Questions for Eastern Orthodox on how to help Greek Orthodox friend

[coop13]

hello I have a quick question for the EO members and ECs as well. my best friend is Greek Orthodox. we have had many discussions on the differences between our faiths mainly because as I was converting I began to study and share. of course the major differences that separate our faiths came up but some of his beliefs were shocking that I don’t think follow traditional Orthodoxy.
– he sometimes attends mass with me because the closest orthodox church in our college town is many miles away and he does not have a car. some times I would not go up to receive communion due to not having been to confession for a while. he finds this odd because he says confession is not necessary before receiving. I can understand the eastern orthodox not making confession obligatory in a lawful sense as catholics have a much more legalistic system. however, he says its not necessary because he has only been once and that was as a child for first confession. he hated it and felt so guilty that he has never gone back and says he can just ask for forgiveness from God and say prayers and cross himself and all is well and come Sunday he can go up and receive the Eucharist. Don’t the orthodox churches teach the necessity of asking God for forgiveness as well as going to confession? I’m sure I have read that somewhere. If anyone could show me sites that would be helpful to reprove him and show him what his church truly teaches. especially with great lent arriving soon I want him to come to a fuller realization of the mercy of God and why the sacrament is so important to the life of Christians.

Sorry that this went quite a bit longer than I thought but any help would be gratefully appreciated

 

[Hesychios]

Don’t the orthodox churches teach the necessity of asking God for forgiveness as well as going to confession?

Yes.

Personal prayer may mediate in some circumstances, but there is no assurance that this private personal pleading is efficacious. The primary means provided for us is the sacrament. Avoiding confession simply because it makes one uncomfortable is an abuse, the sacrament is there for him to use and properly done assures him forgiveness.

Now, if he thinks that he knows better than anyone else and has committed no serious sin, he is making himself his own judge (which he is not) and not availing himself of the aid of spiritual direction which contact with a regular confessor can provide. This is dangerous, but millions of others Catholic and Orthodox alike, are probably doing likewise.

The very act of receiving the Holy Eucharist can also be a means of obtaining forgiveness (this was once explained to me by an Eastern Catholic priest, of all people), but this does not replace the obvious necessity of a good confession. Normally, people who have not had a recent confession will avoid potentially profaning the sacrament by refraining from presenting themselves until they have rectified the situation.

Your friend must have been raised in a rather large parish. Ordinarily confession is not anonymous and one receives the Eucharist by name. If he has not presented himself for confession after a few weeks (not sure how long) the proper response of the priest should be to refuse to commune him.

I have noticed that at rather large parishes with several priests (such as cathedrals and some neighborhood parishes) it is more common to take the potential communicant ‘at his word’ so to say, and give the Holy Eucharist to all who present themselves. I suppose the priest is assuming that the person confessed to some other priest.

But normally the priest should know whether or not he has seen one recently at vespers and for confession, and often also know our names (as well as something about our lives).

Here is a link to the Greek Orthodox website.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Until relatively recently in the Greek Churches, and still to this day in the Church of Greece (Greek Orthodox in the USA are mostly under the Ecumenical Patriarchate), not every parish priest had faculties to hear confessions, or, for that matter, preach sermons of his own composition.

Instead, there would be visiting confessors, travelling from church to church or village to village.

Not everyone had an opportunity to go to confession, so they would prepare for communion by several days of strict fasting.

In the Russian Church, the rule about confession is as strict as most Roman Catholics, especially once upon a time. Some priests require a confession before EVERY communion, even if one goes to confession two days running.

 

[coop13]

thank you for your replies.

Your friend must have been raised in a rather large parish. Ordinarily confession is not anonymous and one receives the Eucharist by name. If he has not presented himself for confession after a few weeks (not sure how long) the proper response of the priest should be to refuse to commune him.

yes this is what I was most worried about with him. because in our home town his parish is very small. maybe 100 total members I would guess. he told me once that the priest gives communion to the faithful by their saint names and from what he has told me the priest knows his family pretty well. so now im not too sure what to tell him. but thank you Hesychios for the information. I will read through the website to find stuff for him to read.

Until relatively recently in the Greek Churches, and still to this day in the Church of Greece (Greek Orthodox in the USA are mostly under the Ecumenical Patriarchate), not every parish priest had faculties to hear confessions, or, for that matter, preach sermons of his own composition.

this could also be it but I doubt it. of course ive only been to his parish 4 or 5 times and only inside once (greek festivals )

In the Russian Church, the rule about confession is as strict as most Roman Catholics, especially once upon a time. Some priests require a confession before EVERY communion, even if one goes to confession two days running.

now this is interesting. learn something new everyday eh?

again thanks for your replies

 

[mardukm]

I can understand the eastern orthodox not making confession obligatory in a lawful sense as catholics have a much more legalistic system.

Speaking for my own Coptic Orthodox Tradition (which is Oriental, not Eastern, Orthodox), though it is true that Orthodoxy in general (Oriental and Eastern) has a less legalistic view towards most everything than the Western Church (though I’ve often wondered if the term “legalistic” is not a polemic misnomer in this instance, since Oriental and Eastern Orthodox are bound by ecclesiastical canons just as much as the Western Church), if there was anything that could be said to be “obligatory” as far as our actions are concerned, then it is the obligation to go to confession before Mass or Divine Liturgy. Penitential prayers abound in the Coptic Liturgy, demonstrating (partly) the importance of that Sacrament to a Coptic Orthodox Christian.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Tradycja]

In the Russian Church,

I know for a fact that in Moscow and Petersburg in Russia the Orthodox priest will question every communicant before he gives him communion of whether he went to confession or not. Some will even ask if they have gone to confession and recited the Canon of Holy Communion and fasted. I also know of a Greek Catholic priest convert from Orthodox who keeps this practice (I don’t really think he should, but what can you do?)

Therefore, what this original poster describes with his Orthodox friend sounds strange. Orthodox are generally stricter with preparation before communion I have found because they have not had Sacra Tridentina ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWFREQ.HTM which settled the issue in the Catholic Church. But who knows maybe Eastern Orthodoxy in the States is a different situation altogether.

 

[Madaglan]

I know for a fact that in Moscow and Petersburg in Russia the Orthodox priest will question every communicant before he gives him communion of whether he went to confession or not. Some will even ask if they have gone to confession and recited the Canon of Holy Communion and fasted. I also know of a Greek Catholic priest convert from Orthodox who keeps this practice (I don’t really think he should, but what can you do?)

Therefore, what this original poster describes with his Orthodox friend sounds strange. Orthodox are generally stricter with preparation before communion I have found because they have not had Sacra Tridentina ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWFREQ.HTM which settled the issue in the Catholic Church. But who knows maybe Eastern Orthodoxy in the States is a different situation altogether.

The spirit of Sacra Tridentina as regards frequent communion has been advocated over the centuries by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and saints like him, up to present times with men like Fr. Alexander Schmemann.

 

[Nine_Two]

According to the instructions I’ve received from my priest is a bare minimum of once a year for confession. If he is taking communion outside of an Orthodox Church (You never said, just stated he was attending), he would certainly need confession after that.

 

[josephdaniel29]

According to the instructions I’ve received from my priest is a bare minimum of once a year for confession. If he is taking communion outside of an Orthodox Church (You never said, just stated he was attending), he would certainly need confession after that.

I think you hit on the most important point. How frequent a person goes to confession should be worked out with one’s spiritual father. He can discern what your personal needs are.

Yours in Christ
Joe