit our Holy Name in vain. I have sinned by
faults, omitting some and leaving others criticizing of others, by using rude words,
incomplete. Remember, my brother, that yelling, and by making sarcastic
the Holy Spirit says in the Scripture: `Who comments. I have sinned by cursing people
hides his sin receives no benefit.' So speak and wishing them evil, by mockery and
openly without self-justification and insults. I have sinned by telling indecent
without blaming others. If someone jokes, bragging and breaking my promises.
offended you, make peace with him and I have sinned by complaining, irreverent
forgive him with all your heart, according conversations and damning. I have sinned
to the words of the Lord: `If you forgive by spreading unkind rumors, gossiping,
others then God the Father in heaven will lying, slandering and denunciation.
forgive you. But if you do not forgive those Forgive me, O Lord, and help me to
who sin against you, then the Father will become a better Christian.
not forgive you your sins.' Amen."
Sins through deeds: I have sinned, my
The following prayers of repentance with Lord, by not loving You, my Creator and
enumeration of sins can help an individual Benefactor, with all my heart and all the
to repent at home and to come to church time as I should. I have sinned, by being
prepared for Confession: selfish, lazy and by wasting time. I have
sinned by careless and disoriented prayer,
I bring to You, my merciful Lord, the
heavy burden of my innumerable by missing church services and coming
transgressions, which I have committed late to church. I have sinned by being
disrespectful with my parents, by refusing
from my very youth and up till today.
to help them and to do what they said, by
Mental and sensual sins: I have sinned, my disobedience and stubbornness. I have
Lord, by being insensitive towards Your sinned by negligence towards family needs
mercies, by neglecting Your and by failing to instruct my children in
commandments and by being ungrateful. I the Christian faith. I have sinned by self
have sinned by being indifferent towards centeredness, over-preoccupation with my
Your Truth, by having doubts about faith, career and success in life, greediness,
by being superstitious and curious about stinginess and by failing to help the needy.
unorthodox teachings. I have sinned by I have sinned by over-eating, over-
thirst for pleasure, love for money and indulgence, breaking fasts, smoking,
luxury items, by passionate interest in abusing alcohol, using stimulants,
another person and sinful thoughts. I have squandering resources and by gambling.
sinned by spiritual weakness, vanity, Forgive me, O Lord, and help me to
suspicion, jealousy, envy, irritability and become a better Christian.
anger. I have sinned by excessive sadness,
I have sinned, my Lord, by looking at
depression and despair. I have sinned by
contempt for people, gloating over someone with lust, looking at indecent
films or magazines, listening to music
misfortunes others, self-reliance, pride and
41
which evokes crude or lustful desires, heart. He finds himself renewed and
listening to indecent jokes and stories. I enlightened, willing to love God and other
have sinned by wasting too much time in people. This feeling should be the most
front of a TV, by watching scenes of obvious proof of the great spiritual power
violence and sin. I have sinned by being of the Sacrament of Confession. For this
obsessed with my appearance, by reason let us cherish this Divine tool of
behaving in a tempting matter, spiritual healing and ask God to give us
masturbation, lasciviousness, sexual wisdom and willingness to lead the
perversions, adultery, and other corporal remaining days of our life in
sins which are too shameful to say aloud. I righteousness, so that all our thoughts,
have sinned by losing my temper, words and deeds will be directed toward
displaying anger, by crudeness, rude His glory and our salvation. Amen.
treatment of close ones, by non-
OTHER POINTS ON CONFESSION:
reconciliation and revenge. I have sinned
by hypocrisy, insolence, impertinence and "Epitimia" or penance is to be understood
careless handling of sacred objects. I have as an interdiction which, according to
sinned by being cruel, deceitful, stealing, Church canons, the priest as a spiritual
and taking bribery. I have sinned by physician has to apply in certain cases in
consenting to abortion, having interest in order to treat the moral diseases of his
occult subjects, astrological forecasts and spiritual children. For example he might
by visiting fortune tellers. impose a fasting beyond that which others
do, some additional prayers of repentance,
Dear brother or sister in Christ, never
performing of a certain amount of
despair! Remember that there is no sin
prostrations, works of mercy, reading of
which is beyond God's mercy. For the Lord
the Holy Scripture and other righteous
Himself promised through His prophet,
exercises.
"Though your sins may be like scarlet, I
shall whiten them as snow; Though they Special penance or epitimia imposed
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" sometimes by the priest-confessor is not a
(Isaiah 1:18). punishment but represents an action for
correction or pedagogical healing. The
NOTES AND CONCLUSION purpose is to deepen contrition for sinning
THUS, IN THE SACRAMENT OF and to support the will for correction. The
CONFESSION God gave us a powerful Apostle Paul said, "For godly sorrow
tool to battle sin. In preparing for our produces repentance to salvation, not to be
confession of sins, we learn to watch over regretted; but the sorrow of the world
our inner life more carefully, to realize our produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). One
weak points and the cunning methods of of the canons of the Sixth Ecumenical
our tempter, the devil. Sincere confession Council declares: "Receiving from God the
before a priest helps us combat our pride power to bind and loose, the priest must
and thus to become free from the bonds of evaluate the nature of sin and
passion with which the devil wants to preparedness of the repentant, and thus
ensnare us. utilize appropriate means of healing. But if
not applying appropriate means to this or
After a deep repentance and the Divine
the other, salvation will not be available to
cleansing that follows it, a Christian feels
the sinner. For all sins are not similar, but
as if a heavy stone was removed from his
different and specific, and represent many
42
aspects of harm from which evil develops
and disperses further, unless it is stopped
by the healing power."
In the ancient Church Confession was
accomplished somewhat differently from
the contemporary practice. At that time
Christians had Communion every Sunday
or in any case often, so that Confession was
not necessary each time. Christians came
to Confession as needed, when they had
committed a serious sin if their behavior
was a temptation to other Christians.
Usually the Confession of sins was done
aloud before the priest and the
congregation as well. At present time in
the Greek Orthodox Church, Confession is
not done before each communion and is
separate from the Liturgy. Confession is
heard at a time assigned by the priest and
in a place specifically designated for this
purpose, a confessional. Closer to our
times the Russian St. John of Kronstadt,
having no opportunity to hear individual
confessions, often performed communal
Confession, in which thousands of people
participated. During this Sacrament many
confessed their sins aloud and repented in
front of the whole congregation. These
communal confessions had a very
beneficial effect on those who took part in
them.
In whatever outward form the Confession
is performed, it is necessary to remember
that it is a great Sacrament and requires
our most serious and reverent attitude. Its
purpose is to achieve beneficial healing of
the soul. That is the reason that a quick
Confession just before the presentation of
the Chalice is not the proper attitude
towards this Sacrament. It is imperative to
appear for Confession in advance, and one
must repent with heartfelt sorrow and
faith in the power of the healing grace of
God.
43
CONFESSION: FROM AN phrases come to mind: "I'm not guilty of

anything in particular, like everyone else."
ATHONITE PAMPHLET O Lord, it were as if I didn't know what sin
BY AN ATHONITE is before Thee - that every vain word and
Bless me, O Lord and my Saviour, to the very desire in the heart is an
confess to Thee not only with words but abomination before Thee. And how many
with bitter tears as well. There is much to words and desires come each day, not to
weep for... mention in a year! Thou alone, Lord,
knowest them; do Thou grant me to behold
My faith in Thee is shaken, O Lord! The my sins and be compassionate and forgive!
thoughts of little faith and faithlessness
crowd into my soul more often than not. Moreover, I realize that my constant sin is
Why? Of course, the spirit of the times is the virtual absence of any struggle with
guilty, the people with whom I associate evil within me. As soon as any excuse or
are at fault, but above all, I myself am suggestion appears, I already dive
guilty, in that I do not struggle with headfirst into the abyss of sin, and only
faithlessness and do not pray to Thee for after my fall do I ask myself: what have I
help; I am incomparably more guilty if I done? A fruitless question, because it does
become a scandal for others by deed, by not help me grow better. And if I feel
word, or by a cold silence, whenever sorrow at the same time, it comes from the
conversations concerned the faith. I am fact that my self-love is wounded, and not
sinful in this, Lord, forgive and have mercy from the awareness that I have offended
and grant me faith. Thee, O Lord!
Love for my neighbor and even for my I do not struggle with obvious evil, nor
close relatives fails me. Their incessant even with the most trifling and harmful
requests for help, their forgetfulness of habits. I do not control myself and do not
how much has been done for them already, even try. I have sinned; forgive me!
arouse mutual discontent among us. But I Furthermore, there is the sin of having a
am guilty above all in that I have the short temper. This passion rules over me,
means to help them, but help them does not leave me at all. When I hear a
grudgingly. I am guilty in that I help sharp word, I do not reply with silence, but
them, not out of pure Christian motives, act like a pagan: an eye for an eye and a
but out of self-love, out of a desire for tooth for a tooth. An enmity arises from
thanks or praise. Forgive me, Lord, soften something insignificant and continues for
my heart and teach me to look not at how days and weeks, and I do not think of
people act towards me but at how I act reconciliation, but rather try to be, as it
towards them. And if they act in a hostile were, stronger, to get revenge at the first
way, remind me, O Lord, to pay them back chance. I have sinned beyond reckoning, O
with love and good, and to pray for them! Lord, be compassionate, forgive me and
I am also sinful in that I seldom, very put my heart at peace!
seldom, think about my sins. Not only Apart from these major sins, my entire life
during week days, but even when is a chain of sins. I do not value the time
preparing for Confession I do not which Thou hast granted for the
remember them, do not strive to bring acquisition of eternal salvation. I often
them to mind for confession. General stand irreverently, pray mechanically,
44
judge others as to how they pray, and do there is no limit to them. I know and I
not look after myself. At home I pray remember, that even an impure thought is
sometimes only with great effort and an abomination before Thee; and at the
scattered thoughts, so that often I myself same time I not only think but even do that
do not even hear my prayer, and I even which grieves Thee. I know that I commit
omit my prayers sometimes. Such are my evil, and do not turn away from evil...
relations to Thee, O Lord, and I cannot say Thus, the beginning has not yet been made
anything except: forgive and have mercy! for my repentance, and the end is not in
In my relations with others I sin with all sight of my lack of concern over my sins.
my feelings - I sin with my tongue, by In truth, there is no end to the vile
pronouncing false, profane, provocative thoughts within me, the bursts of self-love,
and scandalous words; I sin with my eyes; vanity, pride, judgments, bearing grudges
I sin with my mind and heart. I judge and vengeance. I often argue, for no cause
others and harbor enmity often and for at all become angry, cruel, jealous, lazy,
long periods of time. I sin not only against and blindly stubborn. I myself am of very
the soul but also against the body, taking little significance, but I think a great deal of
food and drink without restraint. Accept, myself. I do not want to honor those who
O Lover of mankind, my repentance, that I are worthy, but demand honor for myself
may approach Thy holy and life-giving without any basis. I constantly lie and am
Mysteries with peace for the forgiveness of angry at liars. I condemn slanderers and
sins, for the setting-aright of temporary life thieves, but I steal and slander. I corrupt
and the inheritance of life eternal. Amen myself with lustful thoughts and desires,
but strictly judge others for lack of
"I am unworthy to ask forgiveness, O
modesty. I do not endure jokes about
Lord," Thus exclaimed once the great
myself, but I like to tease others,
teacher of repentance, St. Ephraim the
considering neither the person nor the
Syrian.
place - even in church. Whoever speaks the
"How can one keep from falling into sin? truth about me, I consider my enemy. I do
How can one block the entrance to the not want to bother myself with serving
passions?" St. Basil the Great asked St. others, but if I am not served, I grow
Ephraim; and the answer was his tears angry. I coldly refuse my neighbor who is
alone. in need, but when I myself am in need, I
Then what can I say before Thee, O Lord, I make my requests of him without end. I do
so great and habitual a sinner? not like to visit the sick, but when I am
sick, I expect someone to care for me
By the prayers of our holy Fathers Ephraim without my even asking.
and Basil grant me, O Lord, repentance
and tears! Help me to expel from myself, O Lord, send the light of Thy heavenly
like deadly poison, my evil deeds, vain light into the depths of my soul, that I may
words, wicked thoughts. And if I forget to see my sins! My confession almost always
mention any sin, Thou knowest all, remind ends with the merely external recounting
me, for I do not wish to hide anything. of certain sins. O my God, If Thou be not
Thou commandest me: State your cause, merciful, if Thou grant me not help, I
that you may be justified (Is. 43:26), and I perish! Innumerable are the times my
say: my sins are multiplied Lord, and conscience has given promises to Thee to
multiply themselves without ceasing, and begin a better life, but I violated my
45
promises and live as before. and thought. And by granting forgiveness,
send me, O Lord, the strength that
Without correcting myself, I am ashamed
henceforth I might live according to Thy
to show my face before another person,
will and not offend Thee. Help me, and I
before whom I have not kept my word.
will be saved; help me by receiving Thy
How then can I stand before Thee, my
Holy Mysteries. And for the worthy
God, without shame and self-abasement,
reception of them, speak to me the grace of
when I have made promises so many times
mercy and forgiveness through the lips of
before Thy holy altar, before the angels
the servant of Thine altar, speak by Thy
and saints, and then did not keep my
Holy Spirit not heard by the ear but heard
word? How low I am! How guilty I am!
in the contrite heart and peaceful
Thine, O Lord, is righteousness, and mine
conscience. Amen.
is a shameful presence (Dan.9:7). Only
Thine infinite goodness can endure me.
Thou didst not condemn me when I
sinned; do not condemn me as I repent!
Teach me how to call to mind and recount
the sins of my former life, the careless sins
of youth the sins of self-loving adulthood,
the sins of day and night, sins against
Thyself, O Lord my Saviour! How can I
recount them in the few minutes when I
stand in this holy place! I remember, Lord,
that Thou didst attend to the brief words of
the publican and the thief; I know that
Thou wilt mercifully accept even the
readiness to repent, and I pray Thee with
all my soul, my Lord, accept my
repentance, even in a daily confession of
sins, according to the Prayer Book. I have
far more sins than are mentioned in it, and
have nothing with which to erase them.
I now offer only my striving towards Thee
and the desire for good, but I myself do not
have the strength to correct them myself. O
Lord and Lover of mankind, Thou dost not
drive away the sinner who comes to Thee,
begging Thee for forgiveness. Even before
he approaches the doors of Thy Mercy,
Thou dost already open the way for him;
even before he falls before Thee, Thou dost
stretch forth Thy hand to him; even before
he confesses his sins, Thou dost grant him
forgiveness. Grant this to me, as I repent,
grant this according to Thy great mercy;
forgive all the evil that I have done, said
46
JOHN OF KRONSTADT: searching preparation.

St. John of Kronstadt was above all a
SAINT OF COMMUNION, Eucharistic Priest. He put The Holy
SAINT OF CONFESSION Liturgy at the center of his life, and this
was the source that enabled him to show
BY BISHOP KALLISTOS OF DIOKLEIA
such a dynamic and universal love. Our
In the Epistle (1 John 4:7-11) and the receiving of Holy Communion, while it is
Gospel (Luke 6:31-36) that are read in with the blessing of our spiritual father to
honor of St. John of Kronstadt, we notice be frequent, should never be mechanical or
the emphasis upon love. Our Holy Father automatic. We are to prepare. And how
St. John of Kronstadt, Wonderworker of all should we do it? We are to prepare above
Russia, is an example to us of loving all through the use of the sacrament of
compassion, of pastoral love. In the Confession.
Gospel in particular, the Lord emphasizes Here there are as we know different
that our love should not simply be towards disciplines. Some have been brought up
the people that we find congenial, not just to go to confession before every
towards those who show love towards us. Communion, others have a blessing from
It is to be far wider, we are to love our their spiritual father to go more frequently
enemies, we are to love all our fellow to Communion without confession every
humans, our love is to be without limits. time. But undoubtedly in our Eucharistic
It is very clear that when St. John in his experience the sacrament of healing which
Epistle and our Savior in the Gospel speak we call Confession or the sacrament of
about love they do not just mean repentance plays a central part.
something sentimental, something Why do we need to go to confession? Is it
emotional, they mean something far more not enough to confess our sins with
profound. The kind of love that they sincerity in our private prayers each
envisage, a universal all-embracing love, a evening, will not God forgive us from the
love without limits, can only be a result of very moment that we confess our sins?
prayer, of ascetic effort. Such love is Yes, as soon as we turn to God in true
something for which we must struggle and repentance He forgives us. God is always
suffer. Such love cannot be based just more ready to forgive than we to repent.
upon our emotional feelings, it has got to Even the slightest turning of our heart will
have a deeper basis. be blessed by God. Why then are we
What is this deeper basis? It is precisely taught also to go to the sacrament of
the service that we are celebrating together confession? I can think of three reasons
now, the service of the Holy Eucharist, certainly, perhaps you can think of more.
which is indeed a sacrament of mutual First of all there are no private sins, all
love. Our love has its foundation and sins affect our brothers and sisters in
inspiration in the Divine Liturgy. If we Christ. All of our sins, however secret,
are to show more vividly the kind of love have an effect on the community. If I feel
of which the apostle John and our Lord in my heart anger towards someone else,
speak, that can only come first and even if I do not show it by word or action,
foremost through a deeper experience of that evil disposition in my heart has a
Holy Communion, through frequent destructive effect on others around. Every
Communion received after profound and
47
sin is a sin against the community; every also asking for forgiveness of our brothers
sin however secret is a stumbling block for and sisters for what we have done. That is
others and makes it harder for them to one reason to go to confession, because sin
serve Christ. is social.
In the early Church confession was public. There is a second reason. The spoken
After the fourth century, with the growth word, the uttered word has great force.
of the Christian community, that gave This applies in two ways. First of all we
scandal and so confession assumed its listen to the spoken word of the priest, the
present form, as an opening of the heart council that he gives, and it may be that
before the priest alone, under conditions of what he says if written down and put in a
secrecy. But let us remember that during book would not seem so striking. It may
confession the priest is there, among other be that it wouldn't seem so remarkable.
things, as the representative of the But in confession the priest is praying and
community, of the people. The fact that we are praying for the light of the Holy
we confess not just to God, but in the Spirit, and he is addressing those words
presence of a fellow man, shows that we under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to
acknowledge the communal social each one of us, to each penitent personally.
dimension of all our sins. In confessing in The words which looked at in the abstract
his presence we are also asking forgiveness might seem obvious, common place, can
from the community. I heard a story once prove words of fire when we realize that
told about St. John Maximovitch of they are being said to me personally here
Shanghai and San Francisco. I have also and now under the inspiration of the Holy
heard it told of others, but the same thing Spirit.
can happen more than once.
I can remember at the Russian convent in
Once before the Divine Liturgy he was London many years ago there was a priest,
hearing the confession of a man, and the Fr. John, who didn't much like hearing
man said: "Yes I know that what I have done confessions; he didn't much like giving
is a sin, I ask God's forgiveness, but my heart is
sermons either. He was a person of few
like a stone, I do not feel any sorrow for my sin,
words and very humble, and didn't feel he
it is all just in my brain." So St. John said to
really had the authority to offer counsel in
him: "Go out into the center of the church in
confession, but he was blessed by the
front of the people and make a prostration
bishop to hear confessions so he did so.
before them and then come back to me." As
On one occasion a woman was telling him
the man did this and knelt to ask
at immense length of her quarrels with her
forgiveness from the people before him,
husband: "I said this and he said this and I
something broke inside his heart and it
told him he was wrong and told him this" and
came alive again. Suddenly he felt real
so it went on "and I told him this and this."
compunction for what he had done. He
When she had finally stopped all Fr. John
said "now it is different," and the
did was to turn to her and say "And did it
Archbishop gave him forgiveness.
help?" and then he gave her absolution.
That was the moment of turning for him
That came as a sudden revelation to her,
because he acknowledged that his sin was
the futility of the endless arguments she
a sin against the community and he asked
had with her husband, of her endless
their forgiveness. So in our confession let
desire to prove that she was right and that
us first of all recall that dimension. We are
48
he was wrong. Suddenly she saw that us dare refuse to accept such an
there was no point to all this, it was quite opportunity.
simply unnecessary and she stopped from ---------------------------------------------------------
that moment.
Bishop Kallistos Ware is Spalding Lecturer of Eastern
So the uttered word can have great power Orthodox Studies at the University of Oxford. The
and that applies also to what you or I utter author of many books and translations, he is perhaps best
when we make our confession. Yes we known for The Orthodox Church, the most recent
revision of which was published by Penguin Books in
can confess our sins secretly in our evening 1993,and The Orthodox Way, recently issued in a
prayers and we should do so, but when we revised edition by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. He is a
come before the holy icons in church, when member of the advisory board of the Orthodox Peace
we have listened to the prayers and speak Fellowship. His sermon was given at the parish of St.
John of Kronstadt in Bath, England, the town in which
in the presence of the priest, when we have he grew up.
to say these things aloud, often then it
From the September 1998 issue of In Communion,
becomes powerful, immediate, personally quarterly journal of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship
significant in a way it was not before.
The uttered word has great force and we
find ourselves in confession, by God's
grace, saying things that we never said in
our private prayers. Suddenly we are able
to understand more deeply and to express
it more openly. Therein lies much of the
grace of confession. The desert fathers say
that a thought which is concealed has great
power over us, but if we can find a way to
bring it into the open and to speak of it, it
loses its power. That is also what the
modern psychiatrists tell us, but the desert
fathers said it first! So, the uttered word
that we bring in confession can have a
sacramental force and a healing grace
which will surprise us.
But then there is a third thing, not just
what the priest does when he offers advice,
not just what we do when we try to speak
the truth in Christ. There is also what
Christ does. Confession is a mystery of
the Church that confers sacramental
grace, there is power within it, Divine
power. When the priest lays his hand
upon our head in Confession, it is Christ
who lays his hand upon us, Christ who
forgives and that is certainly the deepest
and most profound reason why we should
go to Confession. When such grace and
such healing is offered to us, who among
49
forgiveness for the entire crowd of
CONFESSION WITH SAINT JOHN weeping and repentant people. He
OF KRONSTADT looked at us with his penetrated gaze
and suddenly –large tears streamed
copiously down his cheeks. He wept for
Those wanting to us. With his pure tears he washed away
confess to Fr. John the filth of our sins. Yes, Fr. John wept,
became so mingling his tears with our tears. At that
numerous that to moment the tearful ferment of the crowd
satisfy this desire reached its peak of intensity. The vast
was physically cathedral filled with lamentation; it
impossible. When seemed to shake from the uninterrupted
Fr. John served the outcries.
cathedral was so
packed that an
apple couldn't find
place to fall. (Translated from the biography of St. John by I.
K. Soursky; Belgrade, 1941)
With absolute
openness of heart,
uninhibited by the
crowd, people
shouted out their
sins without
holding back even
the worst of them.
And they shouted
loudly, so that, if possible, Fr. John
might hear them. A penitential
lamentation the cathedral; the crowd was
covered in sweat--not from heat but
from emotion.
Literally everyone wept openly,

without the slightest constraint, and
together with their outcries and
groanings, the souls of the people were
wondrously cleansed, just as a piece of
gold is purified in a fiery crucible.
Fr. John, aflame with prayer, stood on

the ambo before an icon of the Saviour,
entreating the merciful Lord’s
50
HOW TO MAKE A CONFESSION consequently. you must confess or tell your

sins to the spiritual father just as a man who is
One should come for confession in the physically sick tells his physical woes to the
evening, i.e., on the eve of the day one plans to doctor, hoping to receive healing through him.
receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Before
confession you should try to bring to Don't involve other people in your confession;
remembrance all your sins, whether committed don't complain about anyone. That is not
voluntarily or involuntarily; you should confession but judgment, and this judgment is
carefully examine your life in order to recall all yet another sin.
your sins, not only the ones committed since
your last confession, but past sins which you During confession don't try to justify yourself
have forgotten to confess. Then, with in any way, giving the excuse of illness, habit,
compunction and contrition of heart, approach etc. In confession, the more a person justifies
the Cross and Gospel and begin your himself the less he will be justified by God.
confession. And conversely, the more a person reproaches
himself, judges and blames himself the more he
Confess your sins openly; remember that you will find justification before God.
are telling them not to a man but to God
Himself. He already knows your sins but He When the father confessor asks you about
wants you to acknowledge them yourself. And something, don't say "I don't remember; maybe
there is no need to be ashamed before your I'm guilty of this also..." God has exhorted us
spiritual father. He is a human being just as you always to remember our sins. In order not to
are, he knows well human failings and man's use forgetfulness as an excuse, we should
inclination to sin, and for this reason he cannot confess as often as possible; because those
be your dread judge. But are you not ashamed who, through indifference or carelessness,
before your spiritual father because you are rarely prepare themselves for Holy Communion
afraid of losing his good opinion of you? On and give time to forget their sins are themselves
the contrary, a spiritual father, seeing your at fault and cannot therefore expect to be
sincere, honest confession, will cherish an even absolved of sins, they have not confessed. For
greater love towards you. Furthermore, if you this reason we must unfailingly try to recall our
are ashamed and afraid of revealing your sins sins. When someone is indebted to us, we have
before one man, a priest, then how will you no trouble remembering the debt, but we forget
bear that shame when you appear at God's our debts to the Lord! Does this not show on
Dread Judgment, where your sins, it you were our part an utter carelessness and negligence
not cleansed of them through sincere towards our soul? So, to, if the father confessor
repentance, will be opened before God asks you about a certain sin, you shouldn't
Himself, the angels and all the people--- answer, "I try not to do this" This is not an
acquaintances and strangers alike. answer; it only masks the substance of the reply
and appears as a cover-up for sin.
Confess all your sins thoroughly, each sin
separately. St. John Chrysostom says: "One Unless asked by the father confessor, don't
mustn't say simply 'I sinned,' or 'I am a sinner,' speak about that of which you are not guilty, or
but you must indicate the various forms of what you did not do like the Pharisee in the
these sins.," i.e., you must mention each sin Gospel. In doing you are boasting rather than
individually. "The revelation of sins," says St. confessing your sins and this only increases
Basil the Great, "is subject to the same laws as your condemnation.
the revelation of physical infirmities..." A
sinner is one who is spiritually ill, and the You should make your confession with sorrow
spiritual father is the doctor or physician; and heartfelt contrition over your sins through
which we grieve the Lord God. It is not good
51
that many people relate their sins without any
feeling, with out any remorse, as though they
are conducting an ordinary conversation. What
is worse, some people even allow themselves to
smile at their sins. All this indicates a lack of
repentance; and if we confess in this manner
we are not cleansed of our sins but only add to
them.
Finally, confess your sins with faith in Jesus

Christ and in hope of His mercy. For it is only
through believing in Jesus Christ and hoping on
Him that we can receive forgiveness of our
sins. Without faith this is impossible. We have
as an example, Judas, the traitor.
Here, then, is how we should confess in order

to receive from the Lord God forgiveness of
our sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
Translated from Blogovest, Parish Bulletin of the

Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco; March
1989
52
Confession
Our Lord Jesus Christ founded the
SACRAMENT OF Sacrament of Repentance and
REPENTANCE AND Confession when He said to His
CONFESSION disciples, the pure apostles:
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth, will be loosed in heaven”
(Matthew 18:18).
Also, after the Resurrection the
Lord said : “‘As the Father sent me,
I also send you.’ And when He said
this He breathed on them, and said to
them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them, if you retain the sins
of any they are retained’” (John
20:21-23).
By this He gave them the authority of
binding sins or loosing them, through
“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS
the authority given to them by the
FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US
Holy Spirit, and according to the
OUR SINS AND TO CLEANS US FROM
contriteness of the confessing person.
ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS”
Conditions of Repentance
1 John 1:9
True repentance has four conditions:
The Sacrament of Repentance and • Contrite heart and remorse for
Confession is a holy sacrament, by previous sins.
which the sinner returns to God, • Steadfast intention to improve.
confessing his sins before the priest
to be absolved by the priest through • Strong faith in Christ and hope
the authority granted to him by God. in His love to forgive.
By this absolution the confessing • Verbal confession of sins before
person is granted the forgiveness of the priest.
those sins which he confessed.
Right Age for Confession
Confession means admitting and
Parents must teach their children
declaring a certain matter. The
about the Sacrament of Confession
Sacrament of Confession means
from an early age, say, about twelve
verbal confession before the priest of
years old, so they may be acquainted
sins and mistakes committed by a
from childhood with the Sacrament,
person, and confessing and humbly
for as the proverb says: “Teaching in
repenting, in order to be granted the
childhood is like engraving on rocks”.
absolution and forgiveness.
In the book of Ecclesiology entitled
Instituting the Sacrament of
53
‘The Precious Diamond’ by John Bin Christ be with you, and abide your
Elsabaa, is written the below heart in the Orthodox faith until the
mentioned text. In its time, it was end, Amen.”
adhered to and considered most From that hour the priest will receive
beneficial: the child, teach them confession, and
Releasing the Guardian of so the priest becomes a father and
Responsibility spiritual guide for the person who
starts to practice the Sacrament of
When the child grows up in Christian
Repentance and Confession directly
virtues, the Church or guardian takes
guided by the priest.
him before the temple of God, where
he received him from the priest at The Necessity of Confessing to a
Baptism and says (in the presence of Priest
the priest) :
Verbal confession to a priest is
“My son/daughter, when you were a necessary for the forgiveness of sins,
child and a slave to Satan, your for the Lord said to His Pure Apostles:
parents wanted to set you free “If you forgive the sins of any, they
through the Holy Baptism, and they are forgiven them, if you retain the
asked my weakness to guarantee you sins of any, they are retained” (John
before this priest of God. I received 20:23.)
you from him, I renounced Satan on
How can the fatherly priests forgive
your behalf denied him and his
or retain sins if they are not aware of
deeds, confessed the Lord Jesus
them? How can a judge decide a
Christ for you, took you to receive His
sentence if he is not aware of the
Holy Body and Precious Blood and
case details? For this reason, the
you became a temple of the Holy
authority given to the Apostles and
Spirit.
their successors to retain or forgive
Now you stand before the Temple of sins, oblige the congregation to
God from where I received you, you confess their sins before those who
must know that the one who have the authority of absolving or
renounced Satan and believed in retaining absolution.
Christ, must abandon the deeds of
Confessing to the priest is necessary
Satan which are pride, hatred, anger,
for gaining the forgiveness of sins. It
murder, adultery, lies, swearing,
also has many other benefits:
curses, idleness in going to church
and hearing God’s word. As you From a humane perspective ...
believe in Christ, you must seek the Human beings by nature require
virtues of love, humility and holiness, comfort and wise counseling, and the
for without which no one sees the need to speak to someone regarding
Lord. From this place I received you, problems or worries. They feel the
and here I surrender you to yourself need to have someone share their
and God. Do not request from me joys as well as their sorrows, and this
anything further; from now on, you is especially so when disclosing
are mature and conscious of what is sensitive issues to a person who is a
good and what is evil. priest, a confession father, a teacher,
May the peace of our Lord Jesus or a guardian; one who keeps
54
secrets, and has a nurturing nature. “Then Nathan declared to David the
divine punishment for his sins. The
From the Old Testament
Lord will strike his child and the child
perspective ...
would die, the sword shall never
Confession was a necessary act for depart from your house. I will raise
the repentance of a sinner who up adversity against you from your
brought the sacrifice, laid his hand on own house, and I will take your wives
its head and confessed his sins to before your eyes and give them to
God before the priest. The priest then your neighbor, and he shall lie with
took the sacrifice and slaughtered it, your wives in the sight of the sun” (2
offering it onto the altar of burnt Samuel 12), “and the child died and
sacrifice as an atonement for sin. The when Absalom rebelled against his
Lord said: “If a person sins or father, he did what the Lord said
touches any unclean thing ... or if a exactly” (2 Samuel 16:2-22).
person swears ... he shall confess
It is worth mentioning that the sins
that he has sinned in that thing, and
David committed against Bathsheba
he shall bring his trespass offering to
and her husband Uriah the Hittite was
the Lord for his sin which he has
considered by God as personally
sinned ..., so the priest shall make
committed towards Him, as Nathan
atonement for him concerning his
said: “Why have you despised the
sin” (Leviticus 5:1-6).
commandment of the Lord and do
Hence, the sinner is obliged to evil in His sight? You have killed
confess all his trespasses. Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you
When Achan the son of Carmi sinned have taken his wife to be your wife”
and stole, the anger of the Lord (2 Samuel 12).
burned against the children of Israel, When David confessed to Nathan the
and they were conquered before the prophet, he heard the declaration of
men of Ai. Then Joshua brought putting away his sin and that he
Achan the son of Carmi and said to would not die the eternal death or
him: “‘My son I beg you, give glory to perish because of it, but certain
the Lord God of Israel, and make punishments were imposed on him,
confession to Him, and tell me now necessary for repentance. Solomon
what you have done, do not hide it said: “He who covers his sins will not
from me.’ And Achan answered prosper, but whoever confesses and
Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have forsakes them will have mercy”
sinned against the Lord God of (Proverbs 28:13).
Israel’” (Joshua 7: 19,20).
From the New Testament
When David the King sinned and perspective ...
committed adultery and murder, his
conscience did not rebuke him and John the Baptist preached
the Lord sent Nathan to him who repentance saying, “Repent for the
persuaded David to confess saying, Kingdom of Heaven is at hand ...
“‘I have sinned against the Lord’, so then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the
Nathan the prophet said to David, region around the Jordan went out to
‘The Lord also has put away your sin, him and were baptized by him in the
you shall not die’” (2 Samuel 12). Jordan, confessing their sins”
55
(Matthew 3:1-6). to laymen, as laymen confess to
priests, but what he meant is :
The Lord Jesus Christ gave the
authority to the Apostles and “Teach each other” as the educated
their successors by saying, teach the ignorant.
“Assuredly I say to you, whatever “Heal one another” as the physician
you bind on earth will be bound in heals the patient.
heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven” Hence, in the words, “Confess to one
(Matthew 18:18), and after His another,” he means the congregation
resurrection, “He breathed on them should confess to those who have the
and said to them, ‘As the Father sent authority of forgiving sins.
me, I also send you. If you forgive St. John tells us : “If we confess our
the sins of any, they are forgiven, if sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
you retain the sins of any, they are us our sins and to cleanse us from all
retained’” (John 20:21,22). unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When the prodigal son was aware God forgives our sins and
of his sins, he retuned to his cleanses us from our trespasses,
father saying, “Father, I have when we confess to God in the
sinned against heaven and in your presence of the priest, with humility
sight” (Luke 15:21). and contrite hearts. St. Athanasius
The book of Acts tells us that the the Apostolic said, “As the Baptized is
Sacrament of Repentance and enlightened by the grace of the Holy
Confession was practiced during Spirit, by means of the priest, the
the days of the Apostles : “And repentant is granted forgiveness of
many who had believed came, his sins by the grace of Christ, also
confessing and telling their deeds” through the priest.”
(Acts 19:18). And St. Augustine said, “The Lord
Our teacher St. Jacob advises us Jesus Christ rose Lazarus from the
saying : “Confess your trespasses to death and those around him (the
one another, and pray for one apostles) loosed him from the grave
another, that you may be healed” clothes that bound him.” Was the
(John 5:16). Giver of life unable to loosen the
grave clothes? By loosening them,
Once the believer confesses all his the apostles denoted their authority
sins before the priest, the priest of absolving and forgiving sins, which
prays for him the absolution prayer the Lord granted to them and their
and asks God to forgive his sins and successors.
help him not to sin again. (Priests
also have confession fathers, who are St. Gregory of Nyssa said : “Regard
perhaps older and more the church priest as a spiritual father
experienced). for you, reveal to him your secrets
openly, just as a patient reveals his
NOTES:
hidden wounds to the physician, and
When the Apostle says: “Confess so is healed.”
your trespasses to one another”, he It is mentioned in the Apostolic
does not mean for priests to confess Orders, “You must honor your
56
spiritual fathers as they are given the Iscariot, on the other hand, did not
authority of life and death from God, receive the holy Body and precious
to judge the sinners and punish Blood of Christ because of his iniquity
them, or to absolve the repentants and evil.
from their sins.” Confession to a priest and hearing
The Apostolic Church approves the absolution comforts the soul, as
Confession as a Sacrament of the sins confessed are forgiven according
Church, and this is strong proof of to the authority given to the priests.
the correctness and necessity of Confession to a priest benefits the
confession to a priest, for Church confessing person as he receives
Sacraments are performed by priests instruction and advice from the
only. priest, who is wise and experienced,
The priest is entrusted with the and so he will benefit in his struggle
Sacrament of Communion of the Holy against sin if he obediently applies
Body and Blood of Christ, and is the advice.
required not to give it except to the Embarrassment during confession, is
true repentant, otherwise he will be the penalty the soul must bear for
condemned and held responsible falling into sin, but the penance
before God for his neglect. In the imposed by the priest is the Church’s
commandment of ordination of the chastening for the body, which
new priest, the Bishop commands together with the soul, shared in sin.
him saying : “Watch this treasure as
the Cherub watches the tree of life. Due to embarrassment, many people
Be careful concerning these mysteries try to escape from confessing before
to rid yourself from crisis and a priest, claiming that they confess
traumas, do not give except to the directly to God. However, the
good mannered, pure hearted embarrassment experienced is very
persons. Rescue the sinner so he profitable to the repenting sinner, for
does not perish and you be held through it we feel the shame of the
responsible.” sin committed in the presence of
God. Reasons for escaping confession
Here we wonder how would the priest before a priest is due to pride and
know whether someone is pure false dignity, for the proud find it
hearted, and another is an unworthy hard to humble themselves before he
sinner who is prohibited from the priest.
Holy Communion?
CHURCH PENANCE FOR THE
Is it not through confession before
REPENTANT TO EXAMINE THE
the priest? The priest has the right
TRUTHFULNESS OF THEIR
to prevent a person who does not
REPENTANCE, IF OBEDIENTLY
practice the Sacrament of Confession,
ADHERED TO
from receiving Communion and from
the Holy Sacraments, just as Christ Abstinence
the Lord gave His Holy Body and Prostrations for repentance and
precious Blood only to His trusted humility
disciples whom, He well knew were
worthy of Holy Communion. Judas Almsgiving to the needy
57
Prevention from Communion for a
certain time
Returning stolen money
Apology to whom we insulted
Extra prayers other than the usual, to
ask God’s mercy.
These Church penances are spiritual
remedies to help heal the sinner’s
wounds, as it implants reverence and
remorse in a repentant, and initiates
the hatred of sin so that we may
remain watchful and not fall into sin
again.
58
STEPS NECESSARY FOR AN all our confessions before the priest
ACCEPTABLE CONFESSION in order to be cleansed.
True repentance because of our Not to find excuses for yourself,
love for God, and not for fear of and blame others, for confession is
punishment, we should aim for about blaming yourself for the sins
spiritual healing in order to receive committed, and not condemning
God’s grace of forgiveness, and gain others. King Solomon advises us: “Do
eternal life. not say before the messenger (Priest)
of God that it was an error”
To be honest with ourselves,
(Ecclesiastes 5:6).
without being biased, so as to avoid
the Lord’s warning: “He who loves his A person must be fair with
life will lose it” (John 12:25). oneself, not too sympathetic nor too
harsh, doubtful or anxious, but
To have honest intention and
rather, should confess with a
steadfast will, and so abandon sin
straightforward, mature conscience.
and its causes.
The confessor must adhere to the
To examine our conscience and
advice given them by their
self carefully, to be aware of the
confession father, and be diligent
sins committed by deed or word or
in following his advice as a remedy
thought or senses, to repent and
necessary for spiritual life.
humble ourselves so that we may not
fall into sin again. To practice all the spiritual
exercises given by one’s
To be truthful in confession,
confession-father, and with love
knowing that lying to the confession-
and patience, “Work out your own
father is lying to the Holy Spirit. As
salvation with fear and trembling”
in the example of Ananias lying to St
(Philippians 2:12). As St Basil the
Peter : “Why has Satan filled your
Great says, “As we bear the scalpel of
heart to be lying to the Holy Spirit?”
the physician to remedy the body and
(Act 5:3).
the medicine’s bitterness, we also
Not to hide any secrets and should bear the suffering of rebuke,
hidden thoughts, but to reveal all chastisement and various practices so
frankly before the priest to enable that the soul may be remedied from
him to offer the best remedy in order its sins and weaknesses.”
to build and revive the spiritual life of
To confess bravely without
the confessing person. Jeremiah the
embarrassment, all the sins and its
prophet speaks to the human soul
details, and if the priest asks
saying: “Pour out your heart like
concerning certain points, one must
water before the face of the Lord”
not complain or hide, but answer
(Lamentations 2:19). When water is
honestly, knowing that it is for our
poured forth, it leaves no trace or
own benefit that the priest will
smell, but if oil is poured it leaves
provide us with useful advice.
behind a trace, and if vinegar is
poured, it leaves behind a smell. So A confessing person must
just like water which leaves behind struggle with God in prayer as
no residue, we also should pour forth the Lord says: “Come now, and let
59
us reason together, though your sins The person who confesses must
are like scarlet, they shall be as white have strong love and confidence
as snow, though they are red like in the confession-father to trust
crimson, they shall be as wool” his guidance, obey and benefit from
(Isaiah 1:18). him, like a patient trusting their
doctor.
After repentance, absolution and
forgiveness, we must thank God We advise every husband and wife to
who opened the door of repentance have the same confession-father so
and saved us from the dangerous that the spiritual providence for their
road of death, as Isaiah said: “For marital life become one, and the
wickedness burns as the fire, it shall priest will know their natures and
devour the briers and thorns and guide them adequately for the
kindle in the thickets of the forest; welfare of the family. And if a
they shall mount up like rising problem exists between them, the
smoke” (Isaiah 9:18), and our priest gives the correct solution
teacher St. Peter said: “The Lord without interference from a third
knows how to deliver the godly out of party who might have a different
temptations and the reserve the opinion, and hence cause harm to the
unjust under punishment for the day family. Hence, a mutual confession-
of judgment, and especially those father is a necessity for the family
who walk according to the flesh in the welfare.
lust of uncleanliness” (2 Peter
2:9,10). When the repentant knows
that through repentance they are
rescued from all this, they will
deepen in their love toward God and
seek to always abide in God, in order
to receive power in their struggle
against sin. God will make us
victorious over Satan and all his
enticements, and bring our bodies
and all its weaknesses and lusts into
subjection.
Our teacher St. Paul advises us
saying: “And having done all, to
stand” (Ephesians 6:13). The
repentant must walk on the pure
path of repentance, and not be
willingly returning to sin again.
The confessing person must not
venture from one confession
father to another, as this may be
cause delay in one’s spiritual growth.
Unless for very strong reasons, one
should not change their confession
father.
60
NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR A as well as being informed concerning
CONFESSION FATHER areas such as psychology and
education, so that he may be able to
To be a legally ordained priest
understand different phases of
To have permission from his Bishop growth and special psychological
to accept congregational confessions, reactions. Hence, he must give the
for he will be accountable for such a correct medicine for every illness,
responsibility. without hurting feelings, but rather,
To be wise and experienced in to encourage a person to confess.
psychology, and knowledgeable about He must be old enough to accept
souls and their depths. confessions, reverent and sober so
To be spiritual and close to God, so that every one respects and listens to
that he can pray for his children and him.
plead with God to solve their He must be pure in intention,
problems. thoughts, heart and body so he can
To have a strong personality, not accept the confessions of women and
double-faced, and not afraid to speak guide them without causing
the truth and rebuke the sinner, disruption to himself.
regardless of who they may be. He must be honest with people’s
He must be righteous with an ability secrets, not to reveal them to
to listen to problems without being anybody whatever the causes are,
affected. He must also be patient knowing that Church rules forbid this
with the confessing person and treat and punishes the priest who reveals
them as his son/daughter. He must secrets and the confessions of people
be able to give them comfort so that and so cause them embarrassment
they may be able to confess their (Basilian Laws, 34).
sins. He must be well learned about church
He must be strong in spirit, able to laws in order to apply them wisely to
bear the weakness of the weak, those confessing to him.
accept their confession, listening to He must imitate St. Paul in his love
their sins without despising or for his children: “My little children for
judging them, they must be attentive whom I labor in birth again until
and able give the person enough Christ is formed in you” (Galatians
chance to say everything they need 4:19), readily laboring for them until
to say. Then he must give the they become true Christians in their
appropriate advice and instructions virtues and manners.
necessary for helping the person
He must be convinced that
overcome the sins in future.
Confession is a source of comfort for
He must be wise and spiritually a person who confesses, and growth
experienced in order to guide his for spiritual life. If a person does not
children, so as not to give them feel comfortable confessing to him
wrong instructions that may harm and seeks his permission to change
their spiritual life. confession fathers, he must not forbid
He must be biblically knowledgeable them, for by so doing, he may cause
61
the person to rebel and cease from stand fast in the Lord” (Thessalonians
confessing again. It is important, 3:8). He resembles the father of the
however, that the priest be aware of prodigal son, who awaited his son’s
the reason for the person wanting to return every single day, and, “When
change confession fathers, so that he he was still a great way off, his father
may help them in choosing another saw him and had compassion, and
who will be a source of help and ran and fell on his neck and kissed
comfort. If the priest insists on not him” (Luke 15:20), and accepted his
allowing them to change confession repentance and forgave him all his
fathers, the person may go directly sins, rejoicing for his return, and
and seek permission from the bishop, saying to the elder son: “It was right
without involving the priest. It is also that we should make mercy and be
important to note that the priest is an glad, for your brother was dead and
adviser in personal matters, such as is alive again, and was lost and is
marriage or career decisions, and so found” (Luke 15:32).
should never enforce his opinion on SECOND: A JUDGE
others.
Who judges the case of his children
He must never attempt to intimidate
according to the authority given to
any person confessing to him, such
him: “Whatever you bind on earth
as those without a confession father.
will be bound in heaven, and
A priest should be considerate of the
whatever you loose on earth will be
feelings of other priests he serves
loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
with, such as in accepting the
The priest must be accountable to
confessions of a person who has
this divine responsibility, neither
recently been absolved from
favoring nor neglecting or oppressing
confessing to his fellow brother the
or using this authority unduly, for
priest.
personal purposes. He must be strict
In the Sacrament of Confession, the with sin regardless of who the sinner
priest is a father, judge and teacher. may be, just like a physician who
loves the patient but hates the
disease, and so tries to abolish it by
FIRST: A FATHER the best possible medicine.
THIRD: A TEACHER
Who teaches according to the Holy
Bible, and makes disciples of Christ of
all those coming to him. He teaches
Who yearns for the repentance of them the way to God and Christian
every one of his children, as their perfection, through his knowledge,
repentance and salvation will be a experience and trials. The priest who
cause for his salvation, and so at the wants to teach and make disciples of
last day, he will say to the Lord: Christ, must himself be a disciple and
“Here am I and the children whom be obedient towards his confession-
God has given me” (Isaiah 8:18), and father (who may be older, wiser and
together with St. Paul he will more experienced). Hence, he
proclaim: “For now we live, if you resembles our teacher St. Paul who
62
says: “I will not dare to speak of any
of those things which Christ has not
accomplished through me” (Roman
15:18). He experiences, learns then
teaches.
The priest must teach his children
that absolution is granted after
practicing the Sacrament of
Confession directly. Group
absolutions which are granted during
the Holy Mass, (when each person
remembers their sins, confesses
before God and bows to receive the
priest’s absolution), is sufficient to
receive Communion. It is not
necessary, therefore, for the priest to
read the absolution in the Church for
each individual who has not
confessed. Following the
transubstantiation of the holy Body
and Blood, the reading of the
absolution is a grave mistake, for the
absolution itself (the Holy Sacrament)
is present on the altar. It is not right
that Jesus Christ, the great High
Priest is present on the altar, and the
priest, ignoring Him, gives the
absolution.
The priest must care to give his
children adequate spiritual practices
for their lives, so that they may be
able to abandon certain sins and
habits and replace them with virtues.
He must follow these practices with
them by praying for them and asking
about them in every confession. It is
also useful if a spiritual note-book is
available, so that the priest can see it
and provide them with advice and
practical applications to help them in
their spiritual life.
63
THE RITE OF down notes :
PRACTICING THE Sins and mistakes committed
SACRAMENT OF
CONFESSION Thoughts and feelings encountered
which need counseling from the
Before Confession: confession-father in order to
The period of Confession must not distinguish the good from the bad
exceed one month or a month and a Any questions regarding the spiritual
half maximum. Delaying confession life which need guidance or
encourages a person to be negligent, discussion with the confession father.
and forget may sins committed.
Delaying confession is a great loss to Self-examination must be honest,
a person and delays their spiritual and without condemning others, for
growth noticeably. in confession we should blame
ourselves, not other people or
Some fathers use a notebook in circumstances.
which they write the names of their
children in confession - when they After having prepared for confession,
confessed and the date of their next the repentant prays before God in
confession. This keeps the person their private room, mentioning before
confessing prepared at all times for Him every sin and pleading for
confession. forgiveness, and power from God so
that they may abandon them.
A person must sit firstly with
themselves, to examine themselves Sins to be forgiven must be
very carefully before going to confessed three times :
confession. You may start with a Before the person whom we
short prayer to ask God’s help in sinned against, as the wise King
revealing your sins, as Jeremiah said: Solomon said: “For you have come
“The heart is deceitful above all into the hand of your fried: go and
things, and desperately wicked. Who humble yourself, plead with your
can know it? I, the Lord, search the friend, give no sleep to your eyes,
heart, I test the mind, even to give nor slumber to your eyelids, deliver
every man according to his ways” yourself” (Proverbs 6:3-5), rescue
(Jeremiah 17:9,10.) yourself from the results of sins
In preparing for confession, it is and its harm by apologizing to
advisable to write down on a piece of whom you sinned against.
paper, all the sins committed, Before God as the responsible
however, it should be written in such Father for all people whom we sin
a way that only the writer against. When David sinned against
understand. This is to prevent it from Bathsheba and her husband Uriah,
falling into wrong hands. The wisdom God considered it a sin directed
behind writing sins is so not to forget toward Him personally and blamed
them during confession. David saying: “Why did you despised
The confessing person must care for Me?” and David confessed his sin
three important things while saying, “I have sinned against the
preparing for confession, and jotting Lord” (2 Samuel 12). In the Psalm of
Repentance, David spoke humbly
64
before God saying: “Against You and may visit them at home and accept
You only have I sinned, and done this their confession there, and at the
evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4) same time encouraging them to come
to church. In addition, the Sacrament
Before the Church represented by
of Confession may take place at
the priest. The church is our mother
home if someone is sick, before they
and cares for her children’s peace,
receive the Holy Communion.
their love and reconciliation with one
another. The priest is the dove of The priest must wear a cloak or cape
peace and reconciles the rights of the whilst accepting Confession, as he is
just from the unjust. The confessing taking part in a holy sacrament which
person receives the absolution and needs physical and spiritual
forgiveness of their sins from the preparation.
mouth of the priest, the officiate of In church there must be a waiting
the Mysteries of God, who sees the place for those awaiting confession,
truthfulness, or otherwise, of one’s with various spiritual books which
repentance. If otherwise, the priest they can occupy themselves
provides penance and certain spiritual with.
exercises in order to help the
confessor fulfill the conditions of an The priest must always be alert. He
acceptable repentance. Once must not eat or drink during
accomplished, the person is granted confession, for confession is a
absolution and forgiveness from the sacrament, and as such should be
priest who receives the authority practiced while fasting (similar to the
from the Holy Spirit : “Make them rest of the sacraments). After the
absolved by the Holy Spirit, through person comes to kiss the hand of the
me.” Once absolution is granted priest, they should sit before him
from the priest, the person can respectfully, as he is the minister of
receive the Holy Communion of our the Mysteries of God, and in the
Lord Emmanuel, so that they may be presence of the Holy Spirit.
cleansed of their sins by the Blood of The priest and the confessor make
Christ, just like the saints who, the sign of the cross, and together
“Washed their robes and made them pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
white in the Blood of the Lamb”
(Revelation 7:14), and, “The Blood The priest then encourages the
of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us person to confess, asking them about
from all sin” (John 1:7). their spiritual life.
During Confession : The confessing person takes out the

paper in which the sins are written,
Confession must take place be in a and begins confessing them one by
quite corner in the Church, facing the one, without embarrassment, and
altar, so that we feel empowered and waiting to hear the appropriate
sanctified. Confession, being a advice and instruction of the
sacrament, should always take place confession father. We can resemble
in Church, however, if the priest this to one waiting for the verdict of a
comes across a person who has not judge after having done wrong, or
been regular in church or in church waiting for the doctor to prescribe the
life, but wishes to repent, the priest
65
best medicine possible to cure Jesus Christ, which is shed on the
ailments. The confessor should cross. The head is humbly bowed
acknowledge their sins completely from the load of sin, and the cross
and repent in contriteness, aiming to over it works mysteriously to sanctify
struggle against sin till death. the confessing person in thought,
Discussion with the priest should take body and soul by the indwelling of
place with respectfulness and the Holy Spirit who is called by the
decency. priest to grant absolution and
forgiveness to the repentant. Hence,
The confessing person should
reconciliation between God and the
commence by confessing the most
repentant is fulfilled, as our teacher
grievous sins, followed by the less
St. Paul says: “Having made peace
grievous. In this way, the confessor
through the Blood of His Cross”
will be humbled.
(Colossians 1:20), “And now all
It is important for the confessor to be things are of God, who has reconciled
mindful of the priest’s time and us to Himself through Jesus Christ,
others waiting, and so not divert from and has given us the ministry of
the confession by telling stories which reconciliation, that is, that God was in
may be unrelated. They must be Christ reconciling the world to
mindful of the reverence of the Himself, not imputing their
sacrament and being in the presence trespasses to them, and has
of the Holy Spirit. committed to us the word of
The priest must be careful not to reconciliation” (2 Corinthians
condemn or degrade the person 5:18,19).
confession, so they do not despair. When the priest places his hand on
On the other hand, it is important the the confessing person’s head, holding
priest is not too lenient, otherwise their temples between his fingers, he
the confessor may become negligent. denotes the compassionate
The priest must be wise and fatherhood of God accepting the
moderate, able to love those who repentants, and it is also a symbol of
confess, despite their failures and the hand of God, the Pantocrator,
sins. who holds everyone in His hands, for
After confession, the confessing He controls man’s movements and
person kneels before the priest, thoughts and is able to sanctify them
bowing their head and repeating the and guide them towards the right
words, “God be merciful to me a direction, for their welfare and
sinner” (Luke 18:13). The priest, salvation : “Bringing every thought
standing, places the cross in his right into captivity to the obedience of
hand on the confessing person’s Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), and
head, and prays the absolution. applying the words of St. Paul : “But
we have the mind of Christ” (1
NOTES: Corinthians 2:16), and so become the
The priest places the cross over the servants of God who, “shall see His
head of the confessing person, as the face, and His name shall be on their
gift of absolution and forgiveness is foreheads” (Revelation 22:4). Hence,
obtained from the Blood of our Lord they have the name of God filling
66
their thoughts and lives. mentioning also that these
absolutions which are read on the
PRAYERS TO BE SAID BY THE
head of the confessing person, are
CONFESSOR, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
prayed in Church during the Matins
ABSOLUTION
and Vespers Prayers, and in other
Psalm 50 : “Have mercy upon me, O Church Rites, such as the Sacraments
God ...” of Unction of Sick, Matrimony and
The prayer of : “O God absolve, remit others.
and forgive us our sins which we THE FIRST ABSOLUTION :
have done willingly and unwillingly PRAYER OF SUBMISSION TO THE
and those which we committed SON
knowingly and unknowingly, the
hidden and the visible. O Lord “Oh Lord who has given authority
forgive us for the sake of Your Holy unto us to tread upon serpents
and scorpions and upon all the
Name that is called upon us, and
according to Your Mercy and not to power of the enemy, crush his
our sins.” Followed by, “O Lord I heads beneath our feet speedily,
have sinned, absolve me”, or the tax- and scatter before us his every
collector’s prayer: “God be merciful design of weakness that is
to me, a sinner”. against us. For You are the King
of us all, O Christ our God”.
Then following the absolution, the
‘Lord’s Prayer’ is said. Notes on the First Absolution:
PRAYERS OF THE PRIEST ON THE God gave the authority to His

HEAD OF THE CONFESSOR pure Apostles saying: “Behold, I
give you the authority to trample on
Thanksgiving Prayer: To thank God serpents and scorpions and over all
for the return and the repentance of the power of the enemy, and nothing
the sinner. shall by any means hurt you” (Luke
Psalm 50: for repentance and 10:19).
humiliation “Crush his heads beneath our feet
Litany of the Sick: for the sinner is in speedily,” as the devil does not have
need of remedy only one head but many heads,
denoting his plans and deceit,
The Three Absolutions: What is thoughts, and seduction which are
noticeable is that the priest prays various and destructive to those
them in the plural form placing attracted to them.
himself with the confessing sinner,
asking absolution and forgiveness for “Scatter before us every design of
both of them, with all the other weakness that is against us.” The
blessings. In these absolutions are Satanic designs are the evil thoughts
many meaningful and touching which he tries to implant in us, we
supplications, which deserve ask God to scatter them before us so
contemplation. The priest should pray we do not perish.
them quietly but audibly, so that he THE SECOND ABSOLUTION :
and the confessing person may
meditate on every word. It is worth ALSO CALLED THE PRAYER OF
SUBMISSION TO THE SON
67
“You, O Lord, who created the out ignorance (by which he falls into
heavens, You descended and sin).”
became man for our salvation.
To cause us to desire the Lord, and
You are He who sits upon the
taste those things which are spiritual
Cherubim and the Seraphim, and and divine, rather than partake of
beholds them who are lowly. You those things which cause us to sin
also now, our Master, are He unto and thus result in death. For this
whom we lift up the eyes of our reason, the priest asks God to return
hearts, the Lord who forgives our this desire to the hearts of those
iniquities and saves our souls confessing, so that together with King
from corruption. We worship Solomon, they may declare : “Lead
Your unutterable compassion, me away! We will run after You”
and we ask You to give us Your (Songs 1:4).
peace, for You have given all
things unto us. The priests asks God to exalt the
repentant who is bowing in
Acquire us unto Yourself, God our contriteness beneath the hand of God
Savior, for we know none other but (which is symbolized by the hand of
You; Your Holy Name we do utter. the priest placed on the head of the
Turn us, God, into fearing You and confessing person), and adorn them
desiring You. Be pleased that we with virtues, after having saved them
abide in the enjoyment of Your good from sin, so they may glorify God and
things, and those who have bowed become worthy of Eternal Life and
their heads beneath Your hand, exalt the Kingdom of God, which is
them in their ways of life, and adorn prepared for those who struggle
them with virtues. And may we all diligently in order to perfect their
be worthy of Your Kingdom in the holiness.
heavens, through the goodwill of
God, Your good Father...”. THE THIRD ABSOLUTION
Notes on the Second Absolution: “Master, Lord Jesus Christ the
only begotten Son and Logos of
In this absolution the priest asks
God the Father, Who has broken
God,
every bond of our sins through
To give us the peace we lost through His saving, life-giving sufferings,
committing sins, for sin destroys who breathed into the face of His
peace, as fire destroys hay. For thus holy disciples and saintly
says the Lord, “There is no peace for Apostles, and said to them,
the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose
sins you will remit, they are
To instill within us the fear of God,
remitted to them, and those
as, “The fear of the Lord is the
which you will retain, they shall
beginning of wisdom,” (Proverbs 1),
and when one’s heart is filled with be retained”. You also now, our
the fear of God, one becomes Master, through Your holy
enlightened, as Abba Anthony said: apostles, have given grace to
“As light entering a dark house casts those who for a time labored in
priesthood in Your Holy Church,
out its darkness, so if the fear of God
to forgive sin upon the earth and
entered into a human heart, it casts
68
to bind and to loose every bond unto Your Holy, good will”. When the
of inquiry. Now, also, we ask and sinner is granted these divine
entreat Your goodness, O Lover remedies, he is healed from sins and
of Mankind, for Your servants my walks in holiness which leads to
fathers, and my brethren and my eternal life.
weakness, those who bow their After the absolutions, the priest says
heads before Your Holy Glory. the blessing, and concludes with the
Dispense unto us Your mercy, Lord’s Prayer, which is also said by
and loose every bond of our sins, the confessing person.
and if we have committed any sin
against You, knowingly or The priest breathes into the face of
unknowingly or through anguish the confessing person three times
of heart, or in deed, or in word, or asking the Holy Trinity to absolve and
from faint-heartedness, You O forgive them.
Master, who knows the weakness The confessing person prostrates,
of men, as a good and loving God, touching the ground with his
grant us the forgiveness of our forehead, then stands and kisses the
sins (the priest signs the priest’s Cross and hand saying:
confessing person, then says...) “Father absolve me”, and the priest
Bless us, purify us, absolve us answers: “May God absolve you”.
(and absolve your servant ...). Then they leave confession, rejoicing
Fill us with Your fear, and for repentance, exalted by the
straighten us unto Your holy, praises of angels and saints, for,
good will, for You are our God, “There will be more joy in heaven
and all glory, honor and dominion over one sinner who repents than
and adoration are due unto You.” over ninety-nine just persons who
Notes on the Third Absolution: need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
One feels a great burden released
By reciting this absolution and from one’s heart after confession, the
making the signs of the cross burden of sin and now a person is
mentioned, the Holy Spirit comes justified and feels victorious, and
upon the confessing person, and renews their hope for gaining entry
grants them the forgiveness of sins into the eternal life together with the
which were confessed to the Holy multitudes of repentants, who have
Spirit in the presence of the priest. been redeemed and saved.
This absolution asks forgiveness for NOTES:
many types of sin : “If we have
committed any sins against You, The prostration (metania) done at the
knowingly or unknowingly, or through end of the absolution, is a sign of
anguish of heart (fear), or in deed, or humility and remorse, repentance for
in word, or from faint-heartedness sins, and an intention to struggle to
(feeling of inferiority, despair or change one’s thinking and behavior
desperation).” for the better. Metania is Greek in
origin, meaning ‘repentance’ and ‘to
Now He asks God to grant him the change one’s mind’.
necessary remedies: “Bless us, purify
us, make us absolved, straighten us After kneeling, the repentant kisses
69
the Cross and the priest’s hand, for strengthen them in their life of
through the priest we are granted repentance and honesty with God.
forgiveness and reconciliation with
The repentant must be watchful over
God, by the power of the Divine
their spiritual life, so as not to fall
Blood shed on the Cross for our
again into sin, for every sin is caused
salvation. And from the priest’s hand by negligence or laziness.
we receive the sacraments :
To repentant must obey the advice
The priest baptizes us by his hands,
and guidance of the confession
and we are granted the Divine
father, regarding church rules,
citizenship and rebirth. penance, or spiritual exercises, which
The priest anoints the baptized by the are spiritual remedies to anoint our
Myron oil, through which the Holy wounds and heal our illnesses and
Spirit comes and abides in us, and we weaknesses.
become temples of the Holy Spirit. We must adhere to the advice of the
The priest holds the Cross in his right confession father in order for us to
hand and prays the absolution so the grow in grace and spiritual stature. St
Holy Spirit comes upon us and grants Basil said, “As we bear the bitterness
us the Absolution and forgiveness of of medicine to heal bodily pain, so
sins that were confessed. must we bear the remedy of the spirit
through chastisement and rebuke, for
The priest holds the Holy Communion
the spiritual healing from sins”. As
in his hands, carries it and distributes
God teaches us, “Surely I will pour
it to the believers, in order for them
out My Spirit on you, I will make My
to have Christ abiding in them, and
words known to you” (Proverbs
so gain eternal life. For this reason,
1:23).
we kiss the priest’s hand.
When the confessing person asks for
the absolution saying, “Absolve me
father”, the priest answers, “May God
absolve you”, for it is God who grants
the absolution, and is the source of
absolution and forgiveness.
After confession and having received
the absolution, the confessing person
receives the Holy Communion as
soon as possible, so that they may be
empowered by grace to grow in
virtues and gain strength in their
spiritual struggle.
3. After Confession:
A person prays the ‘Thanksgiving
Prayer After Confession’ (found at the
end of the Agbia). This prayer thanks
the Lord for accepting ones
confession, and seeks God’s help to
70
RITE OF A PRIEST’S CONFESSION on the confessing priest’s head as he
TO ANOTHER PRIEST is equal to him in the rank of
Priesthood, while the blessing is
For every priest there must be a
granted by the older to the younger,
confession-father who is older in age
as St. Paul said, “Beyond all
and priesthood, and more
contradiction the lesser is blessed by
experienced so he confesses to him
the better” (Hebrews 7:17).
and becomes his disciple. He must
be very regular in confession so that If a priest confesses to a Bishop, the
he does not neglect and lose his bishop has the right to place his hand
eternal life, as St. Paul says, “Lest with the Cross on the confessing
when I have preached to others, I priest’s head and pray the absolution,
myself should became disqualified” (1 as he is higher in rank than the
Corinthians 9:27), and every priest priest.
should take care to heed the advice
of our teacher St. Paul : “Take heed
to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in then, for in doing this you
will save both yourself and those who
hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).
During confession the priest must sit
down honestly before his confession-
father, like a patient before the
physician, and confess seriously and
frankly, asking for absolution,
forgiveness and salvation.
After confession the confessing priest
removes his priestly had and kneels
before his confession-father bowing
his head to accept the absolution.
During the absolution the priest does
not place the Cross on the priest’s
head but on his shoulder, or
otherwise, he lifts the Cross near the
priest’s head without touching it, and
so prays the prayers and absolutions
specified for confession.
By the end of Absolutions, the
confessing priest bows to his
spiritual-father, kissing the Cross and
his hand, thanking God for the grace
of absolution and the forgiveness
granted by confession and absolution.
NOTES:
The priest does not place the Cross
71
PRAYER FOR THE APOSTATE place of Your Holies” (and then he
offers incense in the four directions).
For those who deny Christ (Apostasy)
or profane their bodies by adultery, Following the Verses of the Cymbals,
the Church does not grant, in the first the congregation pray : “Glory be to
place, the Sacrament of Confession the Father, and to the Son and to the
on their return, but rather prays for Holy Spirit, Now and forevermore,
them the ‘Prayer for the Apostate’, or Amen, Alleluia!”
‘Prayer of capability’ as they call it, The congregation then prays ‘The
which requests forgiveness for Lord’s Prayer’
grievous sins which need God’s
mercy. Followed by Psalm 50: “Have
mercy on me O God”.
This prayer, which is full of benefit
and spirituality, is recorded from the They conclude by kneeling, saying,
book entitled ‘Make Me Repent Lord’ “We worship You O Christ, with Your
by Reverend Father Yousef Asaad, gracious Father, and the Holy Spirit,
(pp 160-166), and is most beneficial for You have come and saved us.”
for asking God for blessing and The deacon then reads the
power. Pauline Epistle : ‘“As I urged You
RITE OF THE APOSTATE’S PRAYER when I went into Macedonian -
remain in Ephesus that you may
A new ceramic container of fresh charge some that they teach no other
water is filled with simple oil, doctrine nor give heed to fables and
which the priest pours three endless genealogies, which cause
times, whilst making the sign of disputes rather than godly edification
the cross. Then, which comes by faith. Now the
The priest prays the Thanksgiving purpose of the commandment is love
Prayer. from a pure heart, from a good
conscience, and from sincere faith,
Then the Verses of the Cymbals is
from which some having strayed,
chanted.
have turned aside to idle talk,
During prayer the priest raises desiring to be teachers of the law,
incense whilst audibly praying the understanding neither what they saw
Pauline prayer: “O God the Great and nor the things which they affirm. But
the Eternal, without beginning and we know that the law is good if one
without end, great in His counsel and uses it lawfully. Knowing this: that
mighty in His works, who is in all the law is not made for a righteous
places, and dwells with everyone. Be person, but for the lawless and in
with us also, our Master, in this hour subordinate for the ungodly and for
and stand in our midst. Purify our sinners, for the unholy and profane,
hearts and sanctify our souls. for killers of fathers and killers of
Cleanse us from all sins which we mothers, for murderers, for liars, for
have done willingly and unwillingly perjurers and if there is any other
and grant us to offer before You thing that is contrary to sound
worthy sacrifices and sacrifices of doctrine, according to the glorious
blessing, and a spiritual incense gospel of the blessed God which was
entering within the veil of the holy committed to my trust and I thank
72
Jesus Christ our Lord who has after the one which is lost until he
enabled me because He counted me finds it? And when he has found it,
faithful, putting me into the ministry, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing.
although I was formerly a And when he comes home, he calls
blasphemer, a persecutor, and an together his friends and neighbors
insolent man, but I obtained mercy saying to them: Rejoice with me, for
because I did it ignorantly in I have found my sheep which was
unbelief. And the grace of our Lord lost! I say to you that likewise there
was exceedingly abundant, with faith will be more joy in heaven over one
and love which are in Jesus Christ. sinner who repents than over ninety-
This is a faithful saying and worthy of nine just persons who need no
all acceptance that Jesus Christ came repentance” (Luke 15: 3-10) Glory
into the world to save sinners, of be to You, O God forevermore.’
whom I am chief. However, for this The congregation then says the
reason I obtained mercy, that in me appropriate response of the Gospel:
first Jesus Christ might show all long- “I have sinned, I have sinned my
suffering, as a pattern to those who Lord Jesus Christ forgive me, as there
are going to believe on Him for is no servant without sin nor master
everlasting life. Now to the King without forgiveness. Grant me Lord
eternal, immortal, invisible, to God repentance so that I may repent
who alone is wise be honor and glory before death, and close before me
for ever and ever Amen” (1 Timothy the doors of Hades. Intercede on our
1:3-17). May the grace of God behalf, O Archangel Michael, leader of
the Father be with us all Amen.’ the heavenly hosts, that He may
The congregation sings the Trisagion forgive us our sins. Supplicate on our
(Agios). behalf, O my masters the fatherly
Apostles and the Disciples that He
Followed by the priest praying the
may forgive us our sins. Blessed is
Litany of the Gospel.
Your name, O Father and Son and the
The gospel is then read by the priest: Holy Spirit. We worship You now
‘A Psalm of our teacher David the and forever Amen.”
prophet and King, may his blessings
Then the priest prays the three Major
be with us all, Amen. “Do not
Litanies for Peace, The Fathers, and
remember the sins of my youth, nor
The Congregations.
my transgressions. According to Your
mercy remember me, for Your At the conclusion of the Prayer for
Goodness’ sake O Lord... For Your the Congregations, the repenting
name’s sake O Lord, pardon my person says together with the
iniquity, for it is great, alleluia” congregation, the Orthodox Creed.
(Psalm 24: 6,7,11). Gospel according The priest then prays the following
to St Luke, the evangelist and pure for the repenting apostate: “O Lord,
apostle, may his blessings be with us Master and Almighty God, the Father
all, Amen. “So He spoke this parable of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus
to them saying: What man of You, Christ who wants every one to live
having a hundred sheep, if he loses and come to the knowledge of truth,
one of them, does not leave the we ask You Master for your servant
ninety-nine in the wilderness and go
73
(...name of Apostate), who bows his adversary. Save us from the devil
head and seeks You to absolve him and his intrigues, through Jesus
from the hands of Satan and from Christ our Lord, glory honor...”.
every evil deed by which he rejected The deacon says : “Bow your heads
You. We ask and appeal to Your before the Lord.”
goodness, O Lover-of-mankind, send
Your Holy Spirit and Your power to The priest then prays : “O Lord who
your servant (...name) at this hour. said, “I will not allow you to be
Cast away from his heart every vain tempted beyond what you are able,”
and wicked intrigue. Purify his heart for with temptation You will also send
from all evil thoughts. If he profaned us a redeemer, send from on high
his body with an unbeliever, forgive Your grace so that we may be able to
him and justify him for stand. Save us O Lord our God from
righteousness, that which was every troublesome temptation. Cast
preached by the prophets, apostles it away together with all the wicked
and church teachers. Your servant deeds, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(...name) count him with Your people Glory, honor, dominion...”
and the flock of Your inheritance. The deacon says : “Let us attend in
Grant him the forgiveness of all the the fear of God.”
sins done since his birth till this hour,
by the coming and dwelling of Your Now the priest prays the following
Holy Spirit upon him so he lacks absolution: “O Lord God, healer of
nothing from the Baptismal graces our souls, our bodies and spirits, You
which he first accepted. Bless him, are He who said unto our father Peter
purify him, sanctify him, fill him with through the mouth of Your Only
Your fear, straighten him towards Begotten Son, “You are Peter, upon
Your Holy good will. Through the this rock I will build My Church, and
intercession of our lady the mother of the gates of Hades shall not prevail
God St. Mary, and all Your Saints, by against it, and I will give you the
the grace, mercy and love-of- keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
mankind of Your only Begotten Son, That which you will bind upon the
our Lord, God and Savior Jesus earth shall be bound in the heavens,
Christ. Glory, honor, dominion and and that which you will loose upon
worship are due to You together with the earth shall be loosed in the
Him, and the life-giving and heavens.” Therefore, O Lord let your
consubstantial Holy Spirit, now and servant (...name of Apostate) be
forever, Amen.” absolved from every sin, from every
curse, from every denial, from every
The congregation prays ‘The Lord’s false oath and from every encounter
Prayer’. with the heretics and the heathens,
Then the priest says the following through Your Holy Spirit, O You, the
supplication : “Yes Lord our God, who Lover of Mankind. O God who takes
does not allow any one to be tempted away the sins of the world, hasten, to
beyond what we are able, due to our accept the repentance of your
weakness. We ask You to save us servant for a light of understanding
from these temptations to be able to and forgiveness of sins. For You are
quench the fiery arrows of the a compassionate and merciful God.
74
You are patient. Your mercy is great you saying “I repent”, you shall
and true. Forgive him O God, and forgive him. You now, our Master
Lover of Mankind.” and King, look unto us bowing before
You, we Your servants, and sinners,
The deacon then says : “Saved,
cast away all evil thought from the
Amen. And with Your Spirit.”
heart of your servant (...name),
The priest makes the sign of the forgive all his sins, liberate him from
cross on the water three times whilst all evil darkness to see the greatness
saying, “The Holies are for the holy of the glory of Your beauty. Lord
people, blessed be the Lord Jesus grant us pursuit, repentance and
Christ, the Son of God, and the freedom from our sins, iniquities and
sanctification of the Holy Spirit, transgressions. Do not let us return
Amen.” to them once more, but raise us from
The congregation responds : “One is falling, walk with us by Your power
the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, and save us from the intrigues of
One is the Holy Spirit, Amen.” Satan. Restore us truly to You,
manage our life as deemed fit and
Finally, the congregation chants the purify us from all impurity, liberate us
hymn “Praise God” (Psalm 150), from every unclean inclination. Blot
whilst : out our transgressions and save us
Behind the curtain, the repentant now, so we are able to be
undresses and the priest sprinkles empowered by Your help against the
water on him three times, saying: “I evil hosts and its images so they
protect you (...name), in the name of retreat with failure in our second
the Father, and of the Son, and of the warfare and we come to the path of
Holy Spirit, One God Amen”. divine worshipping. Count us with
the true strugglers who were saved
After the priest finishes pouring the
by the goodwill of God the Father,
water on his head and sprinkling him,
with whom You are blessed, with the
He takes the oil and anoints his
Holy Spirit, who is of one essence
forehead, heart and palms, whilst
with You, now and at all times, and
saying: “Blessed be God the Father
unto the age of all ages. Amen.”
the Pantocrator Amen. Blessed be
His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Following this prayer, the priest prays
our Lord. Amen. Blessed be the Holy the Absolution to the Son (which is
Spirit, the Paraclete Amen”. the third absolution of the litanies),
“Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-
After the anointment is completed, he
begotten Son and Logos of God the
dresses, and bows his head, whilst
Father...”
the priest prays: “Master, Lord, the
only God, and Logos of the The priest concludes by ordering him
unblemished Father, who came into not to commit the sin again. He says
the world to call sinners to the blessing, and together they pray
repentance, who does not wish death ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
for the sinner, but to repentance and
life, who said if your brother sins
against you, seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day returns to
75
SPIRITUAL 4:10), and Abba Anthony says, “Ask

PRACTICES your father to tell you and your
elders to speak to you”, the person
Many priests neglect who proceeds in their spiritual life on
giving their children their own, and without guidance, falls
some spiritual in Satanic traps, as Solomon says:
exercises during “Where there is no counsel the
confession. This people fall, but in the multitude of
negligence may be counselors there is safety” (Proverbs
due to the laziness of 11:14), and if he falls, he regrets
some priests who are not ready to saying: “How I have hated
make an effort to follow up with their instruction, and my heart despised
children during these practices, by reproof. I have not obeyed the voice
encouraging them and praying for of my teachers” (Proverbs 5:12,13).
them. Some priests may find the Priests must care to give their
excuse that those confessing have children in confession, certain
low levels of spirituality which cannot practices and follow their progress,
handle the spiritual exercises, or that and those confessing must like
the priests do not have time for spiritual growth. So ask for these
follow up. practices in earnest, so that you may
Hence, this causes a stop in one’s grow in grace and stature before God
spiritual growth, and confession and others.
becomes a routine, words said, and Examples Of Some Spiritual
absolution read. Exercises
Some who are spiritually fervent or For those who are sinning from
interested in their spiritual growth personal weakness, such as lying,
complain from lack of spiritual swearing, gossiping, for example, a
practices which help them in their penance such as five prostrations can
spiritual life. At times they may ask be applied for each time the person
their confession fathers for exercises, commits these sins.
but this is very rare. Some make
their own practices according to their Spiritual exercises may also be taken
needs. But this is not correct, for no from the Holy Bible, where there are
spiritual exercises should be done may examples, such as in the Ten
without the permission of the Commandments (Exodus 20) :
confession-father. The reason for this Remember the day of the Lord, keep
is so that the devil does not it holy
intervene, for he may use one’s
Honor your father and mother
innocence or inexperience to
(especially in old age)
encourage them to struggle more and
hence cause them to fall into the sin Do not murder
of pride, or any other wicked plan of Do not commit adultery (either in
Satan. The wise King Solomon warns action of thoughts)
us saying: “But woe to him who is
alone when he falls, for he has no Do not steal (or bribe)
one to help him up” (Ecclesiastes: Do not bear false witness (such as
76
lying or forgery) find, knock and it will be open and to
you. It is important to persevere in
Do not covet that which is not yours
he life of prayer.
Another great Biblical example from
Follow the golden rule of treatment:
which to apply spiritual exercises, is
Do unto others what you would have
from Christ’s Sermon on the
them do unto you.
Mount:
From the first Epistle of our teacher
Spiritual poverty or humbleness
St. Paul to the Corinthians, (Chapter
Meekness towards all people 13), let us practice all kinds of
Mercy for the needy love :
Struggling for purity of heart and “Love suffers long and is kind”; bear
simplicity. all people kindly.
Struggling to be a peacemaker, not a “Love does not envy”; let us practice

troublemaker. not to envy others.
Bearing tribulation and persecution “Love does not parade itself”; a

and false witnessing with joy, as long person must not boast before others
as it is for God’s sake. concerning the things they may have.
Not provoking hostility with others, “Love is not puffed up”; pride is a
and hence hindering prayer. terrible vice, for God resists the
proud, and gives grace to the
Being lawful in all things. humble.
Whoever asks anything of you, give “Love does not behave rudely”; a
unto them, regardless of your loving person does not speak rudely
situation. Learn to give, even if it but decently, just like a clear spring
only a little. bringing forth sweet water.
Love your enemies, pray for them, “Love does not seek its own”; the
ask for their blessing, help them in loving person is not selfish but loves
times of need. others, sacrificing and giving readily.
Give in secret, and pray and fast in Avoid selfishness for it is the cause of
moderation. many troubles.
Trust in God, just like the lilies of the “Love is not provoked”; does not get
field and the birds, who trust in God’s angry, for the anger of man does not
providence. Trusting means to result in the righteousness of God.
depend on God on not on oneself. “Love thinks no evil”; for all things
Struggle with all your might to hold are pure to the pure minded. The
your tongue so that you do not fall pure person always puts others
into condemnation. For the sin of the before themselves.
tongue is dangerous and may bring “Love does not rejoice in iniquity”;
about the wrath and judgment of nor in catastrophes that may hurt
God. others.
Practice praying at all times. Ask, “Love rejoices in the truth”; rejoices
you will be given, seek and you will for the good of others, whether it be
77
success, riches, joy, children, or any all and avoid all
other blessings given by God.
Practice being a good listener, and
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and
listen patiently to all, regardless of
weep with those who weep” (Romans
whether they may be younger or in
12:15). less of a position than you.
“Love bears all things”; practice being Do not complain to anyone, other
patient. Do not lose your temper than God, with humility.
quickly lest you fall and commit grave
mistakes, and even lose the love and Practice being cheerful with all
respect of others. To be able to bear people, regardless of whether they
is to be able to love. Bear all things, may be aggressive or rude.
all situations and all people, without Every Christian should be obedient,
complaint. wise and flexible.
“Love believes all things”; for love is Spiritual Exercises In Prayer
simple, and is not deceiving. It is
wise and insightful. Practice reverence during prayer :
reverence of heart and body, and
“Love hopes all things”; hopes for the tranquility of the senses.
good and happiness of others.
Learn the Psalms, Gospels, and
“Love endures all things”; practice prayers of the Agbia, gradually.
patience, for with it comes the crown
of life. Learn to bear others, even Practice praying at all times, whether
those who may be troublesome, while you are working, walking, or
knowing that your patience will result even sitting with others.
in goodness. Practice reciting always the ‘Jesus
“Love never fails”; despite the Prayer’ : “O my Lord Jesus Christ
various trials and tribulations which have mercy on me a sinner!”
may occur, true love will never fail Practice praying for others, and at all
but will stand fast in the face of any times, show love to all.
test. “Love is as strong as death ...
Practice the Lord’s commandment of
many waters cannot quench love, nor
praying for enemies And For Those
can floods drown it. If a man would
Who Insult You.
give for love all the wealth of his
house, it would be utterly despised” Spiritual Exercises In Fasting
(Songs 8:6-8). Be committed to church fasts, with all
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES IN care.
HUMILITY A period of abstinence during fasting
Do not provoke people to anger is necessary, but may differ from one
person to another.
Be quite and peaceful in all things;
your speech and actions should be Be moderate with the types of fasting
peaceful food you may eat.
Do not interfere in the affairs of SPIRITUAL EXERCISES IN
others, regardless of who they READING
maybe, relative or otherwise. Love Daily reading of the Bible is very
78
important. vague or generic.
Read at least one chapter from the Specification of the exercise:
Old Testament daily. specific points must be emphasized,
such as, abstinence, no judging of
Bible reading must be done on a
others, no stealing, and so on.
regular basis, but not just as a habit.
The occasion of the exercise: for
Keep beside you a pen and notebook
example, we cannot practice silence
whilst reading the Bible, to jot down
on a day when there is a special
points.
family gathering. Likewise, we cannot
Highlight or underline the verses fast when there is a wedding, and so
which you find most effective, and on.
write your notes or thoughts in the
Gradual progression in
margins.
exercises: it is important for one to
Write in the notebook the verses you progress gradually in their spiritual
need to learn during that day, and life, lest they suddenly fall.
keep reciting it throughout the day. If
Duration of the exercise: these
possible, write a small contemplation
spiritual exercises must be ongoing
of what you found effective and
so that they may eventually bear
beneficial about the verse or the
good fruits and result in good habits.
chapter read.
St. Ephraim said, “Every practice
Record and make special note of the which does not take long, does not
practical verses from the chapter, bear fruits.” One of the saintly
which you feel can benefit you and fathers applied one spiritual exercise
practically be applied, such as: every year, which he would practice
“Whoever asks you for anything, give with diligence. St. Arsenius took
to him”, “Do not judge so that you three year to perfect the virtue of
will not be judged”, “Love without silence in his life.
hypocrisy”, “Hate evil and do good”,
Success of the exercise: requires
“Share in the needs of the saints”,
the person to be convinced of its
“Bless and do not curse - rejoice with
need and benefits.
those who rejoice and weep with
those who weep.” Success of the exercise: requires
the constant prayer of the confessing
Try to practice these spiritual
person, to God so that He may help
exercises, and learn to live by them.
and strength him in his spiritual life
CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESS and progression so that his spiritual
OF SPIRITUAL EXERCISES exercises leads to bearing good fruit.
Some conditions are necessary to He also needs the prayers and
ensure the success of the spiritual fellowship of his confession-father, so
exercises, for those who practice that he may consistent in his spiritual
them : life. This is especially so for those
beginning in their life of confession. It
Clarity of the exercise: it is is important for them to accurately
important that the instructions of write down the instructions given to
what must be exercised are clear them by their confession father, and
to the repenting person, and not
79
for them to strive diligently in
compiling with his instructions.
Success of the exercise: requires
the use of a spiritual notebook, which
the confessing person to assist them
in their progression, so that they may
grow in spiritual stature and grace.
AMEN.
“COME TO ME , ALL YOU WHO LABOR
AND ARE HEAVY LADEN ,
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”
Matt 11:28
80
admit every sin you are asked about
A CATECHISM ON CONFESSION whether you have done it or not, as some
people mistakenly think they should Your
When preparing to go to confession, every confession must be realistic and therefore
Orthodox Christian should try to true.
remember all the sins that he has
committed, whether voluntary or Another reason why you should not simply
involuntary, and should examine his life in say, “I have sinned in everything, word,
detail. If there are sins that were deed, and thought, and by omission,”
committed before his last confession, but without giving further details, is because
which he then forgot to confess, he should your spiritual father needs to know
mention these also. exactly what you have done in order to
give you good advice. Also such a short,
When you come to confession, you should undetailed confession means that you are
confess your sins sincerely, remembering avoiding what confession is intended to
that you are not confessing them to the achieve, i. e. to bring you to admit what
priest, but to God Himself, Who already you have done and to admit that you were
knows, but wants you to admit your wrong in doing it. Your spiritual father
wrongs and your guilt. You should not feel already knows that you are a sinner, for
embarrassed before your spiritual father, no man is without sin; even the holy
because, being a man like yourself, he Apostle Paul described himself as the
knows human weaknesses and the “chief of sinners.” Each sin must be
inclination that all people have towards mentioned in turn, just as you would
sin, and thus he cannot judge you harshly enumerate all your symptoms to a doctor.
when you come to confession. But maybe You should not just think of a couple of
you are embarrassed to confess your sins main trends to “discuss,” and neglect to
before your spiritual father because you mention the innumerable other sins.
are afraid of losing his good opinion? On
the contrary, if you value his good Do not mention the sins of others in your
opinion, you should understand that he confession, unless this is necessary for
will respect you all the more for the your spiritual father to understand how
sincerity of your confession. Also, if you and why you yourself have sinned. If you
are ashamed and afraid to lay bare your have a personal problem involving other
sins before your spiritual father, how will people, which you would like to discuss
you bear it when at the Dread Judgment with your spiritual father, or if you are in
your sins—if you have not been freed of need of advice or some consolation for
them by true repentance—will be revealed some unkindness that has been done to
before God Himself, His angels, and all you, make an appointment to see your
mankind, both people you know and spiritual father at some other time. Also,
strangers? If you remember this, you will do not use the fact that many people
want to free yourself from your sins and commit some sin that you have committed
from the punishment that they bring upon as an excuse for it. Still less say “but
you, and will confess them in all sincerity everyone does that.” For one thing, you
before your spiritual father. You should have come to confess your own sins, not
hide nothing wrong that you have done, those of others. How can you be sure that
but at the same time you should not add without exception every human being
anything extra, and not blame yourself for commits any given sin? Or even though
what you have not done by simply saying, you might know of their sin, how can you
“Everything I have done is sinful,” or be sure they have not repented of it in
some such catch-phrase. Nor should you their heart? Pay no heed to the sins of
81
others. Oftentimes we imagine the future. However, you may mention if
motives and intentions and sinful there is any special circumstance, such as
inclinations of others, for no man knows some particular temptation or outside
the heart of another. pressure that it would be useful for your
spiritual father to know, so that he can
Confess your sins fully but concisely; one
advise you how to deal with it.
does not have to make a story of them!
That in itself can be an evidence of pride. It is important not to overlook any sin, but
Particularly regarding carnal sins, do not to mention all the sins that you have
go into detailed descriptions of sin. If your committed.
spiritual father feels that you need to If you are asked whether you have
confess any particular sin in fuller detail, committed a particular sin, it is not good
he will ask you about it, and then you enough to reply, “I can’t remember.” This
should not hesitate to describe it fully and is, of course, much less likely to happen if
to answer all his questions. you go to confession regularly. It is good
Before going to confession make a at the end of your confession to admit
thorough preparation, and examine your that there may be other sins which you
life so that you recognize your sins. If you have forgotten or have not realized that
wish you can write out a list, or keep a you have committed—such a sin might be
list day by day. In order to check your by a careless word or action which has
sins, it is wise to check them against some upset someone and perhaps caused them
list. One can use the Ten Commandments, to sin.
the Beatitudes, or the list of sins in the Unless your spiritual father asks you about
prayer of daily confession of sins read them, do not mention sins that you have
before going to sleep each day, or that in not committed, nor good deeds that you
the prayer at the end of the Canon to the have done. If you are asked whether you
Guardian Angel in the Prayer Book. Such have committed some sin and have not,
checking against a list is very beneficial, simply say “No.” Do not say, “I have
otherwise one tends to remember only committed no serious sins,” because this
the most serious sins, or the most means that you do not realize how sinful
noticeable or most extraordinarily, and to what you have done is, and how sinful
forget, perhaps deliberately, the your insensitivity is.
underlying ones, the ones that have
become habitual, and the things that we Also do not be insensitive to the feelings
have forgotten even to remember as sins and weaknesses of others, including your
because they have become so much a part spiritual father. If you have not confessed
of our life. Sins of neglect, omission, and for some time, or have some particular
laziness often fall into this category, as do difficulty and are likely to need a long
the ones that are seemingly respectable: confession, try not to come on the eve of
pride, vanity, etc. a great feast or when there will be many
other people going to confession, but
Do not try to make excuses for your sins, come on a day when there are likely to be
for the more that you justify yourself, the few, or make a special arrangement with
less forgiveness you will receive. It is the priest. Also, unless it is otherwise
important that you yourself should fully completely impossible (because, for
realize how wrong each sin you have instance, you live far from the church), do
committed is—and the more you not come for confession either
understand the wrongfulness of any sin, immediately before the Divine Liturgy
the easier it will be for you to make an (when the priest will be preparing the
effort of will to avoid committing it in the
82
gifts) or during the service, when you will is St. Paul’s excommunication of a
cause the entire congregation to wait Christian of the Church of Corinth for
while your confession is heard. incest; then, because of his penitence, he
received him back into the Church (11
If after your confession you are hoping to
Cor. 2:6-8).
receive a blessing to partake of the Holy
Mysteries, it is best to come for the Although penance would seem to be a
confession after the evening service on punishment, its purpose is not to make
the previous night. retribution for sins, to pay back a debt,
but is rather corrective, medicinal, and
You must be truly sorry for the sins you
instructive—to cure the sinner from his
have committed. Unless you really regret
sinful habits, to instruct him regarding
having done them, and intend to try to
both the harmful nature of what he has
avoid them in the future, you lack true
been doing, and ways to change his life,
penitence, without which your sins are
not forgiven. so that he shall not repeat his sin.
Penance is intended to deepen and
It is also necessary to confess with faith in increase the penitent’s regret for what he
Jesus Christ and to trust in His mercy. has done, and to strengthen the desire of
Only if we believe and trust in Jesus his will for correction. The Apostle says,
Christ can we receive remission of our “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
sins. Judas Iscariot, for example, salvation not to be repented of” (II Cor.
repented of his sin, not before one man, 7:10). This is upheld by the canons of the
but before all, and he returned the pieces Ecumenical Councils and the teaching of
of silver. But instead of believing in Jesus the Fathers, who describe penance as a
Christ and trusting in His mercy, he fell means of spiritual treatment to cure the
into despair and, receiving no remission, diseases of the soul. The 102nd canon of
he died a terrible death. Thus, in addition the Sixth Ecumenical Council says: “The
to careful confession and true character of a sin must be considered
repentance, faith and hope are essential from all points and conversion expected.
for the salvation of a sinner. And so let mercy be meted out.”
Penances — Their Nature and Purpose Moral Guidance or “The Opening of
Penance is a form of discipline or a One’s Thoughts”
prohibition administered by the priest (in It is necessary to distinguish between the
accordance with the canons or laws of the mystery of confession itself, and the
Church) to those repentant Christians for moral guidance of a spiritual father in
whom it is necessary, much as a doctor “the opening of thoughts” which is still
prescribes a suitable medicine or used, especially in some monastic
treatment. It is a form of treatment for a communities, but is something quite
moral sickness. Examples of penances are: different from confession. The telling of
fasting over and above what is required of one’s thoughts and actions before a
all Orthodox Christians, special prayers of spiritual elder, from whom one seeks
repentance with prostrations, reading moral guidance, has a vast psychological
books which will help in overcoming one’s significance. It is very useful for moral
weakness, and the performance of’ good training, the correction of bad inclinations
works. and habits, and the overcoming of doubts
Penances are not given to all who come to and indecisiveness. In some monasteries
confession, but only to those who, by the this is practiced daily, but it is not a
nature or seriousness of their sins, require course to be entered upon lightly. Bishop
this special medicine. An example of this Ignatius Brianchaninov says, “An
83
indispensable condition of such submission
is a Spirit-bearing guide, who by the will
of the Spirit can mortify the fallen will of
the person subject to him in the Lord, and
can mortify all the passions as well.” And
he issues dire warnings about heeding
“Elders” falsely so-called. Nonetheless,
some writers (notably Prof. Andreyev)
suggest that some form of “opening of the
thoughts” can form part of Christian
family life, so that husband and wife open
their thoughts to each other each day. Of
course such a practice is far removed
from the spiritual discipline of Eldership
of which Bishop Ignatius writes. Either
way, this type of spiritual guidance,
although very beneficial when rightly
ordered, does not have the significance of
a mystery or grace-bearing Church rite
like confession, which is why confession
itself, the sacrament of penitence, can
take place only before a priest.
Reprinted from The Shepherd, published by

the Brotherhood of St. Edward the Martyr,
London, England.
84
Confession: the profession of faith. Without the

second and third elements, the first is
Sacrament of pointless. To the extent we deny God,
Reconciliation we reduce ourselves to accidental
by Jim Forest beings on a temporary planet in a
random universe expanding into
nowhere. To the extent we have a
Without confession, love is destroyed.
sense of the existence of God, we
It is impossible to imagine a vital discover creation confessing God's
marriage or deep friendship without being and see all beauty as a
confession and forgiveness. If you confession of God. "The world will be
have done something that damages a saved by beauty," Dostoevsky
relationship, confession is essential to declared. We discover that faith is not
its so much something we have as
restoration. something we experience -- and we
For the confess that experience much as
sake of that glass confesses light. The Church
bond, you calls certain saints "confessors"
confess because they confessed their faith in
what you've periods of persecution even though
done, you they did not suffer martyrdom as a
apologize, result. In dark, fear-ridden times, the
and you faith shone through martyrs and
promise not confessors, giving courage to others.
to do it
In his autobiography, Confessions,
again.
Saint Augustine drew on all three
In the context of religious life, senses of the word. He confessed
confession is what we do to certain sins, chiefly those that
safeguard and renew our relationship revealed the process that had
with God whenever it is damaged. brought him to baptism and made
Confession restores our communion him a disciple of Christ and member
with God. of the Church. He confessed his faith.
The purpose of confession is not to His book as a whole is a work of
have one's sins dismissed as non-sins praise, a confession of God's love.
but to be forgiven and restored to But it is the word's first meaning --
communion. As the Evangelist John confession of sins -- that is usually
wrote: "If we confess our sins, he is the most difficult. It is never easy
faithful and just, and will forgive our admitting to doing something you
sins and cleanse us from all regret and are ashamed of, an act
unrighteousness." (1 Jn 1:9) The you attempted to keep secret or
apostle James wrote in a similar vein: denied doing or tried to blame on
"Therefore confess your sins to one someone else, perhaps arguing -- to
another, and pray for one another, yourself as much as to others -- that
that you may be healed." (Jas 5:16) it wasn't actually a sin at all, or
Confession is more than disclosure of wasn't nearly as bad as some people
sin. It also involves praise of God and might claim. In the hard labor of
85
growing up, one of the most We are social beings. The individual
agonizing tasks is becoming capable as autonomous unit is a delusion. The
of saying, "I'm sorry." Marlboro Man -- the person without
community, parents, spouse, or
Yet we are designed for confession.
children -- exists only on billboards.
Secrets in general are hard to keep,
The individual is someone who has
but unconfessed sins not only never
lost a sense of connection to others
go away but have a way of becoming
or attempts to exist in opposition to
heavier as time passes -- the greater
others -- while the person exists in
the sin, the heavier the burden.
communion with other persons. At a
Confession is the only solution.
conference of Orthodox Christians in
To understand confession in its France not long ago, in a discussion
sacramental sense, one first has to of the problem of individualism, a
grapple with a few basic questions: theologian confessed, "When I am in
Why is the Church involved in my car, I am an individual, but when
forgiving sins? Is priest-witnessed I get out, I am a person again."
confession really needed? Why
confess at all to any human being? In
We are social beings. The language
fact, why bother confessing to God
we speak connects us to those
even without a human witness? If
around us. The food I eat was grown
God is really all-knowing, then he
by others. The skills passed on to me
knows everything about me already.
have slowly been developed in the
My sins are known before it even
course of hundreds of generations.
crosses my mind to confess them.
The air I breathe and the water I
Why bother telling God what God
drink is not for my exclusive use but
already knows?
has been in many bodies before
mine. The place I live, the tools I use,
Yes, truly God knows. My confession
and the paper I write on were made
can never be as complete or
by many hands. I am not my own
revealing as God's knowledge of me
doctor or dentist or banker. To the
and all that needs repairing in my
extent I disconnect myself from
life.
others, I am in danger. Alone I die,
A related question we need to and soon. To be in communion with
consider has to do with our basic others is life.
design as social beings. Why am I so
Because we are social beings,
willing to connect with others in every
confession in church does not take
other area of life, yet not in this?
the place of confession to those we
Why is it that I look so hard for
have sinned against. An essential
excuses, even for theological
element of confession is doing all I
rationales, not to confess? Why do I
can to set right what I did wrong. If I
try so hard to explain away my sins
stole something, it must be returned
until I've decided either they're not
or paid for. If I lied to anyone, I must
so bad or might even be seen as acts
tell that person the truth. If I was
of virtue? Why is it that I find it so
angry without good reason, I must
easy to commit sins yet am so
apologize. I must seek forgiveness
reluctant, in the presence of another,
not only from God but from those
to admit to having done so?
86
whom I have wronged or harmed. But if I can confess to anyone
anywhere, why confess in church in
We are also verbal beings. Words
the presence of a priest? It's not a
provide not only a way of
small question in societies in which
communicating with others but even
the phrase "institutionalized religion"
with ourselves. The fact that
is so often used, the implicit message
confession is witnessed forces me to
being that religious institutions
put into words all those ways, minor
necessarily impede or undermine
and major, in which I live as if there
religious life. Yet it's not a term we
were no God and no commandment
seem inclined to adapt to other
to love. A thought that is concealed
contexts. Few people would prefer we
has great power over us.
got rid of institutionalized health care
Confessing sins, or even temptations, or envision a world without
makes us better able to resist. The institutionalized transportation.
underlying principle is described in Whatever we do that involves more
one of the collections of sayings of than a few people requires
the Desert Fathers, the Gerontikon: structures.
"If impure thoughts trouble Confession is a Christian ritual with a
you, do not hide them, but tell communal character. Confession in
them at once to your spiritual the church differs from confession in
father and condemn them. The your living room in the same way
more a person conceals his that getting married in church differs
thoughts, the more they from simply living together. The
multiply and gain strength. But communal aspect of the event tends
an evil thought, when revealed, to safeguard it, solidify it, and call
is immediately destroyed. If everyone to account -- those doing
you hide things, they have the ritual, and those witnessing it.
great power over you, but if
In the social structure of the Church,
you could only speak of them
a huge network of local communities
before God, in the presence of
is held together in unity, each
another, then they will often
community helping the others and all
wither away, and lose their
sharing a common task while each
power."
provides a specific place to recognize
Confessing to anyone, even a and bless the main events in life from
bartender, taxicab driver or stranger birth to burial. Confession is an
in an airport, renews rather than essential part of that continuum. My
contracts my humanity, even if all I confession is an act of reconnection
get in return for my confession is the with God and with all the people and
well-worn remark, "Oh that's not so creatures who depend on me and
bad. After all, you're only human" -- have been harmed by my failings and
something like the New Yorker from whom I have distanced myself
cartoon in which a psychologist through acts of non-communion. The
reassures a Mafia contract killer community is represented by the
stretched out on the couch, "Just person hearing my confession, an
because you do bad things doesn't ordained priest delegated to serve as
mean you're bad." Christ's witness, who provides
87
guidance and wisdom that helps each
penitent overcome attitudes and
habits that take us off course, who
declares forgiveness and restores us
to communion. In this way our
repentance is brought into the
community that has been damaged
by our sins -- a private event in a
public context.
"It's a fact," writes Fr. Thomas
Hopko, "that we cannot see the true
ugliness and hideousness of our sins
until we see them in the mind and
heart of the other to whom we have
confessed."
***
This is an extract from Confession: Doorway
to Forgiveness (Orbis Books, 2002). Jim
Forest's earlier books include Praying with
Icons, Ladder of the Beatitudes as well as
biographies of Dorothy Day and Thomas
Merton.
88
Preparation for
SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Confession
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Pride
2. Covetousness
1. Thou shalt have no other gods 3. Lust
before Me. 4. Anger
2. Thou shalt not make any graven 5. Gluttony
image, or bow down before any 6. Envy
creation in heaven or on earth. 7. Sloth
3. Thou shalt not take the name of
the Lord in vain.
ACCESSORIES TO SIN
4. Remember the Sabbath day and
keep it holy. By counseling, by commanding, by
5. Honor thy father and thy mother. consenting, by provoking another to
6. Thou shalt not kill. sin; by praise of flattery, by
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. concealment, by silence, or by
8. Thou shalt not steal. defending that which is wrong.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor.
10.Thou shalt not covet that which is QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF TO
thy neighbors. PREPARE FOR CONFESSION
• Have you prayed to God upon

rising and before eating and
COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
sleeping?
• During prayer were you distracted
1. To abstain for servile work on
by other thoughts?
Sundays and Holy Days.
• Did you make the sign of the
2. To attend Divine Liturgy on
Cross carelessly?
Sundays and Holy Days.
• Have you attended Church
3. To fast and to abstain on the days
services regularly?
appointed by the Church.
• When in Church, have you been
4. To confess our sins and to receive
inattentive, laughed or talked
the Holy Mysteries at least once a
unnecessarily?
year.
• Have you used the name of the
5. Not to solemnize marriage at
Lord in swearing or in a joking
forbidden times.
way?
6. To pray to God every day,
• Have you sworn or murmured
especially at morning and
against God?
evening.
89
• Have you been ashamed to make • Have you failed to give aid to
the sign of the Cross in front of someone in need, especially when
others? asked?
• Have you attended parties, • Have you donated to the needs of
movies, etc. during the hours of the Church?
Church services? • Have you been cruel to animals?
• Have you failed to keep the fast or • Have you taken something
other rules of the Church? without asking?
• Have you believed in astrology, • Have you failed to return a book
superstitions, fortune-tellers or or other thing that you have
the like? borrowed?
• Have you strayed from the • Have you been stubborn, insistent
teachings of the Church by on pressing your point of view?
unbelief or indifference to the • Have you plotted or taken revenge
Faith? on one who's offended you?
• Have you failed to ask for God's • Have you told falsehoods,
help in every effort? distorted the truth, cheated,
• Have you concealed sins at judged others or gossiped?
confession? • Have you joked of the faults of
• Do you show your parents proper others, or exposed the faults of
respect? Have you been rude to another to make yourself the
them, talked back or otherwise better?
offended them? • Have you been vain? Sought glory
• If your parents are reposed, have or praise for yourself?
you prayed for them. • Does your inner peace disappear
• Have you been disrespectful to when others are unfair to you or
members of the clergy, your judge you?
elders, teachers or superiors? • Are you proud? Do you brag of
• Have you been angry or irritated? your abilities, position or
• Have you abused anyone? Used possessions? Do you consider
foul language? Struck someone? yourself worthy or sinless in the
Offended someone in an sight of God?
argument? • Have you been overly concerned
• Have you raised your voice in with your appearance? Are you
anger? properly attired in God's house?
• Have you joked or made fun of • The 7th commandment includes
the handicapped, unfortunate, or all sins of a sexual nature, either
elderly? by thought, word, or deed, any of
• Are you truly at peace with these must be confessed.
everyone? • Have you been envious of
• Have you asked forgiveness of another's possessions, appearance
those you may have offended? or standing?
90
• Have you fulfilled all obligations
faithfully? Have you been lazy?
• Have you been impatient? Fallen
into despair or apathy? Had
thoughts of suicide?
• Are you attached to smoking,
alcohol, or other drugs? Food or
drink?
• Do you give up your heart to
money or other earthly
possessions?
91
miserliness, unmercifulness and
A Lament for Sin cruelty;
St. Basil the Great I weep over my laziness, indolence,

negligence, love of comfort,
Weep over your sin: it is a spiritual weakness, idleness, absent-
ailment; it is death to your immortal mindedness, irresponsibility,
soul; it deserves ceaseless, unending inattention, love of sleep, for hours
weeping and crying; let all tears flow spent in idle pursuits, and for my lack
for it, and sighing come forth without of concentration in prayer and in
ceasing from the depths of your Church, for not observing fasts and
heart. not doing charitable works.
In profound humility I weep for all I weep over my lack of faith, my

my sins, voluntary and involuntary, doubting, my perplexity, my
conscious and unconscious, covert coldness, my indifference, my
and overt, great and little, committed weakness and unfeelingness in what
by word and deed, in thought and concerns the Holy Orthodox Faith,
intention, day and night, at every and over all my foul, cunning and
hour and minute of my life. reviling thoughts;
I weep over my pride and my I weep over my exaggerated sorrow

ambition, my self love and my and grief, depression and despair,
boastfulness; I weep over my fits of and over sins committed willingly.
anger, irritation, excessive shouting,
swearing, quarreling and cursing; I weep, but what tears can I find for
a worthy and fitting way to weep for
I weep for having criticized, all the actions of my ill fated life; for
censured, gossiped, slandered, and my immeasurable and profound
defamed, for my wrath, enmity, worthlessness? How can I reveal and
hatred, envy, jealousy, vengeance expose in all its nakedness each one
and rancor; of my sins, great and small,
voluntary and involuntary, conscious
I weep over my indulgences in lust, and unconscious, overt and covert,
impure thoughts and evil inclinations; every hour and minute of sin? When
covetousness, gluttony, drunkenness, and where shall I begin my
and sloth; penitential lament that will bear
fitting fruit? Perhaps soon I may have
I weep for having talked idly, used to face the last hour of my life; my
foul language, blasphemed, derided, soul will be painfully sundered from
joked, ridiculed, mocked, enjoyed my sinful and vile body; I shall have
empty gaiety, singing, dancing and to stand before terrible demons and
every pleasure to excess; radiant angels, who will reveal and
torment me with my sins; and I, in
I weep over my self indulgence, fear and trembling, will be
cupidity, love of money and unprepared and unable to give them
an answer; the sight and sound of
92
wailing demons, their violent and numberless quantity of cutting,
bold desire to drag me into the poisonous, insolent, frivolous, vulgar,
bottomless pit of Hell will fill my soul coarse, brazen words!
with confusion and terror. And then
the angels of God will lead my poor How often, affected by beauty, have I
soul to stand before God 's fearful fed my mind, my imagination and my
seat of judgment. How will I answer heart with voluptuous sensations,
the Immortal King, or how will I dare, and unnaturally satisfied the lusts of
sinner that I am, to look upon My the flesh in fantasy! How often has
Judge? Woe is me! have no good my tongue uttered shameful, vulgar
answer to make, for I have spent all and blasphemous things about the
my life in indolence and sin, all my desires of the flesh!
hours and minutes in vain thoughts,
desires and yearnings! How often have I yearned for power
and been gluttonous, satiating myself
And how many times have I taken on delicacies, on tasty, varied and
the Name of God in vain! diverse foods and wines; because of
intemperance and lack of self-control
How often, lightly and freely, at times how often have I been filled past the
even boldly, insolently and point of satiety, lacked sobriety and
shamelessly have I slandered others been drunken, intemperate in food
in anger; offended, irritated, mocked and drink, and broken the Holy Fasts!
them!
How often, through selfishness, pride
How often have I been proud and or false modesty, have I refused help
vainglorious and boasted of good and attention to those in need, been
qualities that I do not possess and of uncharitable, miserly, unsympathetic,
deeds that I have not done! mercenary and grasped at attention!
How many times have I lied, How often have I entered the House
deceived, been cunning or flattered, of God without fear and trembling,
or been insincere and deceptive; how stood there in prayer, frivolous and
often have I been angry, intolerant absent-minded, and left it in the
and mean! same spirit and disposition! And in
prayer at home I have been just as
How many times have I ridiculed the cold and indifferent, praying little,
sins of my brother, caused him grief lazily, and indolently, inattentively
overtly and covertly, mocked or and impiously, and even completely
gloated over his misdeeds, his faults omitting the appointed prayers!
or his misfortunes; how many times
have I been hostile to him, in anger, And in general, how slothful I have
hatred or envy! been, weakened by indolence and
inaction; how many hours of each
How often have I laughed stupidly, day have I spent in sleep, how often
mocked and derided, spoke without have I enjoyed voluptuous thoughts
weighing my words, ignorantly and in bed and defiled my flesh! How
senselessly, and uttered a many hours have I spent in empty
93
and futile pastimes and pleasures, in lawlessness, glory to Thy righteous
frivolous talk and speech, jokes and judgment; and if Thou wouldst not
laughter, games and fun, and how destroy me together with my
much time have I wasted conclusively lawlessness, glory to Thy boundless
in chatter, and gossip, in criticizing mercy!
others and reproaching them; how
many hours have I spent in time-
wasting and emptiness! What shall I
answer to the Lord God for every
hour and every minute of lost time?
In truth, I have wasted my entire life
in laziness.
How many times have I lost heart

and despaired of my salvation and of
God's mercy or through stupid habit,
insensitivity, ignorance, insolence,
shamelessness, and hardness sinned
deliberately, willingly, in my right
mind, in full awareness, in all
goodwill, in both thought and
intention, and in deed, and in this
fashion trampled the blood of God 's
covenant and crucified anew within
myself the Son of God and cursed
Him!
0 how terrible the punishment that I

have drawn upon myself!
How is it that my eyes are not

streaming with constant tears?.. If
only my tears flowed from the cradle
to the grave, at every hour and every
minute of my tortured life! Who will
now cool my head with water and fill
the well of my tears and help me
weep over my soul that I have cast
into perdition?
My God, my God! Why hast Thou

forsaken me? Be it unto me according
to Thy will, 0 Lord! If Thou wouldst
grant me light, be Thou blessed; if
Thou wouldst grant me darkness, be
Thou equally blessed. If Thou wouldst
destroy me together with my
94
without ceasing, he pictures him to
AN ORTHODOX himself, he cares for him, and in all
circumstances his beloved friend is
CONFESSION never out of his thoughts. But I,
throughout the day, scarcely set
WHICH LEADS THE aside even a single hour in which to
INWARD MAN TO sink deep down into meditation upon
God, to inflame my heart with love of
HUMILITY Him, while I eagerly give up twenty-
three hours as fervent offerings to
Turning my eyes carefully upon the idols of my passions. I am
myself and watching the course of forward in talk about frivolous
my inward state, I have verified by matters and things which degrade the
experience that I do not love God, spirit; that gives me pleasure. But in
that I have no religious belief, and the consideration of God I am dry,
that I am filled with pride and bored and lazy. Even if I am
sensuality. All this I actually find in unwillingly drawn by others into
myself as a result of detailed spiritual conversation, I try to shift
examination of my feelings and the subject quickly to one which
conduct, thus: pleases my desires. I am tirelessly
curious about novelties, about civic
1. I do not love God. For if I loved
affairs and political events; I eagerly
God I should be continually thinking
seek the satisfaction of my love of
about Him with heartfelt joy. Every
knowledge in science and art, and in
thought of God would give me
ways of getting things I want to
gladness and delight. On the
possess. But the study of the Law of
contrary, I much more often and
God, the knowledge of God and of
much more eagerly think about
religion, make little impression on
earthly things, and thinking about
me, and satisfy no hunger of my
God is labor and dryness. If I loved
soul. I regard these things not only
God, then talking with Him in prayer
as a non-essential occupation for a
would be my nourishment and delight
Christian, but in a casual way as a
and would draw me to unbroken
sort of side-issue with which I should
communion with Him. But, on the
perhaps occupy my spare time, at
contrary, I not only find no delight in
odd moments. To put it shortly, if
prayer, but even find it an effort. I
love for God is recognized by the
struggle with reluctance, I am
keeping of His commandments (If ye
enfeebled by sloth, and am ready to
love Me, keep My commandments,
occupy myself eagerly with any
says our Lord Jesus Christ), and I not
unimportant trifle, if only it shortens
only do not keep them, but even
prayer and keeps me from it. My time
make little attempt to do so, then in
slips away unnoticed in futile
absolute truth the conclusion follows
occupations, but when I am occupied
that I do not love God. That is what
with God, when I put myself into His
Basil the Great says: 'The proof that
presence every hour seems like a
a man does not love God and His
year. If one person loves another, he
Christ lies in the fact that he does not
thinks of him throughout the day
keep His commandments'.
95
2. I do not love my neighbor by my conduct and my constant care
either. For not only am I unable to to satisfy the life of the senses. Were
make up my mind to lay down my life the Holy Gospel taken into my heart
for his sake (according to the in faith, as the Word of God, I should
Gospel), but I do not even sacrifice be continually occupied with it, I
my happiness, well-being and peace should study it, find delight in it and
for the good of my neighbor. If I did with deep devotion fix my attention
love him as myself, as the Gospel upon it. Wisdom, mercy, love, are
bids, his misfortunes would distress hidden in it; it would lead me to
me also, his happiness would bring happiness, I should find gladness in
delight to me too. But, on the the study of the Law of God day and
contrary, I listen to curious, unhappy night. In it I should find nourishment
stories about my neighbor and I am like my daily bread and my heart
not distressed; I remain quite would be drawn to the keeping of its
undisturbed or what is still worse, I laws. Nothing on earth would be
find a sort of pleasure in them. Bad strong enough to turn me away from
conduct on the part of my brother I it. On the contrary, if now and again I
do not cover up with love, but read or hear the Word of God, yet
proclaim abroad with ensure. His even so it is only from necessity or
well-being, honor and happiness do from a general love of knowledge,
not delight me as my own, and, as if and approaching it without any very
they were something quite alien to close attention, I find it dull and
me, give me no feeling of gladness. uninteresting. I usually come to the
What is more, they subtly arouse in end of the reading without any profit,
me feelings of envy or contempt. only too ready to change over to
secular reading in which I take more
3. I have no religious belief. pleasure and find new and interesting
Neither in immortality nor in the subjects.
Gospel. If I were firmly persuaded
and believed without doubt that 4. I am full of pride and sensual
beyond the grave lies eternal life and self-love. All my actions confirm
recompense for the deeds of this life, this. Seeing something good in
I should be continually thinking of myself, I want to bring it into view, or
this. The very idea of immortality to pride myself upon it before other
would terrify me and I should lead people or inwardly to admire myself
this life as a foreigner who gets ready for it. Although I display an outward
to enter his native land. On the humility, yet I ascribe it all to my
contrary, I do not even think about own strength and regard myself as
eternity, and I regard the end of this superior to others, or at least no
earthly life as the limit of my worse than they. If I notice a fault in
existence. The secret thought nestles myself, I try to excuse it, I cover it
within me: Who knows what happens up by saying, 'I am made like that' or
at death? If I say I believe in 'I am not to blame'. I get angry with
immortality, then I am speaking those who do not treat me with
about my mind only, and my heart is respect and consider them unable to
far removed from a firm conviction appreciate the value of people. I brag
about it. That is openly witnessed to about my gifts: my failures in any
96
undertaking I regard as a personal
insult. I murmur, and I find pleasure
in the unhappiness of my enemies. If
I strive after anything good it is for
the purpose of winning praise, or
spiritual self-indulgence, or earthly
consolation. In a word, I continually
make an idol of myself and render it
uninterrupted service, seeking in all
things the pleasures of the senses,
and nourishment for my sensual
passions and lusts.
Going over all this I see myself as

proud, adulterous, unbelieving,
without love to God and hating my
neighbor. What state could be more
sinful? The condition of the spirits of
darkness is better than mine. They,
although they do not love God, hate
men, and live upon pride, yet at least
believe and tremble. But I? Can there
be a doom more terrible than that
which faces me, and what sentence
of punishment will be more sever
than that upon the careless and
foolish life. that I recognize in
myself?
From "The Way of a Pilgrim" ("Otkrovennye

rasskazy strannika dukhovnomu svoemu
Otcu")
97
people treat me, but at how I treat
A sincere confession of other people. And if they treat me in
an Orthodox Christian a hostile way, inspire me, Oh Lord, to
pay them back with love and
Bless me, O Lord and Savior, to goodness and pray for them.
confess to Thee not only with words,
but also with bitter tears; and there I have also sinned in that I think
is much to weep for... very, very little about my sins. Not
only at ordinary times of the year,
My faith in Thee vacillates, O Lord! but even when I am preparing for
Thoughts of skepticism and disbelief Communion I do not remember
push themselves in to my soul much them, I do not try to call them to
more often than they ever have. mind for confession.
Why?
General phrases come to mind:
Of course, the spirit of the times is to "Nothing special, I am sinful like
blame, and people that I meet are to everyone. Oh Lord, it is as if I did
blame, but even more to blame am I not know that in Thy eyes both every
myself, because I do not struggle "idle word" and even the sinful desire
with disbelief, because I do not pray in my heart is a sin.
to Thee for aid.
And how many of these words and
I am still more to blame if I am a desires pile up within me in just one
temptation for someone else, by deed day, not to mention in a whole year!
or word or just by cold silence when Thou alone, Lord, knowest them;
people speak of the faith. grant me to see my transgressions,
have mercy on me, and save me.
I have sinned in this, O Lord: forgive
and have mercy, and grant me faith. Further: I acknowledge as my
constant sin the lack of almost any
My love for other people, even my struggle with evil. As soon as any
relatives, is diminishing. Their occasion or provocation appears, I
continual requests for help and their plunge headlong into the pit of sin,
forgetfulness of how much I have and then, just as soon as I have
already done for them causes mutual fallen, I ask myself: what have I
hard feelings. done? A fruitless question, because it
does not help me to become better.
But I am more guilty than they are:
guilty because although I have the And if at this point I feel sorrow, it
means to help them, I help them only proceeds from my self-esteem having
grudgingly; guilty because I help suffered, and not from the realization
them not for pure, Christian that I have offended Thee, Oh Lord. I
motivations, but out of pride and a neglect struggling not only with gross
desire for gratitude and praise. evil, but even with the most frivolous
and harmful habit. I do not know how
Forgive me, Oh Lord, soften my heart to master myself and I do not even
and teach me to look not at how try.
98
I have sinned; forgive me! and heart by judging others and I am
contentious often and for long
Furthermore, the sin of irritability, periods of time; I sin not only against
which predominates in me, is not my soul, but against my body as well,
withdrawing from me in the least. by immoderately consuming food and
When I hear a sharp word, I do not drink.
reply with good-natured silence but
behave like a heathen: an eye for an Accept, Oh Lover of Mankind, my
eye, a tooth for a tooth. And hostility repentance, that I might approach
flares up for trifles and lasts for days Thy holy and life-giving Mysteries in
and weeks. peace, for the remission of sins, for
the correction of this temporary life,
I do not think of conciliation, but try and for the inheritance of eternal life.
to get revenge when an opportunity Amen.
presents itself.
"I am not worthy to ask forgiveness,
I have sinned without number, Oh Oh Lord!"
Lord.
So the great teacher of penitence,
Have mercy, forgive me, and calm Saint Ephraim the Syrian, once
my heart! exclaimed of himself.
Besides these most grievous sins, my "How can we resist the attack of sin?
whole life is a chain of sins: I do not How can we deny entry to the
value the time that You have given passions?", Saint Basil the Great
for gaining eternal salvation. asked Saint Ephraim, who answered
only by shedding tears.
I very often stand irreverently, pray
mechanically, judge others while they What can I, the consummate and
are praying, but do not look after incorrigible sinner, say to thee now,
myself. O Lord?
At home I sometimes pray with great Through the prayers of our holy
reluctance and absent-mindedness, fathers, Ephraim and Basil, grant me,
so that often I do not hear my own Oh Lord, repentance, and words, and
prayer, and sometimes I simply omit tears.
it.
Help me to spew out of myself, like
Such are my attitudes towards Thee, deadly poison, my evil deeds, idle
Oh Lord, and I can say nothing else words, and wicked thoughts.
but "forgive and have mercy!
If I have forgotten to tell anything,
In my relations with people I sin with Thou knowest know all and will
all my senses; I sin with my tongue remind me; for I do not want to
by pronouncing false, foul, conceal anything.
reproachful, or suggestive words; I
sin with my eyes; I sin with my mind
99
Thou comandest command me, "tell I consider as an enemy anyone who
your iniquities before thou seekest tells the truth about me.
justification.
I do not want to put myself out by
But I say: "My sins are multiplied, Oh doing a good turn, but I get angry if
Lord, and they multiply incessantly. someone does not do me a good
They have no limit. turn.
I know and I remember that even an I coldly refuse a neighbor in need,

impure thought is an abomination in but when I myself am in need, I
Thy sight, but I not only think, but tiresomely appeal to him.
also do, things that grievest Thee.
I do not like to visit the sick, but if I
I know that I am doing evil, but I do am sick, I expect everyone to care
not refrain from it... for me without my asking.
Thus, my repentance has not yet Lord, send down in to the depths of
even begun, and the end is not in my soul a ray of heavenly light, that I
sight for my evil carelessness about might see my sins.
sin. There is truly no limit to my foul
thoughts, bursts of self-esteem, My confession is almost always
vainglory, pride, gossip, resentment, limited to only a superficial naming of
and vengefulness. some sins.
I quarrel often, and I become angry, Oh my God, my conscience gave You

cruel, envious, lazy, and blindly a promise to start a better life, but I
stubborn. broke the promise and live as before.
Although I am of no importance, I Unless I have turned over a new leaf,

think very highly of myself. I do not I am ashamed to appear before a
want to honor those worthy of honor, mere human with whom I have often
but at the same time I demand not been true to my word.
undeserved deference for myself.
How could I stand before Thee, my
I lie ceaselessly, but I get angry at God, without shame and self-
liars. I judge those who speak evil or reproach, when so many times before
who are thieves, but I myself am a Thy Throne, before the angels and
thief and an evil-sayer. saints, I have given promises and
have not fulfilled them.
I defile myself by lustful thoughts and
stimuli, but sternly judge others for How base I am! How criminal!
immodestly.
“To Thee, Oh Lord, is truth, and to
I cannot bear being joked about, but me are shameful faces" (Book of
I myself love to taunt others, Daniel).
respecting neither persons nor
places, even doing it in church.
100
Only your boundless goodness can Grant it to me who repents, grant it
endure me. Thou dost not destroy the according to Thy great mercy; forgive
sinner; do not destroy the penitent. all the bad things that I have done,
said, and thought.
Teach me how to bring to mind and
count the sins of my past life, the and while granting forgiveness, send
sins of an empty-headed youth, the me also, Oh Lord, the strength, so
sins of proud manhood, the sins of that I might be able henceforth to
day and of night, sins against Thee, live according to Thy will and not to
my Lord and Savior. offend Thee.
How can I count them in the few Help me, and I will be saved; help
minutes in which I stand in this Holy me by granting me to receive Thy
Place? I remember, Lord, that thou holy Mysteries; and that I may
didst heed the few words of the receive them worthily, declare to me
publican and the thief. by the lips of Thy priest, declare by
Thy Holy Spirit, the grace of pardon
I know that thou mercifully greetest and forgiveness, which can not be
even a readiness to repent, and I heard by the ear, but are heard in a
pray to Thee with all my soul, "My deeply-moved heart and in peace of
Lord, accept as my repentance the conscience.
daily confession of sins that the
sacred book contains. Amen.
I have many more sins than it lists, Translated by Seraphim F. Englehardt from
and I have no way to make amends a leaflet published on Mount Athos
for them.
I offer now only a striving for thee

and a desire for the good, but I have
no strength to reform.
Oh Lord and Lover and Mankind!
Thou dost not drive away the sinner

who comes to Thee, beseeching Thee
for forgiveness.
Before he even comes to the door of

Thy mercy, thou hast already opened
it for him; before he falls down before
Thee, thou hast already stretched out
Thy hand to him; before he confesses
his sins, thou hast granted him
forgiveness.
101

Orthodox Guide For Confession

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Orthodox Guide For Confession

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution!

THE PRIEST’S GUIDE FOR

THE RITE OF CONFESSION IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Complied & arranged by:

TABLE OF CONTENTS: CONFESSION:……………………..…63

1) HOLY REPENTANCE: Preface and 17) STEPS NECESSARY FOR AN ACCEPTABLE

6) CONCERNING PENANCE: 27) AN ORTHODOX CONFESSION WHICH

28) A SINCERE CONFESSION OF AN

HOLY REPENTANCE Give heed, that thou fear not a man

In preparation for Confession,

greatly-merciful One, overlook all the All-Holy and Life-Creating

blessings to me and for His most immoderation in food and drink.

I have sinned by lack of abundance of the Mercy of God.

I have sinned many times by But, above all, you must

PRIEST: O Lord God of the of the Son, and of the Holy

If, due to the seriousness of the

CANON FOR CONFESSION All-pure, and the fearful tribunal, but by

All texts and translations on this page are

PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION • Have been argumentative or

SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION slaves".

A PREPARATION FOR heretics and schismatics? Have I neglected

REASONS FOR INNER DISCORD contrast to other religions and

CONFESSION: FROM AN phrases come to mind: "I'm not guilty of

JOHN OF KRONSTADT: searching preparation.

Literally everyone wept openly,

Fr. John, aflame with prayer, stood on

HOW TO MAKE A CONFESSION consequently. you must confess or tell your

Finally, confess your sins with faith in Jesus

Here, then, is how we should confess in order

Translated from Blogovest, Parish Bulletin of the

During Confession : The confessing person takes out the

PRAYERS OF THE PRIEST ON THE God gave the authority to His

SPIRITUAL 4:10), and Abba Anthony says, “Ask

Struggling to be a peacemaker, not a “Love does not envy”; let us practice

Bearing tribulation and persecution “Love does not parade itself”; a

Reprinted from The Shepherd, published by

Confession: the profession of faith. Without the

• Have you prayed to God upon

St. Basil the Great I weep over my laziness, indolence,

In profound humility I weep for all I weep over my lack of faith, my

I weep over my pride and my I weep over my exaggerated sorrow

How many times have I lost heart

0 how terrible the punishment that I

How is it that my eyes are not

My God, my God! Why hast Thou

Going over all this I see myself as

From "The Way of a Pilgrim" ("Otkrovennye

I know and I remember that even an I coldly refuse a neighbor in need,

I quarrel often, and I become angry, Oh my God, my conscience gave You

Although I am of no importance, I Unless I have turned over a new leaf,

I offer now only a striving for thee

Oh Lord and Lover and Mankind!

Thou dost not drive away the sinner

Before he even comes to the door of

You might also like