This post is for Orthodox Christians:
What is the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Orthodox Church?
It varies from place to place.
In general, your parish priest is your father confessor, and if you have another (which is fine) you are obligated to tell him who, so that is aware why he’s seeing you at Holy Communion, but not at Confession. There are spiritual guides who are not priests who hear confessions (this was very common in Russia when the Czars tried to compromise the Church, If you read “The Way of a Pilgrim,” and the Russian novels, you’ll get an idea of this). These Elders, and even Mothers, direct the person to the priest to receive absolution, as only a priest can declare it.
In general, an hieromonk does not hear women’s confessions. And a priest’s family, in PARTICULAR his wife, must go to another priest to confess.
Traditionally, the priest does not say “I absolve you” (in has been inserted in some areas). There is a prayer during confession which the priest says "I have no power to forgive sins, but God alone, but by that divine word which Christ spoke to the Apostles “Receive the Holy Spirit, those whose sins you forgive…I declare to you…”
“O Lord our God, who didst remit the sins of Peter and the harlot through their tears, and didst justify the Publican who acknowledged his iniquities: Accept Thou the confession of Thy servant N., and overlook his (her) sins whether voluntary or involuntary, by word or by deed, or thought. Forgive him, O Thou art good and lovest mankind, for Thou alone hast power to remit sins, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”
“God it was who forgave David through Nathan the Prophet, when he confessed his sins, and Peter weeping bitterly for his denial, and the sinful woman in tears at His feet, and the Publican, and the Prodigal Son: May that same God forgive thee all things, through me a sinner, both in this present world and in that which is to come, and set thee uncondemned before His fearful Judgment Seat. And now, having no further care for the sins which thouhast declared, depart in peace.”
Is there a weekly scheduled time like in the Roman Catholic side? Is confession frequented like Catholics do?
It varies. Some do every week. It’s a general rule one should at least confess every Lent (there’s 4 a year). The most common time is before or after Saturday Vespers, which is the beginning of Sunday.
The last day of Cheesefare Week (our version of Fat Tuesday) is called “Forgiveness Sunday”, indicating the desire for God’s forgiveness that lies at the heart of Great Lent. At Vespers on Sunday evening, all the people ask forgiveness of one another, and thus Great Lent begins. At our Church, and all that I know, that means everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest senior, an includes the clergy. Another name for Forgiveness Sunday is “Cheesefare Sunday,” because for devout Orthodox Christians, it is the last day on which dairy products may be consumed until Pascha. Fish, wine, and olive oil will also be forbidden on most days of Great Lent. The day following Cheesefare Sunday is called Clean Monday, because everyone has confessed their sins, asked forgiveness, and begun Great Lent with a clean slate. The Greeks traditionally fly kites that day.
ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=7
There’s a general tradition of asking forgiveness whenever you are preparing for confession of your family etc.
There’s a canon of repentence and other spiritual guides, how to examine your conscience by the 10 Commandments and Beatitudes. Psalm 50 (51) plays a prominent role.
It’s expected (I’m not sure mandatory, but close) to commune at the following DL. Some traditions only commune after confession.
I am curious because my uncle says at his Greek Orthodox church people never really go to confession and there is certainly no regularity like in the Catholic Church.
It varies. No, it’s not as regulated. Whether if you don’t show up or not for a while if the priest would ask, I don’t know. I’ve not tested it.
I assume that most confess at least once a year. As Lent rolls on you see more and more people. At my old Church, there was a book you signed after going during Lent. The parish rolls were taken from it.
I was just not sure if it was based on individual parishes or if there was some kind of universal practice concerning confession. This mainly comes to mind because I felt it a shame that the people of my uncle’s church were missing out on utilizing such a wonderful Sacrament.
Varies by tradition, parish, priest and person. There are general guidelines and practices, but in general we don’t find confession is a one size fits all thing.
For some more:
goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8493.asp
orthodoxwiki.org/Confession
I have to go for some quality time with my sons. I’ll try to return.
Pax.
Perhaps, especially so.