Confession in the Eastern Church

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Hello Fellow CAF’ers, tonight my wife asks a very important question specifically relating to the Byzantine Church. But all Eastern Catholics I believe will be similar in this response. The question is, what are the formalities of confession in the Eastern Church, are there any special prayers to be said beginning or end? If anyone can post their experience and basically “how it goes” that would be much appreciated. Thank you all in advance and God bless all of you. I have to go heal some Heretic in the Sacred Scripture forums now. Ugh the work of the Lord is taxing, but rewarding!.=P
 
I am not sure to which Eastern Catholic Church you are specifically referring: i.e. Melkite, Ukrainian, etc. but this subject was addressed with respect to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on this thread. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=367981

I made one mistake in that thread in that translating the Prayer of the Publican from Ukrainian to English, I used “Lord” as opposed to the proper “God” for Bozhe. Father Deacon Diak corrected me I believe.

It might help if you specify which Eastern church you are planning on attending as I can only speak for the UGCC. 🙂
 
Because Forums are for questions and answers are you new to the internet?
 
The most evident difference I have seen at the Maronite churches I have attended is that Confession is available 30 minutes before all Liturgies in many parishes - you just walk up to the priest and ask to go to Confession. I was also surprised that this seemed so natural and comfortable, considering the lengths often gone to so as to maintain one’s anonymity! Once in Confession, it is no different from a Roman
Catholic church except, perhaps, that it is common to feel less rushed. This was so even when there were others waiting.
The form of a Chaldean confession can be seen in most of the frames of “Making St. Andrew” on YouTube. One of the later episodes, with a main character confessing in the process of the Anointing of the Sick, is one of my favorites.
 
gloria97000 said:
The form of a Chaldean confession can be seen in most of the frames of “Making St. Andrew” on YouTube. One of the later episodes, with a main character confessing in the process of the Anointing of the Sick, is one of my favorites.
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gloria, could you direct me to which Episode that might have been? (Episode 18, which does have a view of a sick person in bed – but it may not be the episode you have in mind-- has a supressed audio track; so I hope it’s not that one!)
 
…Answering my own question, it’s episode 16: The Narrow Gate.

I guess I don’t see what’s Chaldean about it, though. (Looks pretty Western.) 🙂
 
Yes, it does look pretty Western! The differences I could pick up on after a few years of belonging to Maronite parishes is more in the tenor of the encounter than in the actual form. Certainly the same tenor could be accomplished in the Western church, just seems less common…The priests of the Eastern Churches often seem to know exactly what is happening in all of their parishioners’ lives, and are very much present for breakfasts, dinners, birthdays, happy events, sad events, and fun! When it is time to go to Confession, it is more that one is speaking with a person who knows him well, in many dimensions. It is from this context that the priest serves in persona Christi. Somehow the sacramental encounter just feels different, more complete, in this context, in my experience. I suppose it is the difference in hearing words of forgiveness from the darkness vs hearing words of forgiveness from the mouth of one who knows you.
 
Thank you, gloria. I did get that sense in watching the little vignettes, of a tight-knit community in which the priests were integrated within everyday life, and the more intimate sacramental experience which could thus result from the extension of daily life into the sacramental moment. Of course, some “Westerners” do choose a confessor they know well and do go face-to-face. Some of these posters have discussed that on CAF - saying that they want a confessor who “knows them well” so that the sacrament will have more meaning, more impact, more “truth.”

A lot of people would say that both the videos and yourself recall an earlier time in the Western Church when priests were invited into homes and regularly came for dinner, etc. It seems to happen much less now, more because of joint priest and lay lifestyles which make the timing difficult and the relative “leisure” for that even scarcer.

I will add that relations between priests and laity are sub-optimal in many cases – with laity viewing priests sometimes as competition, at other times with suspicion or resentment, due to the sexual abuse publicity. It’s unfortunate because all priests are affected by that, often unfairly despite living exemplary lives.
 
I am Romanian Orthodox, and no, there are no special prayers you have to say at the beginning or at the end of your confession, as in the Act of Contrition in the Roman Catholic rite.

In the Romanian Orthodox version of confession, the priest sits on a chair while the penitent will kneel in front of him, while the priest will put his stole on the penitent’s head or shoulders. Some priests will actually look at you in the eyes. It’s a as much as you can get a face-to-face confession. The confession itself will start with a blessing, then the priest will usually ask you how long it’s been since your last confession, and then he’ll ask you to tell what you have done wrong before God since then. He will probably ask additional questions related to sins that you have committed, he might also help you with other questions on sins that you might have committed but you forgot or don’t know they;re sins. He will also give advice on how to avoid future occasions of sin, etc. At the end you might, but not always, get a penance which is usually reading some prayers, prostrations, good deeds, reading from the Scripture, or the like. Sometimes, for grave sins like abortion, pre-marital sex, adultery, being enemies with someone and not being willing to fix your conflict, you might not be allowed to go to Communion. Some will ask you, at the end, probably in lieu of the Act of Contrition, if you love God from all of your heart, if you are truly sorry for the sins through which you offended God, and if you are committed to do your best to avoid sinning in the future.
The confession will end with the absolution, which in the Romanian case is close to the Roman Catholic one: something on the lines of " May God, through his love of people, forgive you of all of your sins. And I, the unworthy priest and confessor, with the power entrusted in me, forgive/absolve you of all of your sins in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit." During the absolution the priest will put his hand on your head, then he’ll give you his hand cross to kiss it, and that’s it. 🙂 Hope it helps.

As far as sins go, there is no real difference between venial and mortal sins. However, all that the Roman Catholic Church sees as mortal sin, will be a grave sin
the Orthodox Church. In addition you should confess whatever smaller sins that you can remember. It usually doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done a particular sin. Sure, it’s sometimes important if you do a sin habitually or, it just happens from time to time. The priest will ask you about this.
 
CristinaP said:
I am Romanian Orthodox, and no, there are no special prayers you have to say at the beginning or at the end of your confession, as in the Act of Contrition in the Roman Catholic rite.

In the Romanian Orthodox version of confession, the priest sits on a chair while the penitent will kneel in front of him, while the priest will put his stole on the penitent’s head or shoulders. Some priests will actually look at you in the eyes. It’s a as much as you can get a face-to-face confession. The confession itself will start with a blessing, then the priest will usually ask you how long it’s been since your last confession, and then he’ll ask you to tell what you have done wrong before God since then. He will probably ask additional questions related to sins that you have committed, he might also help you with other questions on sins that you might have committed but you forgot or don’t know they;re sins. He will also give advice on how to avoid future occasions of sin, etc. At the end you might, but not always, get a penance which is usually reading some prayers, prostrations, good deeds, reading from the Scripture, or the like. Sometimes, for grave sins like abortion, pre-marital sex, adultery, being enemies with someone and not being willing to fix your conflict, you might not be allowed to go to Communion. Some will ask you, at the end, probably in lieu of the Act of Contrition, if you love God from all of your heart, if you are truly sorry for the sins through which you offended God, and if you are committed to do your best to avoid sinning in the future.
The confession will end with the absolution, which in the Romanian case is close to the Roman Catholic one: something on the lines of " May God, through his love of people, forgive you of all of your sins. And I, the unworthy priest and confessor, with the power entrusted in me, forgive/absolve you of all of your sins in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit." During the absolution the priest will put his hand on your head, then he’ll give you his hand cross to kiss it, and that’s it. 🙂 Hope it helps.

As far as sins go, there is no real difference between venial and mortal sins. However, all that the Roman Catholic Church sees as mortal sin, will be a grave sin
the Orthodox Church. In addition you should confess whatever smaller sins that you can remember. It usually doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done a particular sin. Sure, it’s sometimes important if you do a sin habitually or, it just happens from time to time. The priest will ask you about this.
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This must take a lot of time. Do you make appointments for confession? I am thinking of making them for myself. There is always a line and I take a long time to confess. I don’t like the pressure of rushing. Welcome to the forum 🙂
I like the idea of getting to know the priest better and him knowing me better. I am Latin rite.
 
Well, it can take from two minutes to half hour, it all depends on the person confessing, the sins they;re confessing, the confessor and how verbose/talkative he is …

There’s usually a certain scheduled time for confessions if it’s during Lent, Nativity Fast, Dormition fast, or the St Apostles fast. Then you don’t have to make an appointment, you just walk in during that time. Though if there’s a lot of people waiting, you’ll sure get the feeling of rushing. Otherwise you’ll have to make an appointment.

And then there are priests and priests, just as in the Latin rite. Some couldn’t care less about confessions and would like to get rid of them and the line as soon as possible, some will go into ridiculous detail …
 
In the Syrian Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox, and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (probably the Syriac Catholics as well, but I am not sure if their Confession Rite has been altered or not), the following is the form, although it varies between priests and locale:

The Sacrament of Repentance
[From sor.cua.edu]

Repentance and remission of sins is one of the seven sacraments of the New Law ordained by our Lord when He breathed on His disciples, saying: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive a man his sins, they shall be forgiven to him; and if you withhold forgiveness of a man’s sins, they are kept. (John 20:22-23)”

This sacrament was ordained of our Lord in the form of a law, giving power and authority to His ministers to declare and pronounce absolution to the faithful who confess and repent of sins willingly committed after baptism.

The faithful repenter should consider the many sins which he or she committed and must truly and earnestly repent of them. One should then confess them to the priest without concealing or hiding them and, consequently, accept the canonical penalty.

General Exhortations
  1. The priest should be well acquainted with the divine as well as the ecclesiastical laws that he may be able to determine whether or not this repenter is worthy of absolution. Consequently, the priest, in the likeness of a spiritual physician, should treat the faithful penitent and take great care for his or her soul’s health.
  2. The priest should take great heed never to reveal anything of the penitent’s confession, but rather keep it secret even until death.
  3. Whenever the priest is called to make confession to some faithful repenters, he must show himself always ready to respond to the call and to earnestly beseech the Lord that he may be assisted to fulfill his service fittingly and piously.
  4. The confession ought to be made only in church. The priest wears a stole around his neck and sits on a chair which must be put in a special place so as to be seen by the congregation. However, on account of sickness, or for any other compelling reason, the priest is allowed to go to the sick person’s home who wishes to make confession, but is unable to go to church. While the penitent is making confession, the priest must be sitting in a special place where he may be seen by those who are present.
  5. If the priest finds out that the penitent is not acquainted with the fundamental truths of the Church, then he must try to enlighten and instruct the person with such truths at the time of confession, but if it would be impossible, then he must do so at a more convenient opportunity.
  6. If it may happen that, by reason of extremity of sickness or by any other impediment, one of the faithful is deprived of the power of speech and is unable to make confession except by making gestures to indicate his or her sins, the priest should grant the individual absolution.
Prayer of Repentance

Have mercy upon me, O Almighty Father, You do we praise and do we bless. You do we worship, humbly kneeling, that You should show us Your great mercy. O Christ, Fountain of mercy, show me Your compassion on the day of judgment as You did to the thief on the Cross, the publican and the woman taken in iniquity. Amen.

Prayer Before Confession

O God, Who does not will the death of the sinner, but rather that he repent and live, I confess before You that I have sinned before heaven and in Your sight, while enjoying Your great goodness. By this ungratefulness have I fallen from the estate of sons and am no more worthy to be called a son of Your grace. Make me, O Father, as one of thy hired servants. But blot out my transgressions in Your mercy. Cleanse me from my sin. O Merciful Father, turn Your face from my sins and look not upon my iniquities. Cast me not from before Your face, O Gracious Lord. Rebuke me not in Your anger, but listen to the voice of my sorrow, O Lord, and look upon my tears. May they wash me clean in Your sight, O God, for I do repent most humbly and am heartily sorry for all that I have done wrong. Moreover, I have determined not to return to the hateful paths of sin again. Receive my confession and help me in Your mercy and grace to live a life that brings Your glory and praise. Amen.

Prayer Upon Confession of Sin Before the Priest

I confess to God the Father Almighty, and to His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, in the presence of our Lady the Virgin, ever sacred in her virginity, and all the holy angels, of Michael, of Gabriel, both chief of angels, and St. John the Baptist, of the holy apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, the twenty-four prophets, the twelve apostles, the four evangelists and the seventy-two sent forth.

I confess the holy faith of the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus in the most noble priesthood ascribed unto You, Father Priest, by which You loose and bind.
 
I have sinned through all my senses, both inwardly and outwardly, in word, in deed and in thought. My sin is great, very great, and I repent of it most sincerely, purposing not to fall again into the same ever, preferring death rather than embrace sin. And I ask you, by the authority of the sacred priesthood, that you absolve me and forgive, asking God to pardon me through His grace. Amen.

Prayer of Absolution for the Laity

The priest lays his right hand on the head of the penitent and says:
May God have mercy upon you, and may He guide you to everlasting life through the authority of priesthood which was entrusted by our Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples who, in turn, entrusted it to their successors until it was given me; I who am weak and sinful, absolve you, brother (sister) of all the sins that you have confessed and are repentant of them, as wellas of all the transgressions which have escaped your memory in the Name of the Father +, amen, and of the Son +, amen and of the Holy Spirit + for everlasting life. Amen.

Prayer of Absolution for the Clergy

May God, Who blessed his holy disciples, bless you. May He preserve you from all evil deeds and perfect you in the gracious ones that you may be the keeper of His commandments and the fulfiller of His laws. May He make you a chosen vessel that is fit for the service of His glory. May you enjoy peace in Him, and may He be pleased with you and according to His Good Will, may you be blessed, absolved and consecrated, in the Name of the Father +, amen, and of the Son +, amen and of the Holy Spirit + for everlasting life. Amen.

Prayer After Confession

O Lord Jesus Christ, our great Physician, and Fount of mercy, behold me now in Your presence, the blind to receive sight within from You, to behealed of all my sickness and to be made rich in my poverty. I believe that You have accepted my confession and are pleased to acknowledge my supplications; that You have forgiven me and cleansed me from my sin. Ever do I render thanks to You, O Lord, and Your praise is at all times upon my lips, in accordance with the multitude of Your loving kindnesses. I beseech You, by Your grace, to confirm me in my purpose and promise that I may never return unto sin; and to grant me triumph over all my temptations that I may love You alone upon earth, and my spirit may be exalted in Your praise until that day when I shall see You in Your heaven above for ever more. Amen.

Prayer Before Receiving the Holy Eucharist

O Bread coming down from heaven to nourish everyone, grant that I may partake of You in all pure desire, adoration and godly fear. O happy Wine of Life, may I be intoxicated by Your love. O You Who did cry, saying: “Whosoever is athirst let him come to Me and drink,” behold my soul in thirst has come to You to be satisfied by the Water of Life. O God, I am not worthy that You should come into my heart. Speak a word to heal my soul which is athirst for You even more than the thirst of the deer to the streams of water, O Cup of Blessing and Salvation. O Heavenly Manna and Bread of Life, dwell in me forever more. Amen.

Prayer After Receiving the Holy Eucharist

With what tongues shall I utter Your praise, O God, most high and greatly to be praised, for this Your wondrous grace. It passes all telling; forYou have even been pleased to give of Yourself to Your servant for nourishment; and have rejoiced his heart with the wine of Your sacrifice. You have sanctified me by Your Spirit, and have satisfied my hunger from out of the bounty of Your house. My heart is Your perpetual dwelling place that You may preside over all my faculties and my desires, controlling them as You will. And I beseech You that this my Communion increase my faith and strengthen my trust in You that it rekindle the fire of Your love within me, causing me to grow in every virtue; that it be a weapon to shield me from all the tricks of the enemy of my soul until I become one with You in that life above where You are with all saints, so that I may join in the chorus of praise and adoration to Your Father and Your Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
 
CristinaP said:
Sometimes, for grave sins like abortion, pre-marital sex, adultery, being enemies with someone and not being willing to fix your conflict, you might not be allowed to go to Communion.
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Wow. That could be a lot of people in the Latin rite – esp. the part about enemies. Lots of people not going to Communion! Hmmm.
As far as sins go, there is no real difference between venial and mortal sins.
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I really like that part, because that’s the way I actually feel. Sin is sin. If it’s not a sin, it’s a fault, and need not be confessed, but i.m.o. the vast majority of sins should be confessed, and I hate the distinction between venial and mortal. I think it’s artificial.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
Wow. That could be a lot of people in the Latin rite – esp. the part about enemies. Lots of people not going to Communion! Hmmm.
.
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Well, again, it depends. If it’s been a long conflict and you show no remorse, nor any will to fix it, then the priest might decide it’s time for you to refrain from Communion until you change your mind. But if you have done your best to make amends, but the other side of the conflict does not want to forgive you, then the situation is different. The key here is to ask for forgiveness from the one with whom you’re in conflict with.
 
Thanks, Cristina.

I’ll ask more about this in confession. (It’s not so cut and dried)
 
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