Orthodox Confession (The Sacrament of Repentance)

Confession is one of the seven Holy Mysteries of the Orthodox Church. In Greek, the sacrament is called Metanoia, which means a turning of the mind, a fundamental reorientation. It is not primarily a transactional cleansing of sins. It is the practice of returning to God after we have wandered, with the help of the Church, the prayers of the priest, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

If you are an inquirer, a catechumen, or a long-time Orthodox Christian needing to know how confession is celebrated at St. Michael, this page is for you.

What Confession Actually Is

In the Orthodox understanding, sin is not primarily a violation of a rule. Sin is whatever separates us from God, from our true selves, and from one another. Confession is the practice of acknowledging that separation, asking for healing, and receiving the assurance of God’s forgiveness through the priest.

The priest does not forgive sins by his own authority. Christ forgives sins. The priest is a witness to the confession and a minister of the prayer of absolution that has been given to the Church. He hears your confession, often offers counsel and guidance, and prays the prayer that calls upon the grace already present in the Church.

The Orthodox understanding emphasizes:

• Sin as illness, not crime. The Greek Fathers describe the soul as wounded by sin and the priest as a kind of physician. Confession is medicine.
• The priest as helper, not judge. The priest stands beside you, both of you facing the icons and the cross. He is not interrogating you. He is praying with you.
• Absolution as healing, not pardon. The prayer of absolution is a prayer that you may be reconciled and restored, not a legal pardon from a magistrate.
• The seal of confession is absolute. What you confess remains between you, the priest, and God. The priest cannot share it. Not with your spouse, your parents, the parish council, the bishop. Not under any circumstances.

How Orthodox Confession Differs from Catholic Confession

Many Americans associate confession with the Roman Catholic experience: confession booth, screen, Hail Marys as penance. The Orthodox practice is different in form and tone.

Element	Roman Catholic	Orthodox
Setting	Confessional booth or face-to-face	Open in the temple, before the icons and cross
Posture	Kneeling, anonymous	Standing or sitting beside the priest, named
Tone	More legal/transactional	More pastoral/medical
Penance	Specific prayers or acts	Often counsel and a return to deeper practice
Frequency	At least once a year (canonical minimum)	Varies; many Orthodox confess monthly to quarterly
Privacy	Anonymous through screen	Personal, no anonymity, but sealed
Absolution	Priest pronounces “I absolve you”	Priest prays a prayer asking God to forgive

Both traditions take the sacrament seriously. The forms reflect different historical and spiritual emphases.

When Confession Happens at St. Michael

Sundays from 9:30 AM. The hours and confessions are celebrated before the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy. If you wish to confess on a Sunday, arrive by 9:30 AM, find Fr. Stephen, and ask if there is time before Liturgy. Some Sundays are busier than others; if there are several waiting, your confession may be brief.

During Great Lent. Confessions are particularly emphasized during Great Lent (the 40 days before Pascha). Fr. Stephen typically extends his available hours during this season. Most parishioners aim to make at least one confession during Lent.

Before major feasts. Many parishioners confess before Pascha, Nativity, Theophany, or other significant occasions in their lives.

By appointment. If you need a longer or quieter confession (for example, your first confession after a long absence, or for difficult matters that need time), schedule with Fr. Stephen by phone or email. Phone: 727-777-4450. He will make time outside the Sunday window.

How to Prepare

You do not need to prepare elaborately every time. But for a meaningful confession, especially the first or one after a long absence, take some time.

Examine your conscience. Sit quietly. Look honestly at your life since your last confession (or since you began to take your spiritual life seriously). What separates you from God? From others? From yourself? Be specific without being obsessive. The goal is honesty, not exhaustive cataloging.

Use a tool if helpful. Many find guides like the Ten Commandments examination, the Beatitudes examination, or the Seven Deadly Sins (also called the eight passions) useful as starting points. Several Orthodox prayer books include “preparations for confession” that walk through each.

Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you need to see. Pray the prayer of St. Ephraim (used during Great Lent) or any prayer of repentance you know.

Come ready to speak. You do not need to give a perfect speech. But you should come with at least an outline in your mind. Confession is not the time to figure out what you want to say from scratch.

What to Say

Approach Fr. Stephen and say “Bless me, Father, I have come to confess my sins.” Or simply “I am ready to confess.” He will guide you. Stand or sit beside him.

Then speak. Tell him what is on your heart. Be specific where specifics help; be general where details would only burden. Examples:

• “I have been short with my children and impatient at work.”
• “I have struggled with anger toward my father and have not prayed for him.”
• “I have spent too much time on my phone and neglected prayer.”
• “I have lied to my spouse about how much I drank last week.”
• “I have committed [a specific serious sin] and have been carrying it for months.”

Fr. Stephen may ask clarifying questions. He may offer a brief word of counsel. He may suggest a specific practice or reading. Then he will pray the prayer of absolution.

It does not need to be long. A typical confession is 5 to 10 minutes. Some are shorter. Some, especially first confessions or confessions of difficult matters, are longer.

After Confession

You return to your place. The next person comes (if there are others waiting). You stand for the Divine Liturgy. When you receive Holy Communion, you do so with the assurance that what was confessed has been forgiven, the wound has been touched by Christ’s healing, and you are restored to the community of the Church.

Confession does not erase consequences. If you stole, you may still need to make restitution. If you wronged a person, you may still need to seek their forgiveness. Confession reconciles you to God. The work of reconciliation with others is yours to do.

How Often to Confess

There is no canonical minimum at our parish. Some parishioners confess weekly. Most confess monthly or every few months. Some confess only at the great fasts (Great Lent, Apostles, Dormition, Nativity).

If it has been more than a year since your last confession, or if you are carrying something heavy, please come. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes. The Church does not want you carrying spiritual weight that you do not need to carry.

For Catechumens

If you are a catechumen, you do not yet receive the sacrament of Confession. But Fr. Stephen will have spiritual conversations with you that function similarly: a private setting, an honest sharing of your struggles, a word of counsel and prayer. These prepare you for sacramental confession after your reception.

For Visitors and Inquirers

If you are a non-Orthodox visitor or inquirer, you do not approach for the sacrament of Confession. The sacrament is for those in full communion with the Orthodox Church. But if you have questions about confession or spiritual matters, talk with Fr. Stephen after Liturgy or by appointment. He is happy to listen, even when the formal sacrament is not yet possible.

Plan a Confession

Sunday confessions: 9:30 AM before the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy.

By appointment: phone 727-777-4450 or email through the contact form.

Address: 9201 60th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782.

Read about Holy Communion and becoming Orthodox for the surrounding context. Christ is in our midst.