How to Make Confession in the Greek Orthodox Church

Whether you are a penitent or a clergyman, knowing how to make confession in the Greek Orthodox Church is important. The frequency of confession varies among jurisdictions, parishes, priests, and penitents. Epitimia, or the confession of one’s sins, is a prescription for spiritual healing.

Patriarch John IV of Constantinople was the compiler of the service order for confession

During the eighth century, there was a great deal of schism within the Church. It was not due to a lack of bishops, but to the rivalry brought to Constantinople by western ambassadors. These western ambassadors sought to establish political and commercial influences on the Christians of the East, especially in Bulgaria. They hoped to obtain support from Eastern Orthodox bishops. In the end, these rivalries only further complicated the situation for Christians.

The Eighth Ecumenical Council was supposed to have ended the matter of rival patriarchs. However, it was not mandatory. In the end, all the bishops were invited to the council. The council rejected canons proposed by Rome. The canons were intended to counter Alexandria’s ambitions in the East. They would raise the rank of the patriarchate of Constantinople over older Eastern patriarchates.

Many of the great Eastern fathers were still in communion with the West. They could not have been ignorant of the Latin customs of the time. However, they continued to doubt the validity of Stephen of Constantinople’s consecration as patriarch.

Frequency of confession varies by jurisdiction, parish, priest, and penitent

During a confession, the penitent is asked to confess his or her sins to the priest. The priest may also suggest a penance. Some parishes allow the penitent to choose whether or not to receive absolution alone. In other cases, the penitent is required to make a confession before receiving communion.

Although there is no definitive number of times a penitent should make a confession, many pastors and priests recommend frequent confession as a way to grow in holiness. The frequency of confession varies widely by jurisdiction, parish, priest, and penitent.

The scriptures mention several kinds of confession. Some refer to prayerful confession, the other to general acknowledging of wrongdoing. The Bible also mentions confession as one of the ways of obtaining forgiveness.

While the sacrament of penance is not an absolute, the Church has always had the practice of secret sacramental confession. In fact, it has been used by the Church for thousands of years. Although not a divine command, it is not a scam and has always been approved by ancient Fathers.

Epitimia is a necessary prescription for spiritual healing

Unlike the rest of the Orthodox world, the Greek Orthodox Church has yet to figure out how to properly dispense “epitimia”, the elusive and elusive ode to the Lord thou art most high and mighty. Despite the baffling nature of this practice, the Church is still very much alive and well, even if not quite as vigorous as it once was.

There are several reasons for this. One of the more important is that the orthodox church has been able to hone its message to a fine point, a point that cannot be overstated. As such, it is imperative that all of its clergy be cognizant of their roles in advancing the gospel of Christ and restoring the Faith. In the process, they will learn to recognize and accept the epitimia of the faithful.

Epitimia is not the only way to cure sin. Other modalities include peritrachelion, the use of special fasting and alms to the needy. It is the use of these methods, and a bit of piety on the part of the patient that will reap the rewards.

Fr Kristian is available for confession on weekdays and without appointment on Saturday mornings

Those who are Orthodox are required to make Sacramental Confession at least once a year. However, it is not mandatory to attend confession if you do not have a grievous sin. Some people, however, come to Confession for spiritual development. They also come for a private chat with the priest.

When a penitent goes to Confession, the priest listens to him or her and gives a prayer of absolution. He or she is usually taken before the icon of Christ, although some churches use an icon in the narthex.

The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion, which is found in the Orthodox prayer book, includes a series of beautiful prayers, hymns, and canons. The book is available in many different languages.

A good rule of thumb is to make sacramental confession once a month. There are also some variations in the OCA confession schedule. For example, some priests offer confession before the Sunday morning liturgy, while others offer it only during Matins.