Church life consists not only of attending worship services. This is only a small part of it. A true Christian must engage in spiritual work, for which the Lord established the sacrament of confession. But many are hindered by the usual embarrassment, people are lost in front of an unfamiliar priest. They do not know how to behave, what to say, how to correctly name sins on. Let's figure out how to prepare for this important event whether there are purely “male” and “female” faults, how to repent.
What is confession
The traditional confession of sins exists in the historic churches, Catholic and Orthodox. Some Protestant denominations also practice confession, but do not make it mandatory for everyone who wishes. Most other Christian denominations do not have confession as a sacrament at all. But this tradition is sacredly revered by the Orthodox.
Sometimes, a person just needs to pour out his soul. He does not always want to open up to close people - after all, they can find out something unpleasant for themselves, misunderstand. Confidential communication with strangers is not accepted. How to be in such a case? Believers can come to the temple to repent (this is confession).
How is confession
In order to reconcile with the Lord, to restore the state of peace to the soul, it is necessary to come to the temple and find out at what time the sacrament is held. Time in different temples installed in your own way.
- Cleansing of conscience should not be confused with heartfelt conversation. For her, it is better to appoint a separate time.
- It is necessary to name sins at confession honestly, without hiding anything, but avoiding unnecessary details, especially when it comes to carnal sins.
- Answer the priest's questions briefly and without justification.
- At the end spiritual person read the prayer of permission. After it, the conscience of a Christian is considered as pure as immediately after baptism.
As a rule, most parishioners are allowed to attend the next day, so they combine repentance and bodily fasting. This brings great spiritual fruit.
How to Prepare for Confession
Many do not know what to say in confession. But if you prepare properly, the question will not be so difficult. Everyone understands what sin is - an act committed against God's will breaking His commandments. Christians are also not to harm their neighbors - not only physically, but also morally. Even a bad word that has flown from the mouth in a moment of anger is disgusting. There are people who believe that if they have not robbed anyone, then they have no special sins. This is a deep delusion.
In order not to forget anything, many parishioners make a list of sins. It's not forbidden, but it shouldn't be a copy from someone else's.
What are the sins
Since the first centuries of Christianity, people have tried to understand what is sin and what is not. Spiritual fathers examined the human soul, explained how spiritual degradation occurs. After all, rebellion against the will of God does not happen overnight. First, a person sees something inappropriate, then thoughts arise (“what’s wrong with that”), then desires appear, and only then does a Christian decide to take the first step. That is why you should be very careful about everything in your life.
Many sins can be found in the works of the holy fathers, but in general they fall into two broad categories:
- against the Lord;
- against those around you.
Such a classification was established by Himself, as narrated by the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 22, verses 37-40). If a believer analyzes his actions from the point of view of his attitude towards the Lord and his neighbors, he will not have a question about how to repent. Such difficulties arise only from inattention to one's soul. Such parishioners tend to talk only about unimportant things, avoiding the serious problems that they have in life.
It takes a certain amount of courage to truly repent. After all, if you have recognized the difficulties, you will have to do something to resolve them, start fighting your passions, weaknesses, vices.
List of sins in confession for women
Although people are equal before God, He created them for different purposes. A man is called to be a mentor, a protector, a leader. The woman is responsible for the birth and upbringing of children. Therefore, her sins can be special. The most serious - termination of pregnancy, no matter how long. This is considered in Orthodoxy to be the murder of one's own child, even if there are medical indications. Here are some other sins.
- Dissatisfaction with one's own life, the desire to acquire new clothes and household items (not out of necessity, but to show off to friends);
- Predilection for sweets, special foods;
- Vanity (the desire to receive praise from others, delight in one's own beauty, exhibiting one's photographs);
- Women are especially greedy for gossip, condemnation of others, they seek out sins from their neighbors, condemn their weaknesses;
- Today, unfortunately, many girls drink and smoke on a par with men, do not take care of their health. Destruction of one's own body is also a sin, because it is given by God in order to serve as the abode of the Holy Spirit.
According to the plan, a man is called upon to protect his mother, wife, sister. But they should treat him with respect, be obedient. Modern society imposes the stereotype of a cheeky, frankly dressed and shameless woman, a "hunter" for men. Following this example is also a sin.
List of sins in confession for men
As the famous Orthodox archpriest A. Tkachev advises, you should not look for your sins using long lists consisting of hundreds of sins. Modern life gives each of us new opportunities to sin, today they are associated with the information space, social networks. If you plunge into the search, then a person can “dig up” a lot of sins. This is where the spiritual life of a man can end, because his soul will fall into a state of stupor.
It is impossible for a person on a sinful earth to achieve absolute holiness. Sins can be realized only by being in the light. Reference books do not help in this, you need to pray that he will send grace, let him understand his impurity. It is also impossible to completely consider yourself lost, because God is ready to extend a helping hand to the sinner. Therefore, first of all, one should not look for transgressions, but for the goodness and mercy of the Creator.
To better understand yourself, you can use the following list for men:
- He had doubts about existence, showed little faith.
- looked after married women seduced them.
- He used foul language and verbally abused those around him.
- He drank, drank family money, used drugs, smoked.
- He got into fights, behaved defiantly.
- He behaved inappropriately in the temple, was late for the service, left prematurely.
It is not the goal of a Christian to enumerate absolutely all existing sins. The root of most of them is the same - either lack of faith, or pride or commitment to other passions. Many of them today are not only not considered something shameful, but people compete to sin more (for example, who will drink more or seduce more girls).
The task of a man is to be a support for his wife and an example for children. Many modern fathers of the family tend to avoid their duties, beat their wives, get drunk, neglect the upbringing of their own children. And they visit the church only twice a year, at big holidays or at the christening of one of the relatives. They consider faith in the Lord almost a weakness, they do not want to keep the commandments. Such people should carefully reconsider their lives.
Even if after confession you don’t feel relief, you can’t give up. Sometimes
We publish full list sins to prepare for confession in the Orthodox Church.
The list may not be complete. Read only for church people!
1. She violated the rules of good behavior for those who pray in the holy temple.
2. She had dissatisfaction with her life and people.
3. She performed prayers without zeal and a low bow to the icons, she prayed lying down, sitting (without need, out of laziness).
4. She sought fame and praise in virtues and labors.
5. I was not always content with what I had: I wanted to have beautiful, varied clothes, furniture, delicious food.
6. Annoyed and offended when she received a refusal of her desires.
7. She did not abstain from her husband during pregnancy, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, on fasts, in uncleanness, by agreement, she was with her husband.
8. Sinned with disgust.
9. After committing a sin, she did not repent immediately, but kept it to herself for a long time.
10. She sinned with idle talk, dishonesty. I remembered the words spoken against me by others, I sang shameless worldly songs.
11. She complained about a bad road, about the length and tediousness of the service.
12. I used to save money for a rainy day, as well as for a funeral.
13. She was angry with her loved ones, scolded her children. She did not tolerate remarks from people, fair reproaches, she immediately fought back.
14. She sinned with vanity, asking for praise, saying “you cannot praise yourself, no one will praise you.”
15. The deceased was commemorated with alcohol, on a fast day memorial table was modest.
16. Didn't have a firm determination to give up sin.
17. Doubted the honesty of others.
18. Missed chances to do good.
19. She suffered from pride, did not condemn herself, was not always the first to ask for forgiveness.
20. Allowed spoilage of products.
21. She did not always reverently keep the shrine (artos, water, prosphora spoiled).
22. I sinned for the purpose of “repenting.”
23. She objected, justifying herself, got annoyed at the stupidity, stupidity and ignorance of others, made reprimands and remarks, contradicted, divulged sins and weaknesses.
24. Attributed sins and weaknesses to others.
25. She succumbed to rage: scolded loved ones, insulted her husband and children.
26. Made others angry, irritable, indignant.
27. She sinned by condemning her neighbor, blackened his good name.
28. Sometimes she was despondent, carried her cross with a murmur.
29. Intervened in other people's conversations, interrupted the speaker's speech.
30. She sinned with quarrelsomeness, compared herself with others, complained and became angry at offenders.
31. She thanked people, she did not extend her eyes of gratitude to God.
32. Fell asleep with sinful thoughts and dreams.
33. I noticed bad words and deeds of people.
34. Drank and ate food that was harmful to health.
35. She was embarrassed by the spirit of slander, considered herself better than others.
36. She sinned by indulgence and indulgence in sins, self-complacency, self-indulgence, disrespect for old age, untimely eating, intransigence, inattention to requests.
37. I missed the opportunity to sow the word of God, to bring benefits.
38. She sinned with gluttony, larynx: she loved to eat too much, savor tidbits, and enjoyed drunkenness.
39. She was distracted from prayer, distracted others, emitted bad air in the temple, went out when necessary, without saying it at confession, hastily prepared for confession.
40. She sinned with laziness, idleness, exploited other people's labor, speculated in things, sold icons, did not go to church on Sundays and holidays, was lazy to pray.
41. Hardened towards the poor, did not accept strangers, did not give to the poor, did not clothe the naked.
42. Trusted in man more than in God.
43. Was visiting drunk.
44. I did not send gifts to those who offended me.
45. Was upset at a loss.
46. I fell asleep during the day without need.
47. I was burdened by regrets.
48. I did not protect myself from colds, I was not treated by doctors.
49. Deceived in a word.
50. Exploited someone else's labor.
51. I was despondent in sorrows.
52. She was hypocritical, pleasing to people.
53. Wished evil, was cowardly.
54. Was inventive for evil.
55. Was rude, not condescending to others.
56. I did not force myself to do good deeds, to pray.
57. Angered the authorities at rallies.
58. Reduced prayers, skipped, rearranged words.
59. Envy others, wished for honor.
60. She sinned with pride, vanity, self-love.
61. I watched dances, dances, various games and spectacles.
62. She sinned with idle talk, secret eating, petrification, insensitivity, neglect, disobedience, intemperance, stinginess, condemnation, greed, reproach.
63. Spent the holidays in booze and earthly amusements.
64. She sinned with sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, inaccurate observance of fasts, unworthy communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
65. She got drunk, laughed at someone else's sin.
66. She sinned with lack of faith, infidelity, treason, deceit, lawlessness, groaning over sin, doubt, freethinking.
67. She was inconstant in good deeds, did not take pleasure in reading the holy Gospel.
68. Made up excuses for my sins.
69. She sinned with disobedience, arbitrariness, unfriendliness, malice, disobedience, insolence, contempt, ingratitude, severity, slander, oppression.
70. She did not always conscientiously fulfill her official duties, was careless in her affairs and hastily.
71. She believed in signs and various superstitions.
72. Was an instigator of evil.
73. Went to weddings without a church wedding.
74. I sinned with spiritual insensitivity: hope for myself, for magic, for divination.
75. Did not keep these vows.
76. Hiding sins at confession.
77. Tried to learn other people's secrets, read other people's letters, eavesdropped on telephone conversations.
78. In great sorrow she wished for herself death.
79. Wore immodest clothes.
80. Talked during the meal.
81. I drank and ate what was said, “charged” by Chumak water.
82. Worked through strength.
83. I forgot about my Guardian Angel.
84. She sinned with laziness to pray for her neighbors, she did not always pray when asked about it.
85. I was ashamed to cross myself among unbelievers, took off the cross, going to the bathhouse and to the doctor.
86. She did not keep the vows given at Holy Baptism, did not preserve the purity of her soul.
87. She noticed the sins and weaknesses of others, divulged and reinterpreted them for the worse. She swore, swore by her head, by her life. Called people "devil", "Satan", "demon".
88. She called the dumb cattle the names of saints: Vaska, Masha.
89. She did not always pray before eating food, sometimes she had breakfast in the morning before the celebration of the Divine Service.
90. Being previously an unbeliever, she tempted her neighbors into unbelief.
91. Served bad example with your life.
92. I was lazy to work, shifting my work onto the shoulders of others.
93. She didn’t always carefully treat the word of God: she drank tea and read holy gospel(which is disrespect).
94. Took Epiphany water after eating (without need).
95. I tore lilacs at the cemetery and brought them home.
96. I didn’t always keep the days involved, I forgot to read thanksgiving prayers. I ate these days, slept a lot.
97. She sinned with idleness, late coming to the temple and early departure from it, a rare trip to the temple.
98. Neglected menial work when it was in dire need.
99. She sinned with indifference, was silent when someone blasphemed.
100. Not strictly observed fast days, in fasting she was satiated with lenten food, tempted others with delicious and inaccurate food according to the charter: a hot loaf, vegetable oil, seasoning.
101. She was fond of negligence, relaxation, carelessness, trying on clothes and jewelry.
102. She reproached the priests, employees, spoke about their shortcomings.
103. Gave advice on abortion.
104. Violated someone else's dream through negligence and insolence.
105. Read love letters, copied, memorized passionate poems, listened to music, songs, watched shameless movies.
106. She sinned with immodest glances, looked at someone else's nakedness, wore immodest clothes.
107. I was tempted in a dream and passionately remembered it.
108. I suspected in vain (slandered in my heart).
109. She recounted empty, superstitious tales and fables, praised herself, did not always tolerate the revealing truth and offenders.
110. Showed curiosity to other people's letters and papers.
111. Idly inquired about weaknesses neighbor.
112. Not freed from the passion to tell or ask about the news.
113. I read prayers and akathists copied with errors.
114. I considered myself better and more worthy than others.
115. I do not always light lamps and candles in front of icons.
116. Violated the secrecy of her own and someone else's confession.
117. Participated in bad deeds, persuaded to a bad deed.
118. Stubborn against good, did not listen to good advice. Boasted beautiful clothes.
119. I wanted everything to be my way, I was looking for the perpetrators of my sorrows.
120. After praying, she had evil thoughts.
121. Spent money on music, cinema, circus, sinful books and other amusements, lent money for obviously bad deeds.
122. Plotted in thoughts, inspired by the enemy, against the holy faith and the Holy Church.
123. Violated the peace of mind of the sick, looked at them as sinners, and not as a test of their faith and virtue.
124. Yielded to untruth.
125. I ate and went to bed without praying.
126. Ate until mass on Sundays and holidays.
127. She spoiled the water when she bathed in the river from which they drink.
128. She talked about her exploits, labors, boasted of her virtues.
129. With pleasure I used fragrant soap, cream, powder, dyed my eyebrows, nails and eyelashes.
130. Sinned with hope “God will forgive”.
131. I hoped for my strength, abilities, and not for the help and mercy of God.
132. She worked on holidays and weekends, from work on these days she did not give money to the poor and the poor.
133. I visited a healer, went to a fortune-teller, was treated with “biocurrents”, sat at sessions of psychics.
134. She sowed enmity and discord among people, she herself offended others.
135. Sold vodka and moonshine, speculated, drove moonshine (was present at the same time) and took part.
136. Suffered from gluttony, even got up to eat and drink at night.
137. She drew a cross on the ground.
138. I read atheistic books, magazines, “tracts about love”, looked at pornographic pictures, maps, half-naked images.
139. Distorted Holy Scripture (mistakes in reading, singing).
140. She was exalted with pride, she sought primacy and supremacy.
141. Mentioned in anger evil spirit, summoned the demon.
142. Was engaged in dancing and playing on holidays and Sundays.
143. In uncleanness she entered the temple, ate prosphora, antidor.
144. In anger, I scolded and cursed those who offended me: so that no bottom, no tire, etc.
145. Spent money on amusements (attractions, carousels, all sorts of spectacles).
146. She took offense at her spiritual father, grumbled at him.
147. Disdain to kiss icons, take care of the sick, old people.
148. She teased deaf-mutes, weak-minded, minors, angered animals, repaid evil for evil.
149. Tempted people, wore translucent clothes, miniskirts.
150. She swore, was baptized, saying: “I’ll fail in this place,” etc.
151. Retelling ugly stories (sinful in their essence) from the life of her parents and neighbors.
152. Had a spirit of jealousy for a friend, sister, brother, friend.
153. She sinned with quarrelsomeness, self-will, lamenting that there is no health, strength, strength in the body.
154. Envy rich people, the beauty of people, their intelligence, education, prosperity, goodwill.
155. She did not keep her prayers and good deeds secret, she did not keep church secrets.
156. She justified her sins by illness, infirmity, bodily weakness.
157. She condemned other people's sins and shortcomings, compared people, gave them characteristics, judged them.
158. Revealed other people's sins, mocked them, ridiculed people.
159. Deliberately deceived, told a lie.
160. Hastily read the holy books, when the mind and heart did not assimilate what they read.
161. She left prayer because of fatigue, justifying herself with infirmity.
162. She rarely wept that I was living unrighteously, forgot about humility, self-reproach, about salvation, and about the terrible judgment.
163. In life, she did not betray herself to the will of God.
164. Ruined her spiritual home, mocked people, discussed the fall of others.
165. She herself was an instrument of the devil.
166. She did not always cut off her will before the elder.
167. I spent a lot of time on empty letters, and not on spiritual ones.
168. Didn't have a sense of the fear of God.
169. Was angry, shook her fist, cursed.
170. Read more than pray.
171. Yielded to persuasion, temptation to sin.
172. Powerfully ordered.
173. She slandered others, forced others to swear.
174. Turned her face away from those who asked.
175. She violated the peace of mind of her neighbor, had a sinful mood of spirit.
176. She did good without thinking about God.
177. Was conceited with a place, title, position.
178. The bus did not give way to the elderly, passengers with children.
179. When buying, she bargained, fell into curiosity.
180. She did not always accept the words of the elders and confessors with faith.
181. Watched with curiosity, asked about worldly things.
182. Unlived flesh with a shower, bath, bath.
183. Traveled aimlessly, for the sake of boredom.
184. When the visitors left, she did not try to free herself from sinfulness by prayer, but remained in it.
185. She allowed herself privileges in prayer, pleasures in worldly pleasures.
186. She pleased others for the sake of the flesh and the enemy, and not for the benefit of the spirit and salvation.
187. She sinned with a non-soul-beneficial attachment to friends.
188. Was proud of herself when doing a good deed. I did not humiliate myself, I did not reproach myself.
189. She did not always feel sorry for sinful people, but scolded and reproached them.
190. Was dissatisfied with her life, scolded her and said: "When only death will take me."
191. There were times when she called annoyingly, knocked loudly to open.
192. While reading, I didn't think about the Holy Scripture.
193. She did not always have cordiality towards visitors and the memory of God.
194. She did things out of passion and worked without need.
195. Often kindled by empty dreams.
196. She sinned with malice, did not remain silent in anger, did not move away from the one who provoked anger.
197. In illness, she often used food not for satisfaction, but for pleasure and enjoyment.
198. Coldly received mentally useful visitors.
199. I grieved for the one who offended me. And grieved at me when I offended.
200. At prayer, she did not always have repentant feelings, humble thoughts.
201. Insulted her husband, who avoided intimacy on the wrong day.
202. In anger she encroached on the life of her neighbor.
203. I have sinned and am sinning fornication: I was with my husband not to conceive children, but out of lust. In the absence of her husband, she defiled herself with masturbation.
204. At work, she experienced persecution for the truth and grieved about it.
205. Laughed at the mistakes of others and made comments out loud.
206. She wore women's whims: beautiful umbrellas, magnificent clothes, other people's hair (wigs, hairpieces, braids).
207. She was afraid of sufferings, endured them reluctantly.
208. She often opened her mouth to show off her gold teeth, wore gold-rimmed glasses, an abundance of rings and gold jewelry.
209. Asked for advice from people who do not have a spiritual mind.
210. Before reading the word of God, she did not always call on the grace of the Holy Spirit, she took care to only read more.
211. Transferred the gift of God to the womb, voluptuousness, idleness and sleep. Did not work, having talent.
212. I was too lazy to write and rewrite spiritual instructions.
213. Dyed her hair and rejuvenated, visited beauty salons.
214. When giving alms, she did not combine it with the correction of her heart.
215. She did not evade flatterers, and did not stop them.
216. She had a predilection for clothes: care, as it were, not to get dirty, not to get dusty, not to get wet.
217. She did not always wish her enemies salvation and did not care about it.
218. At prayer she was a "slave of necessity and duty."
219. After fasting, she leaned on fast food, ate to the point of heaviness in the stomach and often without time.
220. She rarely prayed at night. She sniffed tobacco and dabbled in smoking.
221. She did not avoid spiritual temptations. Had a soulful date. Fell in spirit.
222. On the road, she forgot about prayer.
223. Intervened with instructions.
224. Didn't sympathize with the sick and mourners.
225. Didn't always lend.
226. Feared sorcerers more than God.
227. She spared herself for the good of others.
228. Dirty and spoiled sacred books.
229. She spoke before the morning and after the evening prayer.
230. She brought glasses to the guests against their will, treated them beyond measure.
231. She did the works of God without love and diligence.
232. Often did not see her sins, rarely condemned herself.
233. She amused herself with her face, looking in the mirror, making grimaces.
234. She spoke about God without humility and caution.
235. Weary of service, waiting for the end, hurrying to the exit as soon as possible in order to calm down and take care of worldly affairs.
236. Rarely did self-tests, in the evening I did not read the prayer “I confess to you ...”
237. Rarely thought about what she heard in the temple and read in Scripture.
238. She did not look for traits of kindness in an evil person and did not talk about his good deeds.
239. Often did not see her sins and rarely condemned herself.
240. Accepted contraceptives. She demanded protection from her husband, interruption of the act.
241. Praying for health and repose, she often went over names without the participation and love of her heart.
242. She uttered everything when it would be better to remain silent.
243. In a conversation, she used artistic techniques. She spoke in an unnatural voice.
244. She was offended by inattention and neglect of herself, was inattentive to others.
245. She did not abstain from excesses and pleasures.
246. She wore other people's clothes without permission, spoiled other people's things. In the room she blew her nose on the floor.
247. I was looking for benefits and benefits for myself, and not for my neighbor.
248. Forced a person to sin: to lie, steal, peep.
249. To inform and retell.
250. I found pleasure in sinful dates.
251. Visited places of wickedness, debauchery and godlessness.
252. She turned her ear to hear evil.
253. She attributed her successes to herself, and not to God's help.
254. While studying the spiritual life, she did not fulfill it in deeds.
255. In vain she disturbed people, did not calm the angry and sad.
256. Often washed clothes, wasted time without need.
257. Sometimes she fell into danger: ran across the road in front of transport, crossed the river along thin ice etc.
258. She towered over others, showing her superiority and wisdom of mind. She allowed herself to humiliate another, mocking the shortcomings of the soul and body.
259. Postponed the deeds of God, mercy and prayer for later.
260. She did not mourn herself when she did a bad deed. With pleasure she listened to slanderous speeches, blasphemed life and the treatment of others.
261. Didn't use surplus income for spiritually useful things.
262. She did not save from the days of fasting in order to give to the sick, the needy, and children.
263. Worked reluctantly, grumbling and vexed because of the small pay.
264. She was the cause of sin in family discord.
265. Without gratitude and self-reproach she endured sorrows.
266. She didn't always go into seclusion in order to be alone with God.
267. She lay and basked in bed for a long time, did not immediately get up to pray.
268. She lost self-control while defending the offended, kept hostility and evil in her heart.
269. Didn't stop talking gossip. She herself often passed on to others and with an increase from herself.
270. Before morning prayer and during prayer rule did household chores.
271. She autocratically presented her thoughts as the true rule of life.
272. Ate stolen food.
273. She did not confess the Lord with her mind, heart, word, deed. Had an alliance with the wicked.
274. At the meal she was too lazy to treat and serve her neighbor.
275. She was sad about the deceased, that she herself was ill.
276. I was glad that the holiday had come and I didn’t have to work.
277. I drank wine on holidays. Loved going to dinner parties. I got fed up there.
278. She listened to teachers when they said something harmful to the soul, against God.
279. Used perfumes, smoked Indian incense.
280. Engaged in lesbianism, with lust touched someone else's body. With lust and voluptuousness she watched the mating of animals.
281. Cared beyond measure for the nourishment of the body. Accepted gifts or alms at a time when it was not necessary to accept it.
282. Didn't try to be away from a person who likes to chat.
283. Didn't get baptized, didn't read prayers at church bell ringing.
284. Under the guidance of her spiritual father, she did everything according to her own will.
285. She was naked when bathing, sunbathing, exercising, in case of illness she was shown to a male doctor.
286. She did not always recall and count her violations of the Law of God with repentance.
287. While reading prayers and canons, she was too lazy to bow.
288. When she heard that a person was ill, she did not rush to help.
289. With thought and word she exalted herself in the good done.
290. Believed in slander. She didn't punish herself for her sins.
291. During the service in the church she read her house rule or wrote a commemoration.
292. She did not abstain from her favorite foods (although fasting ones).
293. Unfairly punished and lectured children.
294. Had no daily memory of God's Court, death, the Kingdom of God.
295. In times of sorrow, she did not occupy her mind and heart with the prayer of Christ.
296. She did not force herself to pray, to read the Word of God, to weep over her sins.
297. Rarely performed commemoration of the dead, did not pray for the departed.
298. With unconfessed sin she approached the Chalice.
299. In the morning I did gymnastics, and did not dedicate my first thought to God.
300. When praying, I was too lazy to cross myself, sorted out my bad thoughts, did not think about what awaits me beyond the grave.
301. She was in a hurry to pray, out of laziness she shortened it and read without proper attention.
302. She told her neighbors and acquaintances about her grievances. I visited places where bad examples were set.
303. Admonished a man without meekness and love. Irritated when correcting my neighbor.
304. She did not always light a lamp on holidays and Sundays.
305. On Sundays, I didn’t go to the temple, but for mushrooms, berries ...
306. Had more savings than necessary.
307. She spared her strength and health in order to serve her neighbor.
308. She reproached her neighbor for what had happened.
309. Walking on the way to the temple, I did not always read prayers.
310. Assented when condemning a person.
311. She was jealous of her husband, remembered her rival with malice, wished for her death, used a healer's slander to torment her.
312. I used to be demanding and disrespectful to people. Gained the upper hand in conversations with neighbors. On the way to the temple, she overtook older than me, did not wait for those who lagged behind me.
313. She turned her abilities to earthly goods.
314. Had jealousy for the spiritual father.
315. I tried to be always right.
316. Asked unnecessary things.
317. Wept for the temporary.
318. Interpreted dreams and took them seriously.
319. Boasted of sin, committed evil.
320. After communion, she was not guarded from sin.
321. Kept atheistic books and playing cards in the house.
322. She gave advice, not knowing whether they were pleasing to God, she was negligent in the affairs of God.
323. She accepted prosphora, holy water without reverence (she spilled holy water, spilled crumbs of prosphora).
324. I went to bed and got up without prayer.
325. She spoiled her children, not paying attention to their bad deeds.
326. During fasting she was engaged in larynx, she liked to drink strong tea, coffee, and other drinks.
327. I took tickets, food from the back door, went on the bus without a ticket.
328. She placed prayer and the temple above serving her neighbor.
329. Endured sorrows with despondency and grumbling.
330. Irritated in fatigue and illness.
331. Had free treatment of persons of the opposite sex.
332. At the recollection of worldly affairs, she gave up prayer.
333. Forced to eat and drink the sick and children.
334. Contemptuously treated vicious people, did not seek their conversion.
335. She knew and gave money for a bad deed.
336. She entered the house without invitation, peeped through the crack, through the window, through the keyhole, eavesdropped at the door.
337. Entrusted secrets to strangers.
338. Used food without need and hunger.
339. I read prayers with errors, got lost, skipped, put stress incorrectly.
340. Lived lustfully with her husband. She allowed perversions and carnal pleasures.
341. She gave loans and asked for debts back.
342. She tried to learn more about divine things than was revealed by God.
343. Sinned with body movement, gait, gesture.
344. She set herself as an example, boasted, boasted.
345. She spoke passionately about earthly things, delighted in the remembrance of sin.
346. Went to the temple and back with empty talk.
347. I insured my life and property, I wanted to cash in on insurance.
348. Was greedy for pleasure, unchaste.
349. She passed on her conversations with the elder and her temptations to others.
350. She was a donor not out of love for her neighbor, but for the sake of drinking, free days, for money.
351. Boldly and willfully plunged herself into sorrows and temptations.
352. I was bored, I dreamed about traveling and entertainment.
353. Made wrong decisions in anger.
354. Was distracted by thoughts during prayer.
355. Traveled south for carnal pleasures.
356. Used the time of prayer for worldly affairs.
357. She distorted words, distorted the thoughts of others, expressed her displeasure aloud.
358. I was ashamed to confess before my neighbors that I was a believer, and I visit the temple of God.
359. She slandered, demanded justice in higher instances, wrote complaints.
360. She denounced those who do not attend the temple and do not repent.
361. I bought lottery tickets with the hope of getting rich.
362. She gave alms and rudely slandered the one who asked.
363. She listened to the advice of egoists who were themselves slaves of their womb and carnal passions.
364. Engaged in self-aggrandizement, proudly expected a greeting from her neighbor.
365. I was weary of fasting and looked forward to its end.
366. She could not bear the stench from people without disgust.
367. She denounced people in anger, forgetting that we are all sinners.
368. She lay down to sleep, did not remember the affairs of the day and did not shed tears about her sins.
369. She did not keep the Rule of the Church and the traditions of the holy fathers.
370. For help in household paid with vodka, tempted people with drunkenness.
371. In fasting she made tricks in food.
372. Distracted from prayer when bitten by mosquitoes, flies and other insects.
373. At the sight of human ingratitude, she refrained from doing good deeds.
374. She shied away from dirty work: clean the toilet, pick up the trash.
375. During the period of breastfeeding, she did not abstain from married life.
376. In church she stood with her back to the altar and the holy icons.
377. Cooked sophisticated dishes, tempted with guttural insanity.
378. I read entertaining books with pleasure, but not the Scriptures of the Holy Fathers.
379. I watched TV, spent whole days at the “box”, and not in prayers in front of the icons.
380. Listened to passionate secular music.
381. She sought consolation in friendship, yearned for carnal pleasures, loved kissing men and women on the lips.
382. Engaged in extortion and deceit, judged and discussed people.
383. While fasting, she felt disgusted with monotonous, lenten food.
384. The Word of God spoke to unworthy people (not “cast pearls before swine”).
385. She neglected the holy icons, did not wipe them from dust in time.
386. I was too lazy to write congratulations on church holidays.
387. Spent time in mundane games and entertainments: checkers, backgammon, loto, cards, chess, rolling pins, ruffles, Rubik's cube and others.
388. Spoke illnesses, gave advice to go to fortune-tellers, gave addresses of sorcerers.
389. She believed signs and slander: she spat over her left shoulder, ran black cat, dropped spoon, fork, etc.
390. She responded sharply to an angry person to his anger.
391. Tried to prove the justification and justice of her anger.
392. Was annoying, interrupted people's sleep, distracted them from the meal.
393. Relaxed by social conversations with young people of the opposite sex.
394. Engaged in idle talk, curiosity, hung out on fires and was present at accidents.
395. She considered it unnecessary to be treated for illnesses and visit a doctor.
396. I tried to calm myself by hasty execution of the rule.
397. Excessively troubled herself with work.
398. I ate a lot in the meat-fare week.
399. Gave wrong advice to neighbors.
400. She told shameful anecdotes.
401. To please the authorities, she closed the holy icons.
402. She neglected a man in his old age and poverty of his mind.
403. She stretched out her hands to her naked body, looked and touched secret uds with her hands.
404. She punished children with anger, in a fit of passion, with scolding and cursing.
405. Taught children to peep, eavesdrop, pimp.
406. She spoiled her children, did not pay attention to their bad deeds.
407. Had a satanic fear for the body, was afraid of wrinkles, gray hair.
408. Burdened others with requests.
409. She drew conclusions about the sinfulness of people according to their misfortunes.
410. Wrote insulting and anonymous letters, spoke rudely, interfered with people on the phone, making jokes under an assumed name.
411. Sit on the bed without the permission of the owner.
412. In prayer, she imagined the Lord.
413. Satanic laughter attacked when reading and listening to the Divine.
414. She asked advice from people who were ignorant of the matter, she believed crafty people.
415. Strived for superiority, rivalry, won interviews, participated in competitions.
416. She treated the Gospel as a divinatory book.
417. Picked berries, flowers, branches in other people's gardens without permission.
418. During the fast, she did not have a good disposition towards people, she allowed violations of the fast.
419. She did not always realize and regret the sin.
420. Listened to worldly records, sinned by watching video and porn movies, relaxed in other worldly pleasures.
421. She read a prayer, having enmity against her neighbor.
422. She prayed in a hat, with her head uncovered.
423. Believed in omens.
424. Used indiscriminately the papers on which the name of God was written.
425. She was proud of her literacy and erudition, imagined, singled out people with higher education.
426. Assigned found money.
427. In the church, I put bags and things on the windows.
428. Ride for pleasure in a car, motorboat, bicycle.
429. Repeated other people's bad words, listened to people cursing obscenities.
430. I read newspapers, books, secular magazines with enthusiasm.
431. She abhorred the poor, the poor, the sick, who smelled bad.
432. Was proud that she did not commit shameful sins, grievous murder, abortions, etc.
433. She ate and drank before the onset of the fasts.
434. Acquired unnecessary things without having to do so.
435. After a prodigal dream, she did not always read prayers for defilement.
436. Celebrated New Year, wearing masks and obscene clothes, drunk, swearing, overeating and sinning.
437. She caused damage to her neighbor, spoiled and broke other people's things.
438. She believed the nameless "prophets", in "holy letters", "the dream of the Mother of God", she copied them herself and passed them on to others.
439. She listened to sermons in church with a spirit of criticism and condemnation.
440. She used her earnings for sinful lusts and amusements.
441. She spread bad rumors about priests and monks.
442. Huddled in the temple, hurrying to kiss the icon, the Gospel, the cross.
443. She was proud, in want and poverty she was indignant and murmured against the Lord.
444. Pee in public and even joke about it.
445. She did not always repay what she borrowed on time.
446. Belittled her sins at confession.
447. She gloated at the misfortune of her neighbor.
448. Instructed others in an instructive, imperative tone.
449. She shared their vices with people and affirmed them in these vices.
450. Quarreled with people for a place in the temple, at the icons, near the eve table.
451. Inadvertently caused pain to animals.
452. Left a glass of vodka on the grave of relatives.
453. She did not sufficiently prepare herself for the sacrament of confession.
454. She violated the holiness of Sundays and holidays with games, visits to spectacles, etc.
455. When crops were damaged, she swore at the cattle with dirty words.
456. Arranged dates in cemeteries, in childhood they ran and played hide and seek there.
457. Allowed sexual intercourse before marriage.
458. She deliberately got drunk in order to decide on a sin, along with wine she used medicines in order to get more drunk.
459. Begged for alcohol, pawned things and documents for this.
460. To draw attention to herself, to make her worry, she tried to commit suicide.
461. In childhood, she did not listen to teachers, prepared lessons poorly, was lazy, disrupted classes.
462. Visited cafes, restaurants arranged in temples.
463. She sang in a restaurant, on the stage, danced in a variety show.
464. In crowded transport, she felt pleasure from touches, did not try to avoid them.
465. She was offended by her parents for punishment, remembered these insults for a long time and told others about them.
466. Comforted herself with the fact that worldly cares prevent her from doing things of faith, salvation and piety, justified herself by the fact that in her youth no one taught Christian faith.
467. Wasted time on useless chores, fuss, talk.
468. Engaged in the interpretation of dreams.
469. With impatience she objected, fought, scolded.
470. She sinned with thefts, in childhood she stole eggs, handed them over to the store, etc.
471. She was vain, proud, did not honor her parents, did not obey the authorities.
472. Engaged in heresy, had an incorrect opinion about the subject of faith, doubt and even apostasy from the Orthodox faith.
473. She had the sin of Sodom (copulation with animals, with the wicked, entered into an incestuous relationship).
Must be hot. as much as 473 degrees Celsius. Be afraid to sin. It's even hotter in hell!
Only in the Sacrament of Penance, when a person with a contrite heart names sins to a priest and a permissive prayer is read over the penitent, then only then does God forgive sins!
The one who hides sin from the priest in the Sacrament of Repentance, he will acquire even more sin before God!
Source of information, copied from the site: http://hramsatka.orthodoxy.ru/bib/bib00003.htm
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AT modern world The gospel call to always be awake and pray without ceasing is very difficult to put into practice. Constant worries, a very high pace of life, especially in large cities, practically deprive Christians of the opportunity to retire and stand before God in prayer. But the concept of prayer is still extremely relevant, and it is certainly necessary to turn to it. Regular prayer always leads to the thought of repentance, which occurs at confession. Prayer is an example of how you can accurately and objectively assess your state of mind.
Concept of sin
Sin should not be seen as some kind of legal violation of a God-given law. This is not a “going beyond” accepted in the mind, but a violation of the laws that are natural for human nature. Each person is endowed by God with absolute freedom; accordingly, any falls are made consciously. In fact, by committing sin, a person neglects the commandments and values given from above. There is a free choice in favor of negative deeds, thoughts and other actions. Such a spiritual crime harms the personality itself, damaging the very vulnerable inner strings of human nature. Sin is based on passions, inherited or acquired, as well as original susceptibility, which made a person mortal and weaker to various diseases and vices.
This greatly contributes to the fact that the soul deviates towards evil and immorality. Sin is different, its severity, of course, depends on many factors in which it is committed. There is a conditional division of sins: against God, against neighbor and against oneself. Considering your own deeds through such a gradation, you can understand how to write a confession. An example will be discussed below.
Consciousness of sin and confession
It is extremely important to understand that in order to eliminate dark spiritual spots, you should constantly turn your inner gaze on yourself, analyze your actions, thoughts and words, and objectively evaluate the moral scale of your own values. Having found disturbing and haunting features, you need to carefully deal with them, because if you turn a blind eye to sin, you will very soon get used to it, which will distort the soul and lead to spiritual illness. The main way out of this situation is repentance and repentance.
It is repentance that grows from the depths of the heart and mind that can change a person for the better, bring the light of kindness and mercy. But the path of repentance is a lifelong path. He is prone to sin and will commit it every day. Even the great ascetics who secluded themselves in deserted places sinned with thoughts and could repent daily. Therefore, close attention to one's soul should not weaken, and with age, the criteria for personal assessment should be subjected to more stringent requirements. The next step after repentance is confession.
An example of correct confession is true repentance
In Orthodoxy, confession is recommended for all people over the age of seven. A child brought up in a Christian family, by the age of seven or eight, already acquires an understanding of the sacrament. Often it is prepared in advance, explaining in detail all aspects of this difficult issue. Some parents show an example of a confession written on paper, which was invented in advance. A child left alone with such information has the opportunity to reflect and see something in himself. But in the case of children, priests and parents rely primarily on the psychological state of the child and his worldview, the ability to analyze and realize the criteria of good and evil. With excessive haste in forcibly attracting children, one can sometimes observe deplorable results and examples.
Confessions in the church often turn into a formal "roll call" of sins, while the performance of only the "outer" part of the sacrament is unacceptable. You can not try to justify yourself, to hide something embarrassing and shameful. You need to listen to yourself and understand whether repentance is really present, or whether there is just an ordinary ritual ahead that will not bring any benefit to the soul, but can cause significant harm.
Confession is a voluntary and repentant enumeration of sins. This sacrament includes two main parts:
1) Confession before the priest of sins by a person who has come to the sacrament.
2) Prayerful forgiveness and resolution of sins, which the shepherd pronounces.
Preparation for confession
A question that torments not only novice Christians, but sometimes even those who have been churched for a long time - what to say in confession? An example of how to repent can be found in various sources. It can be a prayer book or a separate book dedicated to this particular sacrament.
When preparing for confession, one can rely on the commandments, ordeals, take the example of the confession of holy ascetics who left notes and sayings on this topic.
If we build a penitential monologue on the basis of the division of sins into three types given above, then we can determine an incomplete, approximate list of deviations.
Sins against God
This category includes lack of faith, superstition, lack of hope in God's mercy, formality and lack of faith in the tenets of Christianity, grumbling and ungratefulness of God, and oaths. This group includes an irreverent attitude towards objects of veneration - icons, the Gospel, the Cross, and so on. Mention should be made of skipping services for an unexcused reason and leaving obligatory rules, prayers, and also if the prayers were read hastily, without attention and the necessary concentration.
Adhering to various sectarian teachings, thoughts of suicide, turning to sorcerers and soothsayers, wearing mystical talismans is considered apostasy, and this must be brought to confession. An example of this category of sins is, of course, approximate, and each person can supplement or shorten this list.
Sins against neighbor
This group considers the attitude towards people: relatives, friends, colleagues and just casual acquaintances and strangers. The first thing that is most often clearly revealed in the heart is the lack of love. Often, instead of love, there is a consumer attitude. Inability and unwillingness to forgive, hatred, malevolence, malevolence and revenge, stinginess, condemnation, gossip, lies, indifference to someone else's misfortune, mercilessness and cruelty - all these ugly thorns in the human soul must be confessed. Separately, actions are indicated in which there was open self-harm or material harm was caused. It can be fights, extortion, robbery.
The gravest sin is abortion, which will certainly entail church punishment after it is taken to confession. An example of what punishment can be is learned from the parish priest. As a rule, penance is imposed, but it will be more disciplinary than redemptive.
Sins directed against oneself
This group is reserved for personal sins. Despondency, terrible despair and thoughts of one's own hopelessness or exorbitant pride, contempt, vanity - such passions can poison a person's life and even drive him to suicide.
Thus, listing all the commandments one by one, the pastor calls for a detailed examination of the state of mind and checking whether it corresponds to the essence of the message.
About brevity
Priests often ask to confess briefly. This does not mean that it is not necessary to name some kind of sin. We must try to talk specifically about sin, but not about the circumstances in which it was committed, without involving third parties who may be somehow involved in the situation, and without describing in detail the details. If repentance occurs in the temple for the first time, you can sketch an example of confession on paper, then during the exposure of oneself in sins it will be easier to get together, convey to the priest and, most importantly, to God absolutely everything noticed, without forgetting anything.
It is recommended to pronounce the name of the sin itself: lack of faith, anger, insult or condemnation. This will be enough to convey what worries and weighs heavily on the heart. “Extracting” exact sins from oneself is not an easy task, but this is how a short confession is created. An example may be the following: “Sinned (a): pride, despondency, foul language, fear of little faith, excessive idleness, bitterness, lies, ambition, abandonment of services and rules, irritability, temptation, bad and unclean thoughts, excess in food, laziness. I also repent of those sins about which I forgot (a) and did not utter (la) now.
Confession is definitely difficult task requiring effort and self-denial. But when a person gets used to the purity of heart and tidiness of the soul, he will no longer be able to live without repentance and the sacrament of communion. A Christian will not want to lose the newly acquired connection with the Almighty and will only strive to strengthen it. It is very important to approach spiritual life not in jerks, but sedately, carefully, regularly, to be “faithful in little things”, not forgetting gratitude to God in absolutely all life situations.
The Orthodox faith teaches Christians how to confess correctly. This rite is connected with ancient events, when the Apostle Peter left the bishop's house and went into seclusion after he realized his sin before Christ. He denied the Lord and repented for it.
So each of us needs to realize our sins before the Lord and be able to present them to the priest in order to sincerely repent and receive forgiveness.
To learn how to confess correctly in church, it is necessary to prepare the soul and body, and we'll tell you how to do it later.
Before going to church try to understand a few important points . Especially if you decide to confess for the first time. So, what questions most often arise in a person on the eve of confession?
When can you confess?
Confession means a sincere conversation with God through the mediation of a priest. By church canons, attracted to confession from childhood, from the age of seven. Believers confess after the main service, near the lectern. People who decide to be baptized or get married also start confession before God.
How often should you go to confession?
It depends on the true desire of the person and his personal willingness to speak openly about his sins. When a Christian came to confession for the first time, this does not mean that after that he became sinless. We all sin every day. Therefore, the awareness of their actions lies with us. Someone confesses every month, someone before the big holidays, and someone during Orthodox posts and before your birthday. Here the main understanding is why I need it what a positive lesson this can teach me in the future.
How to confess, what to say?
Here it is important to address the priest sincerely, without false shame. What does this statement mean? A person who has decided to sincerely repent must not only list what sins he has committed for recent times and even more so, immediately look for an excuse for them.
Remember, you did not come to church to hide your bad deeds, but to to receive the blessing of the holy father and start a new, spiritual life.
If you have long wanted to confess what to say to the priest, you can calmly think over at home in advance. Better yet, write it down on paper. Put the "10 Commandments" in front of you, remember the 7 deadly sins.
Don't forget that anger, adultery, pride, envy, gluttony are also on this list. This also includes visiting fortune-tellers and clairvoyants, watching inappropriate content on television.
How should you dress for confession?
The attire should be simple, meeting all the laws of Christianity. For women - a closed blouse, skirt or dress no higher than the knee, a scarf is required on the head. For men - trousers, shirt. Be sure to remove your headgear.
Can I confess at home?
Of course, God hears our prayers everywhere and, as a rule, forgives us in case of true repentance. However in the church we can receive that very grace-filled power to help us fight temptations in later situations. We are embarking on the path of our spiritual rebirth. And this happens precisely during the Sacrament called confession.
How to confess for the first time?
The first confession, as well as all subsequent times when you decide to confess in church, requires some preparation.
First, you need to mentally. It will be right if you spend some time alone with yourself, turn to the Lord with a prayer. It is also recommended to fast on the eve of confession. Confession is like a medicine that heals both the body and the soul. A person is spiritually reborn, comes to the Lord through forgiveness. You can proceed to confession without communion, but your faith in the Lord must be unshakable.
Secondly, it is best to agree on the Sacrament of Confession in advance. On the appointed day, come to the temple for Divine Service, and at the end of it go to the lectern, where confession usually takes place.
- Let the priest know that you will be confessing for the first time.
- The priest will read the opening prayers, which serve as some preparation for the personal repentance of each of those present (there may be several).
- Then everyone comes to the lectern, where the icon or crucifix is located, and bows to the ground.
- This is followed by a personal conversation between the priest and the confessor.
- When it's your turn, talk about your sins with sincere repentance, without going into unnecessary details and details.
- You can write down on a piece of paper what you would like to say.
- Do not be afraid and do not be embarrassed - Confession was given in order to gain God's grace, to repent for what you have done and never repeat it again.
- At the end of the conversation, the confessor kneels, and the priest covers his head with epitrachelion - a special cloth and reads a permissive prayer.
- After this, it is necessary to kiss the Holy Cross and the Gospel as a sign of love for the Lord.
How to take communion in church?
Modern man It is also very important to know how to take communion in church, since the Sacrament of Communion to the Holy Chalice unites a Christian with God and strengthens true faith in Him. Communion was established by himself God's Son . The Bible says that Jesus Christ blessed and divided the bread among His disciples. The apostles accepted the bread as the body of the Lord. Then Jesus divided the wine among the apostles, and they drank it as the blood of the Lord, shed for the sins of mankind.
Going to church the day before big holiday or before your name day, you need to know how to confess and take communion correctly. This spiritual sacrament plays the same important role in a person's life as a wedding or baptism ceremony. Communion without confession is not supposed because their relationship is very strong. Repentance or confession cleanses the conscience, makes our soul bright before the eyes of the Lord. That's why communion follows confession.
During confession, it is necessary to sincerely repent and make decisions to start a humble, pious life in accordance with all Christian laws and rules. Communion, in turn, sends God's Grace to a person, enlivens his soul, strengthens faith and heals the body.
How to prepare for the sacrament of the sacrament?
- Before communion it is necessary to pray diligently, read spiritual literature and keep three day post .
- The night before, it is recommended to visit the evening service, here you can also confess.
- On the day of communion, you must come to the morning Liturgy.
- After singing the prayer "Our Father", the Holy Chalice is brought to the altar.
- Children come first, then adults.
- It is necessary to approach the Chalice very carefully, crossing your arms over your chest (right over left).
- Then the believer pronounces his orthodox name and reverently accepts the Holy Gifts - drinks water or wine from the Chalice.
- After that, the bottom of the Cup should be kissed.
Living in modern society to confess and take communion from time to time, everyone should Orthodox person who wants to purify his soul and draw near to the Lord.
Confession is one of the seven sacraments established in christian church. “Confess your sins to one another,” says the apostle James in one of his epistles.
Among the early Christians, each person openly spoke about his misdeeds in the presence of the entire church assembly. This practice continues to this day in some currents of Protestants. In the Orthodox Christian Church, repentance for sins is accepted by the clergyman.
How to confess correctly, what to say to the priest? An example of confession, what this sacrament is and why it is necessary for believers - we will talk about everything below.
The sacrament requires the Cross and the Gospel. What to talk about in a personal conversation with the priest? The man talks about his misdeeds.
It is most convenient to do this in a church or a special confession room. But how can one confess in a church if a person, for example, cannot walk?
The sacrament can take place anywhere - in a church, at home or in another room. If necessary, confession can be made by letter or telephone.
There is an example of a confession in the life of Macarius the Great: it tells about a woman who brought a scroll with a list of her sins to an elder, and he, without opening it, was able to beg for all of them. People are confessing Orthodox tradition at least four times a year. AT catholic church it is customary to resort to this sacrament much more often, almost every day.
Confession can be complete or incomplete, individual or joint:
- Full confession can only be individual. During it, a person talks about his sins throughout his life, starting from birth. The sacrament can last a very long time. This helped many to cope with illness or overcome a difficult life situation. It is necessary to confess like this at least once every five years. For example, one elderly woman was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Doctors said he had less than a month to live. When she confessed to the priest and took communion, she felt much better. Didn't die in a month or two. Examinations showed that she is absolutely healthy.
- Incomplete confession is called the one on which they talk about the sins committed since the last confession.
- An individual is called one during which a person is alone with a priest.
- Joint is taken by several people at once. As a rule, the priest reads sins, and people say whether they have sinned or not.
According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, the sacrament of confession is performed only through specially appointed persons - a priest (father, priest) or a bishop.
The justification for such an exclusive role of the clergy is found in the Gospel of John “To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain, ”Christ said to his disciples - the apostles.
Need to understand! Only God forgives sins, and the priest acts as a witness and mentor.
Of course, not everyone can confess. To perform the sacrament of confession, you must:
- Be a member of the Church. Membership is achieved through faith and baptism. Faith is an internal component of every Christian, but it inevitably manifests itself in external deeds (almsgiving, gentleness, love for one's neighbor). And baptism already acts as a “seal” of a believer, a symbol of his communion with the Church of Christ.
- Admit your wrongdoings and have a firm intention to eradicate them. Without these two components, confession can turn into a mere formality. Such an example of confession is presented in the Gospel of Matthew, which describes the repentance of a Pharisee, supposedly a righteous man. The evangelist and apostle makes it clear that empty words are disgusting to God.
What to say in confession?
First of all, you need to remember, and it is better to write down what sins have been committed. All this list is voiced before the clergyman.
It is not worth going into details here about why the sin was committed and how. It will suffice to name it briefly.
If a Christian does not know how to correctly name sins in confession, and finds it difficult to answer whether he did the right thing, there is a list of questions that the priest can ask in the process:
- Are you not participating in divination or divination?
- Are you not stealing?
- Did you miss the morning and evening prayers, as well as prayers before and after the meal?
- Do you wear various amulets and talismans?
- Do you attend Church on the prescribed days - Sundays and holidays?
- Did you conceal any sins in confession?
- Do you play in gambling and for money?
- Didn't you swear?
- Did you eat fast foods on fasting days?
- Do you have envy for someone else?
- Are you ashamed of your faith?
- Do you honor your father and mother? Do you treat them with due respect and do not offend?
- Didn't gossip?
- Did not mention the name of God in vain, in vain?
- Didn't you fight?
This is not a complete list of possible questions, and not all of them may be asked. In the process of the sacrament, the priest himself understands what sins prevail over his spiritual child, and selects questions individually, based on age, gender, marital status, mental state.
How to confess in church?
Usually the sacrament begins in the morning or in the evening during the service. But by special agreement with the priest or in case of special urgency, the time may change.
You need to arrive on time, without being late, go in quietly and not interfere with other confessors.
Before the sacrament itself, a certain rite of prayers follows, and after that everyone goes to the priest one by one for repentance and remission of sins.
What do they say in confession to a priest? First, a prayer is made together and all the sins committed and not repentant from the last confession are called.
It is important to know the whole range of sins that any person can commit. As a rule, they are divided into three main groups:
- Sins against God. Here the first commandment is violated - love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is blasphemy and murmuring, prolonged impenitence, skipping church services, absent-mindedness at prayer or at the liturgy, blasphemy against sacred objects(books, cross and more), belief in dreams, divination and divination.
- Sins against neighbor. The second commandment to love your neighbor is trampled under these vices. Lack of love for one's neighbor and related deeds, disrespect for parents and elders, lack of desire to raise their children in the Orthodox Christian faith, voluntary or involuntary murder, insult, desire to have someone else's own, cruelty to animals, anger, curses, hatred, slander, lies, slander, condemnation, hypocrisy.
- Sins against yourself. Neglect of those values that God has given. Talents, time, health. Passion for various entertainment and hobbies useless activities. Gluttony is excessive consumption of food, leading to relaxation, laziness. Love of money - the desire for endless enrichment and the use of wealth is not good.
How to confess for the first time? For those who go to the sacrament for the first time or have not been a participant in it for a long time, an example can be given. The course of confession largely depends on the priest himself, but the spiritual state of the confessor himself is also important.
After a certain rite, there will be a dialogue between the priest and the confessor. As a rule, it begins with a question from the priest, “What did you sin in?”, In response, sins are listed. To each of them the priest replies, "God will forgive."
Then the spiritual father can begin to ask questions that will help find forgotten vices and deepen repentance. After, according to church rules, the priest can impose a penance - a punishment for grave misconduct committed. The Church establishes excommunication from communion for:
- intentional murder for 20 years;
- reckless murder for 10 years;
- adultery for 15 years;
- fornication for 7 years;
- theft for 1 year;
- perjury for 10 years;
- magic or poisoning for 20 years;
- incest for 20 years;
- visiting wizards and fortune tellers for 20 years.
Important! A person who has denied Christ can receive communion only before death.
The role of confession for the believer
Repentance for sins is one of the necessary components for a full life of a Christian.
The holy fathers call this sacrament the second baptism, based on a similar property to cleanse from sin. The Lord forgives any sin here, on the condition of sincere repentance.
Usually, after confession, it is determined whether a Christian will be able to participate in one of the main events in his life - union with Jesus Christ in the sacrament of communion.
It follows from the Gospel that the Lord commanded us to perform this sacrament: “And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and having blessed it, broke it, and giving it to the disciples, said: Take, eat: this is My body. And taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them and said: drink from it all, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
And today, Orthodox Christians keep this covenant, each liturgy ends with the embodiment of the gospel lines to life. Ordinary bread becomes the body of Christ, and ordinary wine becomes the blood of Christ.
Useful video: How to prepare for confession for the first time?
Summing up
Confession is the most important sacrament Orthodox Church. Cleansing a fallen person after baptism is possible only with her help. But how will it be formal and superficial or deliberate and deep? Depends to a greater extent separately from each Christian.
It must always be remembered that such a practice was established by the Son of God Himself - Jesus Christ, and only He is able to purify and save all of humanity and each person personally, which will serve the general welfare.
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