THE PRIEST'S WORDS OF ABSOLUTION AT GREEK ORTHODOX PRIVATE 
CONFESSION

© 1998 by Orchid Land Publications

[7-6-98]

     Confessing one's sins is essentially private in Orthodoxy; it is made to a priest rather than in the public manner in which a confession of sins occurs in Western services.  A confession of sins is, however, often read by a deacon or reader while the faithful stand in line waiting to receive to holy Communion; this is to focus them on their preparation for receiving the holy Mysteries.    There are no confessional boxes in Orthodox temples.   Non-mysteric (non-sacramental) confession may take place between a monastic and his or her elder.  Some jurisdictions expect a communicant to have attended the Vespers service on the preceding night; there is a service of preparation for the holy Communion.   The priest holds his stole over the bowed head of the penitent during the rite; at Absolution he touches it in places that form a Cross.  Jurisdictions in the Russian and Antiochian tradition use an Absolution form more like the Latin one than what follows.   Here is the precatory form used by priests in the Hellenic tradition:

     My spiritual child, who have made your confession to my humble person:  I,  humble and sinful, have no power to put away sins on earth unless God does it.  But, trusting in the divnely uttered pronouncement that was addressed to the Apostles after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying,  "If you remit the sins of any persons, they are remitted; if you you retain the sins of any persons, they have been retained"--in that import we also boldly say:  As many offences as you have owned up to to my mosst humble lowliness, and as many as you have failed to say either though ignorance or forgetfulness--of whatever kin--may  GOD absolve you both in the present age and in the age to come.

     Then bidding the penitent to kneel, the priest places his tole and hand over the head of the penitent, and touching it in four places in the form of a Cross, says the following Prayer of Absolution:

     May GOD, Who through Nathan the Prophet forgave David when he confessed his sins; and Peter, who wept bitterly over his denial; and the harlot who shed tears on His feet; and the Publican and the Prodigal; may the very same God, through sinful me, absolve you of all transgressions both in the present age and in the age to come; and may He let you stand uncondemned before His dread Judgment Seat.  As for the sins that you have confessed, have no further anxiety about them; go in peace.  
     The Grace of the all-holy Spirit, through me, least of all, has exonerated and forgiven you.   At the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, God, have mercy and save us.   Ameen.