Form of Absolution in the Melkite Church

[Tradycja]

I went to confession today in the Melkite Church. I noticed the form of absolution sounded different than the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (which I normally go to for confession).

Does anyone know where I can find the text of the form of absolution in the Melkite Church and that of the Ukrainian Church? I would like to compare the two.

How many different forms of absolution exist among the Churches that follow the Byzantine rite?

Also, I know that this a a very “Latin” question but what part of the absolution formula is considered the equivalent of the West’s “I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Also, I know that this a a very “Latin” question but what part of the absolution formula is considered the equivalent of the West’s “I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.

While for historical reasons, Eastern Catholics have had to explain their faith and practice in terms of Latin norms, looking for equivalents and one-to-one correspondences, Orthodox as a whole have never felt any need to do so.

And more and more Eastern Catholics, especially Melkites do not either.

So there is your answer.

 

[antgaria]

I am not a Melkite, so I am not sure about this…

From the Melkite Bishop John Elya’s Q&A site, I found this specific question:

Priest: Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, who gave this command to His divine and holy disciples and apostles; to loose and to bind the sins of people, forgives you from on high, all your sins and offenses. I, his unworthy servant, who have received from these Apostles the power to do the same, absolve you from all censures, in as much as I can and am able, according to your need of it. Moreover, I absolve you from all your sins which you have confessed before God and my unworthiness. In the name + of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And the priest may add the following:

God through Nathan the prophet forgave David his sins; and Peter shedding bitter tears over his denial; and the Adulteress weeping at his feet; and the Publican and the Prodigal Son. May this same God, through me, a sinner, forgive + your everything in this life and in the life to come. And may he make you stand uncondemned before his awesome judgment-seat, for his blessed forever and ever. Amen. (Byzantine Melkite Euchologion - St. Paul Printing Press, Jounieh, Lebanon, 1977, pp.47-48

The second part is the form of absolution prayer that more closely resembles the Church of the East’s, in that it’s in the “may He …” form. I only agree with H.G. bpbasilphx’s statement to a certain extant. I think that there is plenty of scholarship, East/West, Catholic/Orthodox, which looks at the similarities of the various churches. In terms of the Divine Liturgy, it is interesting to see that all of them share so much in common, while being distinct in their sequences and emphases.

There’s always room for sharing in our uniformity, while celebrating our differences.

 

[bpbasilphx]

God through Nathan the prophet forgave David his sins; and Peter shedding bitter tears over his denial; and the Adulteress weeping at his feet; and the Publican and the Prodigal Son. May this same God, through me, a sinner, forgive + your everything in this life and in the life to come. And may he make you stand uncondemned before his awesome judgment-seat, for his blessed forever and ever. Amen.

This is actually the formula of absolution found in Orthodox books.

 

[Hesychios]

I am not a Melkite, so I am not sure about this…

From the Melkite Bishop John Elya’s Q&A site, I found this specific question:

The second part is the form of absolution prayer that more closely resembles the Church of the East’s, in that it’s in the “may He …” form.

There’s always room for sharing in our uniformity, while celebrating our differences.

Apparently the required part of the Melkite formula, the part recited first, is roughly based upon the Latin formula.

***Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges.

Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

***The old Catholic Encyclopedia maintains of this formula: It was not until the scholastic doctrine of “matter and form” in the sacraments reached its full development that the formula of absolution became fixed as we have it at present .

It goes on to say that the this version of the Latin formula precedes the Council of Florence.

One wonders whether this is also the form used within the patriarchal territory.

 

[system]

I accept with information:While for historical reasons, Eastern Catholics have had to explain their faith and practice in terms of Latin norms, looking for equivalents and one-to-one correspondences, Orthodox as a whole have never felt any need to do so.

 

[melkitemac]

The Sacrament of Holy Penance from the Book of Byzantine Melkite EUCHOLOGION the work of Rt Rev Exarch Joseph Haggar approved and designated for official use in the Melkite Apostolic Eparchate + Joseph Tawil Apostolic Exarch for the Melkites 1967 Page 47

PRIEST: Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Who gave this command to His divine and Holy disciples and apostles: to loose and to bind the sins of men, forgives you from on high, ll your sins and offenses. I, his unworthy servant, who have received from these Apostles the power to do the same, absolve you from all censures, in as much as I can and ajm able, according to your need of it. Moreover, I absolve you from all your sins which you have confessed before God and my unworthiness. In the name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And the priest may add the following:

God through Nathan the prophet forgave David his sins; and Peter shedding bitter tears over his denial; and the Adulteress weeping at his feet; and the Publican and the Prodigalo Son. May this same God, through me, a sinner, forgive + you everything in this life and in the life to come. And may he make you stand uncondemned before his awesome judgment-seat, for he is blessed forever and ever. Amen.

The following From Archbishop Joseph Raya’s book “Byzantine Daily Worship:”
(page 932)

The Lord God through Nathan the Prophet forgave David his sin, and the adulteress weeping at his feet, and Peter shedding bitter tears for his betrayal, and the Publican and the Prodigal son. May this same Lord and God through me a sinner, forgive you, N., from on high all the sins of your life in this world and in the world to come. And may He make you stand uncondemned at his awesome tribunal for He is blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

And the priest may add the following:

May our Lord and God Jesus-Christ who gave his holy apostles the command to retain or forgive the sins of mankind forgive you, N., from on high all your sins. I, his unworthy servant, who have received from these apostles the mandate to do the same, absolve you from all the sins of your life in the name + of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go in peace and do not be disturbed by the evil you have done.