Holy Confession

Sin After Baptism

Holy Baptism washes away original sin and all personal sins committed before that moment. But human beings continue to sin after Baptism. We are weak, prone to the passions, influenced by the fallen world and the enemy of our souls. What provision has God made for sin committed after Baptism? The answer is the sacrament of Holy Confession — called by the ancient Church the "second baptism" or the "sacrament of repentance."

Confession is not a Catholic invention or a medieval development. Its roots go directly to Christ: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld" (John 20:22-23). Christ explicitly gave His Apostles the authority to forgive sins in His name. This authority, transmitted through the apostolic succession, is exercised by Orthodox priests in the sacrament of Confession.

Confession as Healing, Not Trial

The Orthodox understanding of Confession is fundamentally medical rather than legal. The sinner is not a defendant before a divine judge seeking acquittal — the sinner is a patient before the divine Physician seeking healing. Christ is the true Physician of souls, and the priest stands beside the penitent as a witness and a guide, not as a judge. This is why, in the Orthodox service of Confession, the priest begins: "Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession. Therefore, do not be ashamed or afraid, but tell me without concealment everything that you have done, so that you may receive forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ."

True Repentance: Metanoia

The Greek word for repentance is metanoia — literally, a change of mind, a turning around, a complete reorientation of the whole person toward God. True repentance is not merely feeling guilty (that is contrition) or apologizing (that is regret) — it is actually turning away from the sin and toward God. The prodigal son did not merely feel bad in the pig pen — he "arose and went to his father" (Luke 15:20). The movement is essential.

The Orthodox spiritual tradition teaches that repentance is not a single event but a continuous orientation of the soul — an ongoing conversion that deepens throughout the entire Christian life. Every prayer of the Jesus Prayer contains an act of repentance: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The Christian life is not the life of someone who has repented once but of someone who is always repenting, always returning, always drawing closer to God.

How to Prepare for Confession

Preparation for Confession involves prayerful, honest self-examination — looking at one's life in the light of the Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the works of mercy, and identifying what is broken and in need of healing. The goal is not an exhaustive audit of every minor fault but a sincere, honest encounter with God about the state of the soul. Many find it helpful to write things down beforehand so nothing is forgotten in the emotional intensity of the moment.

Speak with your priest about how often to confess. Orthodox Christians are generally expected to confess at minimum during each of the four major fasting seasons, and more often if conscience requires it. Before receiving Holy Communion when one has fallen into serious sin, Confession is essential. The goal is not to confess as rarely as required but as often as the soul truly needs.