Confession FAQ

If you are a member of another Orthodox parish, please make sure to get a blessing from your parish priest to confess outside of your usual community. It is also helpful to contact the parish priest a St. Mary's in advance so he may expect you.

Confession properly understood is a Sacrament of the Orthodox Church for those who have already been baptized and received into the Church who continue to repent of their sins. As appropriate a confession is followed by penance and the prayer of absolution. It is also part of the preparation for baptism and reception, in which case the prayer of absolution not done until the reception takes place. If you are not a member of the Orthodox Church, you may offer confession and receive guidance, but that will certainly include entering upon a journey to Orthodoxy. For more information visit our Adult Catechism page.

A penance may be an act of contrition or restitution given by a confessor to a penitent to complete before the prayer of Absolution is said. This is in the spirit of the Lord’s command, “What sins you retain are retained” (Jn. 20:23). The Confessor retains the right to withhold absolution if he deems a penance is in order, for the salvation of the penitent. This is an expression of care for the soul, not judgment, just as a doctor may not discharge a patient until their condition improves. A typical penance might include a brief period of refraining from communion while the penitent resolves a spiritual issue such as seeking or offering forgiveness to another party with whom there has been a problem (c.f. Mt. 6:14). A person who has been away from church for an extended time by their own choice will need to come to confession before being able to receive communion.

Confession is the least formal of the sacraments. Typically, confessions are heard in the vestry room on the right side of the altar for the sake of privacy. The priest will welcome you in and begin by praying to the Lord and instructing you not to fear or be embarrassed. For guidance on how to make a good confession, visit our Adult Catechism class on confession. After appropriate guidance (which may include penance, see below) is given, the penitent may receive the prayer of absolution by bowing their head towards the Gospel book. The priest places the end of his epitrachelion (stole) over their head and offers the prayer on their behalf.

On a regular basis we offer a Group prayer and examination of conscience based on the writings of holy people. These are very thorough and cover many things we may not even consider afflict us. At the end of the examination, the faithful present are invited to offer this examination as their own confession and to approach individually to receive absolution. This practice is offered in anticipation of major feasts on which there are many penitents coming to confession. It is not a substitute for an individual private confession, especially for serious sins not included in the examination of conscience, or for those under penance or those who have been out of communion for a sustained period. The confessor reserves the authority to ask a penitent to schedule a private confession.

This determination should always be made in conversation with your confessor. We encourage the faithful to make their individual personal confessions at minimum during the four fasting periods during the year (Great Lent, Apostles Fast, Dormition Fast and Nativity Fast) but also recommend making confession a regular part of preparation for each of the major feasts. This works out to about every six weeks if you follow the liturgical calendar.