Confession in an Eastern Church

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RomanRyan1088

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Can i, a roman Catholic, get confession at an eastern church.
 
The quick answer is "Yes "

BUT

Bet you knew this was coming 🙂 ]

only if it is an Eastern Catholic Church though - if you are away from any Catholic Churches for some time and you ask the nearest Orthodox Priest if he willing to confess you and this is permitted BTW ] and he agrees then that is also permissable but the chance of finding an Orthodox Christian Priest who will agree is really rather remote 😦
 
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RomanRyan1088:
Can i, a roman Catholic, get confession at an eastern church.
Yes and as has been stated above, only if it is an Eastern Catholic Church.

But be aware that, now that we are returning to our traditions, it may be different than you are used to.

If there are confessionals then it will most likely be like you know.

If there are no confessionals, or even if there are they may still do it the traditional (for us) way.

In the Byzantine tradition, you would either stand or kneel before the Icon of Christ on the Iconstasis. The priest would stand next to you. You would go though your confession then at the end there is no formal act of contrition. The priest would take the epitrachelion (or stole) and place it over your head as he give absolution.
 
Question:

Why would an Orthodox priest not want to confess a Catholic in the hypothetical case posted above? :confused:

I’m just curious.

Jorge.
 
After returning back to the Byzantine Rite, I found The Mystery of Holy Repentance much MORE comforting and Grace-filled.
Kneeling in front of the Icon of Christ is more ‘face to face’ then even the priest being next to you, because it is Christ who YOU offended. At times, I am so sorry that I can’t even look at the icon in such shame for my sins. (the feeling of great guilt).

go with God!
Edwin
 
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Delgadoajj:
Why would an Orthodox priest not want to confess a Catholic in the hypothetical case posted above? :confused:
Jorge,

The Orthodox will generally not administer the sacraments to Catholics - Latin or Eastern - and, in fact, may decline to administer them to Orthodox of Churches not in communion with their own jurisdiction. The notable exceptions are in the Middle East where limited intercommunion exists between Antiochian Orthodox and Melkite Catholics and between Chaldean Catholics and Assyrian Orthodox, applicable in areas where only one Church has clergy, but there are faithful of both.

A contrary situation existed during the communist repression of Catholics and Orthodox in Eastern Europe and, most particularly in the gulags. In that era, both Russian and other Orthodox and Eastern and Latin Catholic clergy ministered to the other’s faithful without regard to their particular religious faith.

Generally, outside of the Middle East situations which I mentioned, you would only find an Orthodox priest willing to administer to a Catholic in extremis, when no Catholic priest was available, on the basis of ekonomia due to the demands of Christian charity and care of the soul of the dying person. But, some would not do so even then

Many years,

Neil.
 
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