Every human heart carries wounds. Some are visible, most are not. In the Orthodox Church, confession is not a legal act or a formality. It's spiritual healing. It's where the soul, weighed down by sin, meets Christ the Physician through His appointed servant, the priest.
The aim of confession is not punishment, but restoration - to be cleansed, renewed, and reconciled with God.
What Is Confession?
Confession (also called the Sacrament of Repentance) is the means through which a Christian admits their sins before God, with humility and sincerity, and receives forgiveness through the prayer of the priest.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- 1 John 1:9
Sin separates us from God. Confession restores communion with Him. It is a renewal of the soul's life in grace.
Why Do Orthodox Christians Confess?
The Orthodox Church teaches that confession is not optional - it is a commandment of Christ and a sacrament of healing.
"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
- John 20:23
Christ gave His apostles - and through them, the priests of His Church - authority to pronounce forgiveness. The priest does not forgive by his own power, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit working through him.
We confess because we seek not only pardon, but healing - the cleansing of the heart from passions and the restoration of peace with God and with others.
Who Needs Confession?
Every Christian does.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
- Romans 3:23
Confession is not only for those who commit grave sins, but for all who struggle with thoughts, words, and deeds that wound the soul.
Even saints confessed, not because they were guilty of great crimes, but because they desired deeper purity before God.
Regular confession trains the conscience, humbles pride, and teaches spiritual watchfulness.
Why Confess to a Priest?
This question arises often. Why not confess directly to God alone? The Orthodox answer is simple: because this is how Christ Himself established it.
When we confess to a priest, we confess to God in the presence of a witness who represents the Church and has authority to pronounce absolution.
The priest is not a judge, but a spiritual physician. He listens not to condemn, but to guide. His stole, placed gently over the penitent’s head, is a sign that Christ Himself covers the soul with mercy.
The priest stands as a servant; God alone forgives. The mouth of the priest utters the words, but the grace and power are of God."
- St. John Chrysostoml
Why Not Just Confess in My Private Prayers?
Private repentance is necessary. We should examine ourselves daily. But personal prayer alone does not replace the sacrament of confession.
When we sin, we wound not only ourselves, but also the Body of Christ: the Church. Therefore, reconciliation must also be within the Church. In confession, the grace of the Holy Spirit acts sacramentally, restoring us to communion both with God and with His people.
To "confess at home" may ease the mind, but it does not apply the spiritual medicine Christ provided through His Church.
How Often Should I Confess?
The frequency depends on the person's spiritual life and their priest's guidance. However, Orthodox tradition recommends confession regularly - at least before major feasts or when receiving Holy Communion.
Some confess monthly, others more often. A soul that confesses frequently becomes lighter, calmer, and more attentive to God's presence.
"Keep your conscience pure as a clean window through which God’s light may always shine."
- St. Theophan the Recluse
Preparing Before Confession
Proper confession begins before entering the church. Spend time in prayer and self-examination. Reflect upon your actions, words, and thoughts since your last confession. You may write them down quietly to help remember.
A helpful structure is the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes - to see where you have fallen short of love, humility, or mercy. Avoid self-justification or excuses; instead, come with honesty and repentance.
Pray before going
"O Lord, give me the courage to see my sins as they are, and not as I wish them to appear."
How to Confess
When standing before the icon of Christ and the cross, the penitent begins with the sign of the cross. The priest may say a short prayer and then invite you to speak.
You do not need to give details. It is enough to name the nature of the sins, not the stories behind them.
Example approach:
- "I have been negligent in prayer."
- "I have judged others."
- "I have been proud, envious, or angry."
- "I have had impure thoughts."
- "I have been ungrateful or cold toward God."
If the priest needs clarification, he will ask gently. The goal is truth, not storytelling.
"Do not be ashamed to declare your sins. A wound that is exposed and confessed will not be infected."
- St. John Climacus
What Does Confession Look Like?
In the Orthodox Church, confession usually takes place quietly before an icon of Christ, with the priest standing beside or near you - not in a closed booth.
It may happen before or after a service, often with other penitents waiting prayerfully nearby. It is a holy, calm moment - not public, not theatrical, but deeply personal.
What Happens During Confession?
After you have finished confessing, the priest may offer brief counsel or spiritual advice. Then he places the stole (epitrachelion) over your head and prays the prayer of absolution, asking Christ Himself to forgive you.
In that instant, every sin truly repented is wiped away. The soul rises lighter - not because of emotion, but because of grace.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."
- Psalm 103:12 LXX
Can I Receive Communion Without Confession?
No one should receive Holy Communion with an unconfessed conscience. The Eucharist is union with Christ - and union cannot exist while the soul remains divided by sin.
However, the Church does not demand confession before every Communion, but before one's conscience is at peace.
If you have fallen into serious sin or have not confessed for a long time, confession must precede Communion.
First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
- Matthew 5:24
Conclusion
Confession is not shame, it is freedom. It is not a courtroom, but a hospital. Every time we kneel in repentance, we meet the living Christ who waits not to punish, but to heal.
The Orthodox Christian who confesses regularly grows in humility, discernment, and peace. It is the sacrament of new beginnings - the gate through which every soul must pass on the journey to salvation.
"Repentance is the renewal of baptism, a covenant with God for a new life."
- St. Isaac the Syrian
So do not fear confession. Fear instead the burden of carrying sin unhealed. Christ waits quietly at the doors of His Church, ready to say again "Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace."
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