Dear Father Andrey, I heard somewhere that on Bright Week you can receive communion without fasting. Is this true, and how to prepare for communion on Bright Week. Do I need to confess, can I receive communion in any church? Thank you.
If a Christian spent Great Lent in abstinence and prayer, then on Bright Week he can begin communion on an empty stomach, but without fasting the day before. The rule for communion is the reading of the Easter canon (which is already read at Matins before the Liturgy), the hours of Easter and the Follow-up to communion. As for confession: if you last confessed no earlier than Lazarus Saturday or on Holy Week and did not commit serious sins, then it is better to determine the need for confession immediately before communion with the priest of your parish or confessor.
Of course, the practice of communion cannot be completely regulated. The general concept is as written above, but within certain limits it may vary from parish to parish. Therefore, it is best to listen to what your confessor or the clergy of your parish says. Then it will become easier for you to decide on the regularity of communion and the days when it is better to begin this Sacrament.
On February 2 and 3, 2015, the Bishops' Conference held in Moscow approved. It says the following about communion on Bright Week:
“A special case regarding the practice of preparation for Holy Communion is Bright Week- a week after Easter. The ancient canonical norm about the obligatory participation of all the faithful in the Sunday Eucharist in the 7th century was extended to the Divine Liturgies of all days of Bright Week: “From the holy day of the Resurrection of Christ our God until New Week, throughout the entire week, the faithful must in the holy churches continually practice psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, rejoicing and triumphant in Christ, and listening to the reading of the Divine Scriptures, and enjoying the Holy Mysteries. For in this way we will be resurrected together with Christ and ascended.”(66th rule of the Trullo Council). From this rule it clearly follows that the laity are called to receive communion at the liturgies of Bright Week. Bearing in mind that during Bright Week the Rules do not provide for fasting and that Bright Week is preceded by seven weeks of the feat of Great Lent and Holy Week, it should be recognized that the practice that has developed in many parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, when Christians observed Great Lent during Bright Week, corresponds to canonical tradition. They begin Holy Communion, limiting their fast to not eating food after midnight. A similar practice can be extended to the period between Christmas and Epiphany. Those preparing for communion on these days should take special care to guard themselves from excessive consumption of food and drink.”
Christ is Risen!
A letter has arrived to our editors. Its author, a Christian, shares her thoughts, which are all the more relevant since these are the last days of Catholic and Lutheran Lent, and Lent is also ending for Orthodox Christians and Old Believers. Her passionate call to repentance is addressed to those who carelessly spend these holy days enjoying the blessings of life, without thinking that Repentance and Salvation are two sides of the same coin, the name of which is “Peace with God.”
Don’t be ashamed to confess, before Easter this is a sacrifice before God! For life in our society to become better and more comfortable, it depends, in principle, on each of us. We all have enough sins. We are all aware of this. Especially when there are so many temptations around! When each person lives at the expense of another person. In the system of monetary-vampire relationships and idolatry.
What are the most serious sins that are considered the most basic today? Of course it is that many people do not have real faith in the living God. After all, many live in the power of the devil and are in his darkness, although in external prosperity and splendor. So they don’t show love for their neighbor, the person nearby. They brush aside his pressing problems without extending a helping hand to him.
Everyone first of all solves their personal problems, and of course they stumble over their own sin. Personal problems are born in the common spiritual space we create. This is why we cannot escape problems. And therefore, as if as punishment, we are cast out into the underworld by the Holy Spirit.
We don't have enough time to pray! We are all running after the devil's money to survive! To collect all kinds of evidence: some of their wealth and power, others of their own misfortune, collecting them in the form of paper certificates for various kinds of clerks. Many have become puppets in the hands of a puppeteer, whose nerve strings are pulled. We have stopped thinking about the commandments of love sent down to us by God and Jesus Christ. We do not remember the words and instructions of the righteous. And we do not live with a heart of faith and compassion for our neighbor, in forgiveness and mercy towards him. For example, you cannot live in such a way as to create and embellish only your personal life! After all, it’s much more important to think about how to make, create, and increase other people’s happy lives!
Unfortunately, we do not bother ourselves in giving alms to good spiritual deeds. Therefore, we once again fall in the eyes of not only people, but most importantly before God.
Lower and lower. There is no sky left below us! We are all caught up in the cycle of sins.
After all, sins are created first by our thoughts. Only then do they sprout in business! For us people living on earth, it is important to be able to see our actions through the eyes of God. See your deeds self-critically. This is what the soul serves us for. To be able to deeply empathize. And realize that something we have done before is a sin.
And sin is a wound, but repentance is a cure. Lent is given to us to think about our actions.
And bring your repentance to the feet of Christ. Lent is a time to think about how to change yourself. Take the path of returning to God. After all, through our good deeds, we accomplish the feat of salvation from eternal death. And this is our sacrifice before God.
After all, the soul given to every person at birth must work day and night.
Do not delay the time of repentance! Let's repent today!
Don’t say: “Today I will sin, but tomorrow I will repent.” Because we don’t know whether we will live to see tomorrow.
Reprove yourself rather, but not your brother. Don’t despair and don’t say: “I can’t be saved.” On the contrary, find strength within yourself! Love the truths of God and the fear of Him. He, the Lord, will heal your wounds. And henceforth he will preserve your soul. After all, as long as your soul loves God and has fear of Him, you are a man, you will not fall into the devil’s snares!
During Great Lent we pray earnestly and join spiritual life. Why is prayer needed? Of course, not to ask for something. But in order to communicate with God and talk with Him. God should not be imagined. After all, every image we create will be an idol. God must be carried in the depths of the heart as He reveals Himself to us. Since prayer and repentance are a relationship between God and man. To separate heresy like cutlets from flies. After all, in order to be a true Christian believer, it is not enough to wear a cross. Go and light a candle in the temple. Jesus Christ even convicted His disciples of lack of faith.
When they used it in their deeds, receiving from Him the power of the Holy Spirit.
Truly I say to you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain:
“move from here to there,” and she will move; and nothing will be impossible for you; (Matt.17:20) Then do not forget about the gift of the power of God. And this gift is given to those who turn their pure hearts to God.
In order for each of us to ask for our salvation from the rottenness that can settle in our souls. Therefore, it is important not to put off the days of your repentance, which may suddenly end today or tomorrow, according to the same will of God. And for this we thank the Savior, who patiently calls us to repentance, for our good. After all, nothing is impossible for God. He is omnipresent. And therefore it cannot be closer to you than your soul is to your body. Open your soul, just be able to find this closeness with God. Through faith and prayer.
Tell your heart: “Heavenly Father, As I approach You, I give myself all and open my heart to You. In the name of love of the commandments. In the name of Your prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ, who suffered for me and for my sins. I'm sorry! My God, I believe that You are Jesus. That You are the Living God. I repent that You died because of my sins. But I am grateful that You have risen for my salvation. In order for me to realize my sin. From today, I consider You as my savior. Heal me, my God, from my error and bless me for good deeds. So that You may write my name in the book of life. I give thanks and praise Your name. Give me the strength of reconciliation with everyone whom I have voluntarily or unwittingly offended. May you, in the purity of your soul, partake of Your Most Pure Mysteries, for the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen."
Easter comes in the spring. In Your hands, Lord, her first breath is in the blossoming willow. This is a sign of life over death. And just as a tree that seems dead in winter comes to life in spring, so our soul living in You will never die. And we rejoice in the miracle of the salvation of our sinful soul. At the end of Passion Week, we will sing the Holy Resurrection of Christ.
Troparion, tone 5;
Christ rose from the dead, trampling down death through death and giving life to those in the tombs.
Christ rose from the dead, conquering death by death and giving life to those in the tombs.
Christ is Risen (3)
We sing your name.
Christ is Risen (3)
Songs fly to heaven.
Christ is Risen (3)
They sing to Him and praise Him everywhere!
Christ is Risen (3)
Lord Almighty to heaven.
Christ is Risen (3)
The sounds of bells are broadcast.
Christ is Risen (3)
God's people have been repeating this for centuries.
Christ is Risen (3)
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Every believer must understand that in confession he confesses his deeds to the Lord. Each of his sins must be covered by the desire to atone for his guilt before the Lord; this is the only way to achieve his forgiveness.
If a person feels that his soul is heavy, then it is necessary to go to church and undergo the sacrament of confession. After repentance, you will feel much better, and a heavy burden will fall from your shoulders. Your soul will become free and your conscience will no longer torment you.
What is needed for confession
Before you can properly confess in church, you need to understand what to say there. Before confession you need to make the following preparations:
- realize your sins, sincerely repent of them;
- have a sincere desire for sin to be left behind, with faith in the Lord;
- to sincerely believe in the fact that confession will help to cleanse yourself spiritually with the help of prayers and sincere repentance.
Confession will help remove sins from the soul only if the repentance is sincere and the person’s faith is strong. If you said to yourself, “I want to confess,” then your conscience and faith in the Lord should tell you where to start.
How does confession go?
If you are thinking about how to properly confess in church, you must first understand that all actions must be as sincere as possible. In its process, it is necessary to open your heart and soul, completely repenting of what you have done. And if there are people who do not understand its meaning, who do not feel relief after it, then these are simply unbelieving people who have not really realized their sins and certainly have not repented of them.
It is important to understand that confession is not a simple listing of all your sins. Many people think that the Lord already knows everything about them. But this is not at all what He expects from you. In order for the Lord to forgive you, you should want to get rid of your sins and repent of them. Only then can one expect relief after confession.
What to do during confession
People who have never made the sacrament of confession do not have the slightest idea how to properly confess to the priest. All people who are ready to confess are welcome in churches. Even for the greatest sinners, the path there is never closed. Moreover, priests often help their parishioners in the process of confession, pushing them to take the right actions. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of confession, even if you do not know how to confess correctly for the first time.
During individual confession, one should not forget about those sins that were mentioned during the general sacrament. This can be done in any words, since the form of repentance does not matter. You can express your sin in one word, for example, “stole,” or you can talk about it in more detail. You need to speak from the heart, in the words that your heart tells you. After all, you are pouring out your thoughts before God, and it does not matter to him what the priest may be thinking at this time. Therefore, there is no need to be ashamed of your words at all.
What to do if you forgot to name some sin?
Every person can get agitated. You can then simply go up to the priest and tell him everything. There is nothing criminal about this.
Many parishioners write down their sins on a piece of paper and come to confession. This has its advantages. Firstly, this way you won’t forget about the main thing, and secondly, by writing it down, you will think about your actions and understand that you did the wrong thing.
But here, too, you should not overdo it, since this process can make confession a mere formality.
At the first confession, a person must remember all his misdeeds, starting from the age of six. After this, there is no longer any need to remember those sins that have already been named before. Unless, of course, they committed this sin again.
If the above-mentioned offenses are not considered a sin, then the priest should tell the person about this, and together they should think about why this act bothers the parishioner so much.
How to confess correctly
Having decided to confess, you should find out how this procedure occurs. After all, there is a whole Orthodox ritual for this, which takes place in a specially designated place called a lectern. It is a table with four kuts, on which you can see the Holy Gospel and a cross.
Before you repent of your sins, you need to go up to him and put two fingers on the Gospel. After this, the priest can put the epitrachelion on his head. In appearance it somewhat resembles a scarf.
But the priest can do this even after he has listened to the person’s sins. After this, the clergyman will read a prayer for the remission of sins. A priest baptizes a parishioner.
At the end of the prayer, the epitrachelion is removed from the head. Even then you need to cross yourself and kiss the holy cross. Only after this can you receive a blessing from the priest.
After confession, the priest can assign a person penance. Lately this has happened quite rarely, but there is no need to be afraid of such a step - these are simply actions whose purpose is to quickly eradicate sins from a person’s life.
But the priest can soften or even cancel the penance if the person asks for it. Of course, there must be a good reason for such a step. Very often, prayers, bows or other actions are prescribed as penance, which should become an act of mercy on the part of the person confessing. But recently, priests most often assign penance only if the person himself asked for it.
How to confess correctly - advice from a priest
It often happens that during confession a person’s tears flow. There is no need to be ashamed of this, but you should not turn tears of repentance into hysterics.
What is better to wear to confession?
Before going to confession, you should review your wardrobe. Men must wear long pants, shirts or T-shirts with long sleeves. It is very important that the clothes do not depict various mythical characters, women without clothes or scenes with elements of smoking or drinking alcohol. In the warm season, men should be in church without hats.
Women should dress very modestly for confession. Outerwear must cover the shoulders and décolleté. The skirt should not be too short, maximum to the knees. There should also be a scarf on the head. It is very important not to wear makeup and, especially, not to use lipstick, since you need to kiss the cross and the Gospel. You should not wear shoes with long heels, as the service may take a long time and your feet will get tired.
Preparing for confession and communion
Confession and communion can occur on the same day, but this is not necessary. You can confess during any service, but for the second sacrament you need to prepare much more seriously, since it is very important to receive the sacrament correctly.
Before the sacrament of communion there must be at least three days of strict fasting. A week before this, it is necessary to read akathists to the Mother of God and the Saints. On the day before communion, it is worth attending the evening service. Don’t forget about reading the three canons:
- Savior;
- Mother of God;
- Guardian Angel.
You cannot eat or drink anything before communion. It is also necessary to read morning prayers after sleep. At confession, the priest will definitely ask whether the person fasted before communion and whether he read all the prayers.
Preparation for communion also includes renouncing marital obligations, smoking and drinking alcohol. During the period of preparation for this sacrament, you should not use foul language or gossip about other people. This is very important, because preparations are underway to receive the Blood and Body of Christ.
You need to stand in front of the Chalice of Christ with your arms crossed on your chest and say your name before drinking wine and bread.
How to confess correctly for the first time
If a person wants to confess for the first time, then he needs to understand that not simple repentance awaits him. Such a confession is usually called general. It must be approached consciously and very carefully. It is important for a person to concentrate and remember all his sins from the age of six (in subsequent times he will no longer have to do this).
Church ministers recommend fasting during the preparation period and giving up relationships with members of the opposite sex. How long to fast depends on the person himself. You need to listen to the needs of your soul and follow them.
Don't forget to read your prayers and read the Bible these days. In addition, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the literature that exists on this topic. The priest can recommend some books. But before reading unverified publications, it is better to consult with your priest.
During confession, you should not use any memorized words or phrases. After the person talks about sins, the priest may ask some more questions. They must be answered calmly, even if they confuse the person. The parishioner himself can ask troubling questions, because the first confession exists so that a person takes the right path and never leaves it.
But we should not forget about other people who came to the Liturgy and also want to confess. There is no need to take a lot of time, even if there are still some questions. They can be asked to the priest after the Service.
The sacrament of confession has its purpose - it cleanses human souls from sins. But do not forget that you need to confess constantly. After all, in our troubled times it is impossible to live without sinning. And all sins fall heavily on our soul and our conscience.
What to say in confession - a list of women's sins
1. She violated the rules of conduct for those praying in the holy temple.
2. I had dissatisfaction with my life and with people.
3. She performed prayers without zeal and bowed low to icons, prayed lying down, sitting (unnecessarily, out of laziness).
4. She sought glory and praise in virtues and works.
5. I was not always content with what I had: I wanted to have beautiful, varied clothes, furniture, and delicious food.
6. I was annoyed and offended when my wishes were refused.
7. I did not abstain with my husband during pregnancy, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, during fasting, and was in uncleanness by consent with my husband.
8. I 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 and indirectness. I remembered the words others had said against me and sang shameless worldly songs.
11. She grumbled about the bad road, the length and tediousness of the service.
12. I used to save money for a rainy day, as well as for funerals.
13. She was angry with her loved ones and scolded her children. She did not tolerate comments or fair reproaches from people, she immediately fought back.
14. She sinned with vanity, asking for praise, saying “you can’t praise yourself, no one will praise you.”
15. The deceased was remembered with alcohol; on a fast day the funeral table was modest.
16. Didn’t have a firm determination to give up sin.
17. I doubted the honesty of my neighbors.
18. I missed opportunities to do good.
19. She suffered from pride, did not condemn herself, and was not always the first to ask for forgiveness.
20. Allowed food spoilage.
21. She did not always keep the shrine reverently (artos, water, prosphora spoiled).
22. I sinned with the goal of “repenting.”
23. She objected, justifying herself, was irritated by the lack of understanding, stupidity and ignorance of others, made reprimands and comments, contradicted, divulged sins and weaknesses.
24. Attributed sins and weaknesses to others.
25. She succumbed to rage: she scolded her loved ones, insulted her husband and children.
26. Led others into anger, irritability, and indignation.
27. I sinned by judging my neighbor and tarnishing his good name.
28. Sometimes she became discouraged and carried her cross with a murmur.
29. Interfered in other people's conversations, interrupted the speaker's speech.
30. She sinned with grumpiness, compared herself with others, complained and became embittered at those who offended her.
31. Thanked people, did not look towards God with gratitude.
32. I fell asleep with sinful thoughts and dreams.
33. I noticed bad words and actions of people.
34. Drank and ate food that was harmful to health.
35. She was troubled in spirit by slander and considered herself better than others.
36. She sinned by indulgence and indulgence in sins, self-indulgence, self-indulgence, disrespect for old age, untimely eating, intransigence, inattention to requests.
37. I missed the opportunity to sow the word of God and bring benefit.
38. She sinned with gluttony, guttural rage: she loved to eat excessively, savor tasty morsels, and amused herself with drunkenness.
39. She was distracted from prayer, distracted others, gave off bad air in church, went out when necessary without telling about it in confession, and 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. She became bitter towards the poor, did not accept strangers, did not give to the poor, did not clothe the naked.
42. I trusted in man more than in God.
43. I was drunk at a party.
44. I did not send gifts to those who offended me.
45. I was upset at a loss.
46. I fell asleep during the day unnecessarily.
47. I was burdened by sorrows.
48. I didn’t protect myself from colds and didn’t get treatment from doctors.
49. She deceived me with her word.
50. Exploited the work of others.
51. She was depressed in sorrows.
52. She was a hypocrite, a people-pleaser.
53. She wished evil, was cowardly.
54. She was resourceful for evil.
55. Was rude and not condescending to others.
56. I didn’t force myself to do good deeds or pray.
57. She angrily reproached the authorities at rallies.
58. I shortened prayers, skipped them, rearranged words.
59. I envied others and wanted honor for myself.
60. I sinned with pride, vanity, self-love.
61. I watched dances, dances, various games and shows.
62. She sinned by idle ranting, secret eating, petrification, insensibility, neglect, disobedience, intemperance, stinginess, condemnation, love of money, reproach.
63. Spent the holidays in drinking and earthly amusements.
64. She sinned by sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, inaccurate observance of fasts, unworthy communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
65. She got drunk and laughed at someone else’s sin.
66. She sinned through lack of faith, infidelity, betrayal, deceit, lawlessness, groaning over sin, doubt, freethinking.
67. She was fickle in good deeds and did not care about reading the Holy Gospel.
68. I came up with excuses for my sins.
69. She sinned by disobedience, arbitrariness, unfriendliness, malice, disobedience, insolence, contempt, ingratitude, severity, sneaking, oppression.
70. She did not always fulfill her official duties conscientiously; she was careless and hasty in her work.
71. She believed in signs and various superstitions.
72. Was an instigator of evil.
73. I went to weddings without a church wedding.
74. I sinned through spiritual insensibility: relying on myself, on magic, on fortune telling.
75. Did not keep these vows.
76. Concealed sins during confession.
77. I tried to find out other people’s secrets, read other people’s letters, eavesdropped on telephone conversations.
78. In great grief she wished for death.
79. Wore immodest clothes.
80. Talked during the meal.
81. She drank and ate the water “charged” by Chumak.
82. Worked through strength.
83. I forgot about my Guardian Angel.
84. I sinned by being lazy in praying for my neighbors; I did not always pray when asked to do so.
85. I was ashamed to cross myself among unbelievers, and took off the cross when going to the bathhouse and to see a doctor.
86. She did not keep the vows given at Holy Baptism and did not maintain the purity of her soul.
87. She noticed the sins and weaknesses of others, divulged and reinterpreted them for the worse. She swore, swore on her head, on her life. She called people “devil”, “Satan”, “demon”.
88. She called the dumb cattle after the names of holy saints: Vaska, Mashka.
89. I didn’t always pray before eating food; sometimes I had breakfast in the morning before the Divine service.
90. Having previously been an unbeliever, she seduced her neighbors into unbelief.
91. She set a bad example with her life.
92. I was lazy to work, shifting my labor onto the shoulders of others.
93. I did not always handle the word of God with care: I drank tea and read the Holy Gospel (which is lack of reverence).
94. Took Epiphany water after eating (unnecessarily).
95. I picked lilacs from the cemetery and brought them home.
96. I didn’t always keep the sacrament days, I forgot to read the prayers of thanks. I ate a lot these days and slept a lot.
97. I sinned by being idle, coming to church late and leaving it early, and rarely going to church.
98. Neglected menial work when absolutely necessary.
99. She sinned by indifference, remained silent when someone blasphemed.
100. She did not strictly observe fasting days, during fasts she was satiated with fasting food, she tempted others with the indulgence of something tasty and inaccurate according to the rules: a hot loaf, vegetable oil, seasoning.
101. I was carried away by bliss, relaxation, carelessness, trying on clothes and jewelry.
102. She reproached the priests and servants and spoke about their shortcomings.
103. Gave advice on abortion.
104. I disturbed someone else’s sleep through carelessness and impudence.
105. I read love letters, copied, memorized passionate poems, listened to music, songs, watched shameless movies.
106. She sinned with immodest glances, looked at other people’s nudity, wore immodest clothes.
107. I was tempted in a dream and passionately remembered it.
108. She suspected in vain (she slandered in her heart).
109. She retold empty, superstitious tales and fables, praised herself, and did not always tolerate the revealing truth and offenders.
110. Showed curiosity about other people's letters and papers.
111. Idly inquired about the weaknesses of my neighbor.
112. I have not freed myself from the passion to tell or ask about news.
113. I read prayers and akathists rewritten with errors.
114. I considered myself better and more worthy than others.
115. I don’t always light lamps and candles in front of icons.
116. I violated the secret of my own and others’ confession.
117. Participated in bad deeds, persuaded people to do bad things.
118. She was stubborn against goodness and did not listen to good advice. She showed off her beautiful clothes.
119. I wanted everything to be my way, I looked for the culprits of my sorrows.
120. After completing the prayer, I had evil thoughts.
121. She spent money on music, cinema, the circus, sinful books and other amusements, and lent money for a deliberately bad cause.
122. In thoughts inspired by the enemy, she plotted against the Holy Faith and the Holy Church.
123. She disturbed 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. I ate before mass on Sundays and holidays.
127. She spoiled the water when she bathed in the river from which she drank.
128. She talked about her exploits, labors, and boasted about her virtues.
129. I enjoyed using scented soap, cream, powder, and painted my eyebrows, nails and eyelashes.
130. I sinned with the hope that “God will forgive.”
131. I relied on my own strengths and abilities, and not on the help and mercy of God.
132. She worked on holidays and weekends, and from working on these days she did not give money to the poor.
133. I visited a healer, went to a fortune teller, was treated with “biocurrents”, sat in psychic sessions.
134. She sowed enmity and discord between people, she herself offended others.
135. She sold vodka and moonshine, speculated, made moonshine (was present at the same time) and took part.
136. She suffered from gluttony, even getting up to eat and drink at night.
137. Drew a cross on the ground.
138. I read atheistic books, magazines, “treatises on love”, looked at pornographic paintings, maps, half-nude images.
139. Distorted the Holy Scripture (mistakes when reading, singing).
140. She exalted herself with pride, sought primacy and supremacy.
141. In anger she mentioned evil spirits and called on a demon.
142. I danced and played on holidays and Sundays.
143. She entered the temple in uncleanness, ate prosphora, antidor.
144. In anger, I scolded and cursed those who offended me: so that there is no bottom, no tire, etc.
145. Spent money on entertainment (rides, carousels, all kinds of shows).
146. She was offended by her spiritual father and grumbled at him.
147. She disdained kissing icons and caring for sick and old people.
148. She teased the deaf and dumb, the weak-minded, and minors, angered animals, and paid evil for evil.
149. Tempted people, wore see-through clothes, miniskirts.
150. She swore and was baptized, saying: “I will fail in this place,” etc.
151. She retold ugly stories (sinful in essence) from the lives of her parents and neighbors.
152. Had a spirit of jealousy towards a friend, sister, brother, friend.
153. She sinned by being grumpy, self-willed, and complaining that there was no health, strength, or strength in the body.
154. I envied rich people, their beauty, their intelligence, education, wealth, and goodwill.
155. She did not keep her prayers and good deeds secret, and did not keep church secrets.
156. She justified her sins with illness, infirmity, and bodily weakness.
157. She condemned other people's sins and shortcomings, compared people, gave them characteristics, judged them.
158. She revealed the sins of others, mocked them, ridiculed people.
159. Deliberately deceived, told lies.
160. I hastily read holy books when my mind and heart did not assimilate what I read.
161. I gave up prayer because I was tired, using the excuse of weakness.
162. I rarely cried because I was living unrighteously; I forgot about humility, self-reproach, salvation and the Last Judgment.
163. In my life I have not surrendered myself to the will of God.
164. She 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 in front of the elder.
167. I spent a lot of time on empty letters, and not on spiritual ones.
168. Didn’t have a feeling of fear of God.
169. She was angry, shook her fist, and swore.
170. I read more than I prayed.
171. I succumbed to persuasion, to the temptation to sin.
172. She commanded imperiously.
173. She slandered others, forced others to swear.
174. She turned her face away from those asking.
175. She disturbed the peace of mind of her neighbor and had a sinful mood of spirit.
176. Did good without thinking about God.
177. She was vain about her place, rank, position.
178. On the bus I did not give up my seat to the elderly or passengers with children.
179. When buying, she bargained and fell into argument.
180. I did not always accept the words of the elders and confessors with faith.
181. She looked with curiosity and asked about worldly things.
182. The flesh did not live in the shower, bath, bathhouse.
183. Traveled aimlessly, out 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, pleasure in worldly pleasures.
186. She pleased others to please the flesh and the enemy, and not for the benefit of the spirit and salvation.
187. I sinned with unspiritual attachment to friends.
188. I was proud of myself when doing a good deed. She didn’t humiliate herself or reproach herself.
189. She did not always feel sorry for sinful people, but scolded and reproached them.
190. She was dissatisfied with her life, scolded her and said: “When death takes me.”
191. There were times when she called me annoyingly and knocked loudly to get them to open.
192. While reading, I did not think deeply about the Holy Scriptures.
193. I did not always have cordiality towards visitors and the memory of God.
194. I did things out of passion and worked needlessly.
195. Often fueled by empty dreams.
196. She sinned with malice, did not remain silent in anger, did not move away from the one who aroused anger.
197. When I was sick, I often used food not for satisfaction, but for pleasure and enjoyment.
198. She coldly received mentally helpful visitors.
199. I grieved for the one who offended me. And they grieved at me when I offended.
200. During prayer I did not always have repentant feelings or 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 by fornication: I was with my husband not to conceive children, but out of lust. In the absence of her husband, she desecrated herself with masturbation.
204. At work I 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, fluffy clothes, other people's hair (wigs, hairpieces, braids).
207. She was afraid of suffering and endured it reluctantly.
208. She often opened her mouth to show off her gold teeth, wore glasses with gold frames, and an abundance of rings and gold jewelry.
209. I asked advice from people who do not have spiritual intelligence.
210. Before reading the word of God, she did not always call on the grace of the Holy Spirit, she only cared about reading as much as possible.
211. She passed on the gift of God to the womb, voluptuousness, idleness and sleep. She didn’t work, having talent.
212. I was lazy to write and rewrite spiritual instructions.
213. I dyed my hair and looked younger, visited beauty salons.
214. When giving alms, she did not combine it with the correction of her heart.
215. She did not shy away from flatterers and did not stop them.
216. She had an addiction to clothes: she cared about how not to get dirty, not dusty, not to get wet.
217. She did not always wish salvation for her enemies and did not care about it.
218. At prayer I was “a slave of necessity and duty.”
219. After fasting, I ate light meals, eating until my stomach became heavy and often without time.
220. I rarely prayed the night prayer. She sniffed tobacco and indulged in smoking.
221. Didn’t avoid spiritual temptations. Had some bad dates. I lost heart.
222. On the road I forgot about prayer.
223. Intervened with instructions.
224. She did not sympathize with the sick and mourning.
225. She didn’t always lend money.
226. I feared sorcerers more than God.
227. I felt sorry for myself for the benefit of others.
228. She soiled and spoiled sacred books.
229. I talked before morning and after evening prayer.
230. She brought glasses to guests against their will, treated them beyond measure.
231. I did the works of God without love and zeal.
232. Often I did not see my sins, I rarely condemned myself.
233. I played with my face, looking in the mirror, making grimaces.
234. She spoke about God without humility and caution.
235. I was burdened by the service, waiting for the end, hurrying quickly to the exit in order to calm down and take care of everyday affairs.
236. I rarely did self-tests; in the evening I did not read the prayer “I confess to you...”
237. I rarely thought about what I heard in the temple and read in the Scriptures.
238. I did not look for traits of kindness in an evil person and did not talk about his good deeds.
239. I often did not see my sins and rarely condemned myself.
240. Took contraceptives. She demanded protection from her husband and interruption of the act.
241. Praying for health and peace, I often went through names without the participation and love of my heart.
242. She spoke out everything when it would have been better to remain silent.
243. In the conversation I used artistic techniques. She spoke in an unnatural voice.
244. She was offended by inattention and neglect of herself, and was inattentive to others.
245. Did not abstain from excesses and pleasures.
246. She wore other people’s clothes without permission and damaged other people’s things. In the room I blew my nose on the floor.
247. She sought benefit and benefit for herself, and not for her neighbor.
248. Forced a person to sin: to lie, steal, spy.
249. Convey and retell.
250. I found pleasure in sinful dates.
251. Visited places of wickedness, debauchery and godlessness.
252. She offered her ear to hear the bad.
253. Attributed success to herself, and not to God’s help.
254. While studying spiritual life, I did not put it into practice.
255. She worried people in vain and did not calm the angry and saddened.
256. I often washed clothes, wasting time unnecessarily.
257. Sometimes she ran into danger: she crossed the road in front of vehicles, crossed a river on thin ice, etc.
258. She rose above others, showing her superiority and wisdom of mind. She allowed herself to humiliate another, mocking the shortcomings of soul and body.
259. I put off the works of God, mercy and prayer for later.
260. I didn’t mourn myself when I did a bad deed. I listened with pleasure to slanderous speeches, blasphemed the life and treatment of others.
261. Did not use excess income for spiritual benefits.
262. I did not save from the days of fasting to give to the sick, the needy and children.
263. She worked reluctantly, with grumbling and annoyance because of the low pay.
264. Was the cause of sin in family discord.
265. She endured sorrows without gratitude and self-reproach.
266. I didn’t always retire to be alone with God.
267. She lay and luxuriated in bed for a long time, and did not immediately get up to pray.
268. Lost self-control when defending the offended, kept hostility and evil in her heart.
269. Didn’t stop the speaker from gossiping. She herself often passed it on to others and with an addition from herself.
270. Before morning prayer and during the prayer rule, I did household chores.
271. She autocratically presented her thoughts as the true rule of life.
272. Ate stolen food.
273. I did not confess the Lord with my mind, heart, word, or deed. She had an alliance with the wicked.
274. At meals I was too lazy to treat and serve my neighbor.
275. She was sad about the deceased, about the fact that she herself was sick.
276. I was glad that the holiday had come and I didn’t have to work.
277. I drank wine on holidays. She loved going to dinner parties. I got fed up there.
278. I listened to the teachers when they said things that were harmful to the soul, against God.
279. Used perfume, burned Indian incense.
280. She was engaged in lesbianism and touched someone else’s body with voluptuousness. With lust and voluptuousness I watched the matings of animals.
281. She cared beyond measure about the nutrition of the body. Accepted gifts or alms at a time when there was no need to accept it.
282. I didn’t try to stay away from a person who likes to chat.
283. Didn’t get baptized, didn’t say a prayer when the church bell rang.
284. Being under the guidance of her spiritual father, she did everything according to her own will.
285. She was naked when swimming, sunbathing, doing physical education, and when she was sick she was shown to a male doctor.
286. She did not always remember and count her violations of the Law of God with repentance.
287. While reading prayers and canons, I was too lazy to bow.
288. Having heard that the person was sick, she did not rush to help.
289. In thought and word she extolled herself in the good she had done.
290. I believed the rumors. She did not punish herself for her sins.
291. During church services, I read my household rule or wrote a memorial.
292. I did not abstain from my favorite foods (albeit lean ones).
293. She punished and lectured children unfairly.
294. I did not have daily memory of God’s Judgment, death, or the Kingdom of God.
295. During times of sadness, I did not occupy my mind and heart with the prayer of Christ.
296. I did not force myself to pray, to read the Word of God, or to cry about my sins.
297. She rarely commemorated the dead and did not pray for the dead.
298. She approached the Chalice with unconfessed sin.
299. In the morning I did gymnastics, and did not devote my first thoughts to God.
300. When praying, I was too lazy to cross myself, sorted out my bad thoughts, and didn’t think about what awaited me beyond the grave.
301. I hurried through prayer, shortened it out of laziness and read it without due attention.
302. I told my neighbors and acquaintances about my grievances. I visited places where bad examples were set.
303. She admonished a person without meekness and love. She became irritated when correcting her neighbor.
304. I didn’t always light the lamp on holidays and Sundays.
305. On Sundays I didn’t go to church, but to pick mushrooms and berries...
306. Had more savings than necessary.
307. I spared my strength and health in order to serve my neighbor.
308. She reproached her neighbor for what 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 anger, wished for her death, and used a witch doctor’s incantation to harass her.
312. I have been demanding and disrespectful towards people. She gained the upper hand in conversations with her neighbors. On the way to the temple, she overtook those older than me, and did not wait for those who lagged behind me.
313. She turned her abilities to earthly goods.
314. Had jealousy towards my spiritual father.
315. I always tried to be right.
316. I asked unnecessary questions.
317. Cried about the temporary.
318. Interpreted dreams and took them seriously.
319. She boasted about her sin, the evil she had done.
320. After communion I did not guard against sin.
321. I kept atheist books and playing cards in the house.
322. She gave advice without knowing whether it was pleasing to God; she was careless in the affairs of God.
323. She accepted prosphora and 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 Lent, she practiced guttural diarrhea and loved to drink strong tea, coffee, and other drinks.
327. I took tickets and groceries from the back door, and rode on a bus without a ticket.
328. She put prayer and the temple above serving her neighbor.
329. Endured sorrows with despondency and murmuring.
330. I was irritated when tired and sick.
331. Had free relations with persons of the other sex.
332. When thinking about worldly affairs, she gave up prayer.
333. I was forced to eat and drink the sick and children.
334. She treated vicious people with contempt and did not strive to convert them.
335. She knew and gave money for an evil deed.
336. She entered the house without an invitation, spied through a crack, through a window, through a keyhole, and listened at the door.
337. Confided secrets to strangers.
338. I ate food without need and hunger.
339. I read prayers with errors, got confused, missed them, put the emphasis incorrectly.
340. She lived lustfully with her husband. She allowed perversion and carnal pleasures.
341. She lent money and asked for debts back.
342. I tried to find out more about divine objects than was revealed by God.
343. She sinned with body movement, gait, gesture.
344. She set herself up as an example, boasted, boasted.
345. She spoke passionately about earthly things and delighted in the memory of sin.
346. I went to the temple and back with empty conversations.
347. I insured my life and property, I wanted to make money from the insurance.
348. She was greedy for pleasure, unchaste.
349. She conveyed 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 and dreamed of travel and entertainment.
353. Made wrong decisions in anger.
354. I was distracted by thoughts while praying.
355. Traveled south for carnal pleasures.
356. I used the time of prayer for everyday matters.
357. She distorted words, distorted the thoughts of others, and expressed her displeasure out loud.
358. I was ashamed to admit to my neighbors that I am a believer and visit the temple of God.
359. She slandered, demanded justice in higher authorities, wrote complaints.
360. She denounced those who do not visit 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 beggar.
363. I listened to the advice of egoists who themselves were slaves of the womb and their carnal passions.
364. I was engaged in self-aggrandizement, proudly expecting a greeting from my neighbor.
365. I was burdened by fasting and looked forward to its end.
366. She could not bear the stench of people without disgust.
367. In anger she denounced people, forgetting that we are all sinners.
368. She went to bed, did not remember the affairs of the day and did not shed tears about her sins.
369. She did not keep the Charter of the Church and the traditions of the Holy Fathers.
370. She paid for help in the household with vodka and tempted people with drunkenness.
371. During fasting, I made tricks in food.
372. I was distracted from prayer when bitten by a mosquito, fly or other insect.
373. At the sight of human ingratitude, I refrained from doing good deeds.
374. She shunned dirty work: cleaning the toilet, picking up trash.
375. During the period of breastfeeding, she did not abstain from married life.
376. In the temple she stood with her back to the altar and the holy icons.
377. She prepared sophisticated dishes and tempted her with guttural madness.
378. I read entertaining books with pleasure, and not the Scriptures of the Holy Fathers.
379. I watched TV, spent all day at the “box”, and not in prayers in front of icons.
380. Listened to passionate worldly music.
381. She sought consolation in friendship, yearned for carnal pleasures, loved to kiss men and women on the mouth.
382. Engaged in extortion and deception, judged and discussed people.
383. While fasting, I felt disgusted by monotonous, lean food.
384. She spoke the Word of God to unworthy people (not “throwing pearls before swine”).
385. She neglected the holy icons and did not wipe them from dust in a timely manner.
386. I was too lazy to write congratulations on church holidays.
387. Spent time in worldly games and entertainment: checkers, backgammon, lotto, cards, chess, rolling pins, ruffles, Rubik's cube and others.
388. She charmed illnesses, gave advice to go to sorcerers, gave addresses of sorcerers.
389. She believed omens and slander: she spat over her left shoulder, a black cat ran by, a spoon, fork, etc. fell.
390. She answered the angry man sharply to his anger.
391. Tried to prove the justification and justice of her anger.
392. She was annoying, interrupted people’s sleep, and distracted them from their meals.
393. Relaxed with small talk with young people of the opposite sex.
394. Was engaged in idle talk, curiosity, stuck around fires and was present at accidents.
395. She considered it unnecessary to undergo treatment for illnesses and visit a doctor.
396. I tried to calm myself down by hastily fulfilling the rule.
397. I overworked myself with work.
398. I ate a lot during the meat-eating week.
399. Gave incorrect advice to neighbors.
400. She told shameful jokes.
401. To please the authorities, she covered the holy icons.
402. I neglected a person in his old age and his poverty of mind.
403. She stretched out her hands to her naked body, looked and touched the secret ouds with her hands.
404. She punished children with anger, in a fit of passion, with abuse and cursing.
405. Taught children to spy, eavesdrop, pimp.
406. She spoiled her children and did not pay attention to their bad deeds.
407. I had a satanic fear for my body, I was afraid of wrinkles and gray hair.
408. Burdened others with requests.
409. Drew conclusions about the sinfulness of people based on their misfortunes.
410. Wrote offensive and anonymous letters, spoke rudely, disturbed people on the phone, making jokes under an assumed name.
411. Sat on the bed without the owner’s permission.
412. During prayer I imagined the Lord.
413. Satanic laughter attacked while reading and listening to the Divine.
414. I asked advice from people ignorant in this matter, I believed in crafty people.
415. I strived for championship, competition, won interviews, participated in competitions.
416. Treated the Gospel as a fortune-telling book.
417. I picked berries, flowers, branches in other people's gardens without permission.
418. During fasting, she did not have a good disposition towards people and allowed violations of fasting.
419. I did not always realize and regret the sin.
420. I listened to worldly records, sinned by watching videos and porn movies, and relaxed in other worldly pleasures.
421. I read a prayer, having enmity against my neighbor.
422. She prayed in a hat, with her head uncovered.
423. I believed in omens.
424. She indiscriminately used 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. She appropriated the money she found.
427. In church I put bags and things on the windows.
428. I rode for pleasure in a car, motor boat, or bicycle.
429. I repeated other people’s bad words, listened to people swearing.
430. I read newspapers, books, and worldly magazines with enthusiasm.
431. She abhorred the poor, the wretched, the sick, who smelled bad.
432. She was proud that she had not committed shameful sins, capital murder, abortion, etc.
433. I ate and got drunk before the onset of the fasts.
434. I purchased unnecessary things without having to.
435. After a prodigal sleep, I did not always read prayers against defilement.
436. She celebrated the New Year, wore masks and obscene clothes, got drunk, cursed, overeated and sinned.
437. Caused damage to her neighbor, spoiled and broke other people's things.
438. She believed in nameless “prophets”, in “holy letters”, “the dream of the Virgin Mary”, she herself copied them and passed them on to others.
439. I listened to sermons in church with a spirit of criticism and condemnation.
440. She used her earnings for sinful lusts and amusements.
441. Spread bad rumors about priests and monks.
442. She jostled around in the church, hurrying to kiss the icon, the Gospel, the cross.
443. She was proud, in her lack and poverty she was indignant and grumbled at the Lord.
444. I urinated in public and even joked about it.
445. She did not always repay what she borrowed on time.
446. She minimized her sins in confession.
447. Gloated at the misfortune of her neighbor.
448. She taught others in an instructive, commanding tone.
449. She shared their vices with people and confirmed them in these vices.
450. Quarreled with people for a place in the church, at the icons, near the eve table.
451. Inadvertently caused pain to animals.
452. I left a glass of vodka at the grave of relatives.
453. I did not sufficiently prepare myself for the sacrament of confession.
454. The sanctity of Sundays and holidays was violated by games, visits to shows, etc.
455. When the crops were being grassed, she swore at the cattle with dirty words.
456. I had dates in cemeteries; as a child we ran and played hide and seek there.
457. Allowed sexual intercourse before marriage.
458. She got drunk on purpose in order to decide to sin, and took medicine along with wine to get more drunk.
459. She begged for alcohol, pawned things and documents for this.
460. To attract attention to herself, to make her worry, she tried to commit suicide.
461. As a child, I didn’t listen to teachers, prepared my lessons poorly, was lazy, and disrupted classes.
462. I visited cafes and restaurants located in churches.
463. She sang in a restaurant, on the stage, and danced in a variety show.
464. In crowded transport, I felt pleasure from touching and did not try to avoid it.
465. She was offended by her parents for punishment, remembered these grievances for a long time and told others about them.
466. She reassured herself with the fact that everyday worries prevented her from engaging in matters of faith, salvation and piety, and justified herself with the fact that in her youth no one taught the Christian faith.
467. Wasted time on useless chores, fuss, and conversations.
468. Was engaged in the interpretation of dreams.
469. She objected with passion, fought, and scolded.
470. She sinned with thefts, as a child she stole eggs, gave them to a store, etc.
471. She was vain, proud, did not respect her parents, and did not obey the authorities.
472. She engaged in heresy, had a wrong opinion about the subject of faith, doubt and even apostasy from the Orthodox faith.
473. Had the sin of Sodom (coitus with animals, with the wicked, entered into an incestuous relationship).
Bishop of Obukhov Jonah (Cherepanov), abbot of the Kyiv Holy Trinity Ionian Monastery: The correct opinion is the opinion of your confessor
Great Lent was given to us for this purpose, so that we could practice the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. I recommend that people take communion every Sunday of Great Lent. Moreover, it is necessary to receive communion during Holy Week.
All services of this Week are very deeply connected with the memory of the Last Supper, the actual day of the establishment of the Eucharist. If a person has the opportunity to take time off from work, there is the opportunity to take some time off and free up some time in order to spend Holy Week properly, it is better to receive communion at all the liturgies that are celebrated during this week.
The first three days of Holy Week are celebrated with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. These days it is quite problematic to attend all services.
But starting from Wednesday evening, you need to be constantly in church: on Wednesday evening, be in church, on Maundy Thursday, to partake of the most pure Body and Blood of Christ, which he commanded us to receive for the healing of soul and body, for the remission of sins and eternal life.
On Holy Saturday, every Christian also needs to take communion. It is worth saying that the liturgy of Holy Saturday is my favorite of the liturgical year, not only for me, but also for many priests. Only on this day can one feel such quiet and sublime Easter joy. The Easter holiday itself is such a bright, stormy celebration, it has a greater effect on our spiritual receptors.
Spiritual feelings are extremely heightened precisely during the liturgy of Holy Saturday, when on the one hand the Savior is already in the Tomb, but on the other hand we know that Christ has already conquered Hell. We know that Christ is about to rise again and appear to the apostles. And this quiet Easter joy is very, very felt precisely in the liturgy of Holy Saturday.
At this liturgy there is such a very symbolic moment when, during the singing of the prokemna, dark fast vestments are removed and replaced with light pre-Easter clothes. This also sets us up for Easter joy.
According to the liturgical regulations, Orthodox Christians are required to remain in churches throughout Bright Week, partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ daily. If possible, if this time can be freed from everyday worries, from vanity, from work, then it would be advisable to begin the Sacrament of Communion every day.
The rite of preparation for this Sacrament on Easter days is much shorter; for this you need read only the Easter hours and the procedure for Holy Communion. The services are quite short, very dynamic, very cheerful and joyful. This will not be a burden in any way, but it will be a real celebration of Easter. After all, we partake of the Flesh of the crucified, buried and risen Christ, and when else but on the feast of Easter, when else but on Bright Week should we partake of the Flesh of Christ, who rose again for our salvation.
For some, the stumbling block is the question of how to fast before communion. on Holy Week. My opinion is that Bright Week is the time that the Church especially highlights from the entire liturgical year. This is the time when fasting is expressly prohibited by the liturgical regulations. And in preparation for communion there should be no fasting in any way.. These are days of special joy, these are the days when we live in Christ, when we literally bathe in Easter joy. And since on these days fasting is categorically prohibited by the rules, and communion is prescribed by the rules, then on these days there is no need to fast in order to receive communion.
I emphasize that this is my opinion.
The correct opinion is the opinion of your confessor. And every Christian needs to have a confessor, and in matters of preparation for confession, for communion, and in general in all matters of spiritual life, one must consult with him.
My recommendations should be taken only as my opinion, but you must definitely consult with your confessor, a priest who knows you well, who knows all the features of your spiritual life, and act exactly as he advises you.
Archpriest Vladimir Novitsky: Readiness - in a contrite state of heart
To receive communion and confess correctly is always when we receive communion and confess with the fear of God and with contrition in our hearts, with a feeling of our unworthiness.
Not with a sense of accomplishment that we have fasted throughout Lent, and now have the right to receive communion, have now already reached a certain height and are completely legitimately entering Passion and approaching Easter. This will be completely unworthy before God.
And with dignity - always with contrition in the heart, with humility, with a sense of one’s sinfulness, with true repentance. And we can receive communion when there is this feeling, this sign of readiness.
Readiness does not lie in the number of prayers read, although this is also good. This is a means that helps us to humble ourselves, but, first of all, readiness lies in a humble, contrite state of heart. Then you can receive communion often, without restrictions.
Recorded by Larisa Boytsun, Tamara Amelina
Video: Vyacheslav Grabenko, Victor Aromshtam
Number of entries: 238
Good afternoon I wanted to ask you. My mother is an Old Believer. And, therefore, me too. Due to my age (I’m 16), I do not fully understand the essence of spiritual communion. But lately I have a strong desire to visit church, just stand in it, listen to the reading. But there are no Old Believer churches in our city. So what should I do? Mom says that you can walk, but pray in your own way. And I also wanted to know: is it possible to confess at my age? The burden of my sins hangs on me (maybe this will seem funny, but I, a child, have them too). Thank you!
Anastasia
If you want to visit an Orthodox church, then no one will prohibit you from doing so. If you recognize the grace of the Orthodox clergy, then go to confession. But, in this case, what prevents you from joining the Orthodox Church, besides family traditions? I know a priest who, preferring the ancient rite, nevertheless, understanding the need for the sacraments in his life (he was of the Pomeranian persuasion), accepted Orthodoxy. He was allowed to pray at home according to ancient books, but he serves in the church according to the modern Nikon tradition, since there is no Edinoverie parish (belonging to the Orthodox Church when performing services according to the old rites) in his diocese.
Archpriest Andrey Efanov
Hello, father! Please help me figure it out! I want to become a good Christian. For several years I have been listening to lectures by A.I. Osipov, and began to read soul-helping literature. I recently decided to have my first confession and first communion. Before the day of confession, I wanted to talk with the priest. But in the church I was advised to come straight to confession on a weekday morning (the priests, as I understand it, are very busy). I prepared, described my sins in detail, relying on the “Experience of Constructing a Confession” by Fr. I. Krestyankina. During confession, I became very agitated (even to the point of chills), and the priest was a little in a hurry, and therefore I described some sins briefly. The last thing I said was the sin of judging parents for their addictions (mom’s passion for esoteric literature, dad’s gambling addiction, etc.). In my opinion, this is precisely what made a painful impression on the priest (and, as I felt, not my sin of condemnation, but the spiritual state of my family). Among others, I named one of my grave sins: 10 years ago, my mother and I went to a healer (Fr. I. Krestyankin writes: “The Holy Church excommunicates such people from Holy Communion for five to six years”). Father absolved me of my sins, and I asked permission to take part in the sacrament of communion. Father gave permission with a heavy sigh, and I took communion. Later, leaving the temple, when the excitement began to pass, I remembered that I had not described all the sins. I sincerely repent of my sins, but was I cleansed of them in confession, given that I did not tell everything and at least one sin was serious (visiting a healer)? Didn’t I sin by accepting Holy Communion, since the Holy Sacraments can also scorch a person who has received them unworthily?
Elena
Elena, if you named all your sins and sincerely repented of them, then we will believe that the Lord has forgiven them. There is no need to describe the sin in detail, you need to repent of it, and there is nothing else to worry about and do not frighten yourself.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! My name is Olga. Father, forgive me, I don’t even know how to formulate my question. Many years ago, I turned to a woman, as I was told, who sees the past and the future (I repented of this in confession). I always believed in God, but I didn’t go to church at that time. I don’t know who she was, she didn’t read any spells in front of me, there were icons in the room, she just sat in front of me on a chair, trying to tell me what I had in my life before and something about the future. This woman sent me to church, told me to go to a monastery, order an indestructible psalter, advised me to go to Matronushka in Moscow, which I did. From that time on I began going to church. I said in confession that I addressed her, but only a few days ago I realized that I had not said that I had written before in notes about this woman’s health. Excuse me, father, help me, how can I formulate this in confession? Save me, God! If possible, reply to the email address. Thank you
Olga
Olga, I think there is no need to formulate anything special, just say it like this, in simplicity. The Lord already knows everything about us, our job is to realize our sin and repent, so you say so: “I enrolled a woman in the synodics, who is most likely a witch.”
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello and bless you, Father. Although I was baptized in infancy, I began to delve deeply into my faith by the age of 30. Throughout my childhood and youth, I knew nothing about God or my faith, and there was nowhere to find out. When I went to confession for the first time, I was about 19 years old, the priest had to explain to me what the commandments are and what their meaning is. I pleaded guilty to violating all the commandments, but I did not specifically talk about the sinful acts that I committed, and I did not see my sins then. Now, at the age of 40, I understand all the dirt and abomination of my sins of youth. And sometimes a kind of despair sets in because I led a godless life, and that at my first confession I could not call sin by its name, I could not repent of my sins with all my heart and tell everything that I had managed to do. Now all those sins come to my mind very often. Of course, I repented of them in my heart a long time ago and changed my life, but do I need to confess them to a priest? Or should you not torment yourself with the sins of the past, but try to think about the present? After all, then I pleaded guilty to violating all the commandments and the priest absolved me of my sins. Please help me with advice. Natalia.
Natalia
You know, it’s better to choose a day when the priest can devote more time to you (you can ask him to confess you after the service) and, with full awareness of what you are talking about, confess your entire life, and after that do not remember your mistakes the past, as something outdated and irrelevant.
Deacon Ilia Kokin
Good afternoon The priest imposed penance until Lent. When will he read the prayer of permission during confession or will he come up and allow you to prepare for confession and, if God wills, to receive communion?
Elena
Elena, you need to go to this priest yourself for confession and say that you have fulfilled your penance. After this, the priest will read a prayer of permission over your head.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, father! I went to confession today and the priest told me to read a prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for murdered babies, where can I find this prayer, but just the prayer, or tell me the text, since I can’t find it anywhere. Thank you. God bless you!
Inna
Hello! Please help me with advice about my personal life. I read a lot, looked for an answer, but couldn’t find it anywhere, I really hope for help! Quite recently I turned to God and performed the Sacrament of Confession and Communion for the first time. I was in a relationship with a married man for six months (he is a believer). In preparation for Confession, I talked to him about the sinfulness of our relationship, and he convinced me that since God gave love, we cannot refuse it. The other day he said that he wants to leave the family (and they have two children!), invites me to marry, and says that he felt love for the first time and cannot live without me. I love him too, but I’m tormented, because this is a terrible sin and causing pain to innocent people (his wife and children). I’m really tormented, and I don’t know what to do without sinning! Tell me, please, what to do? How can we clarify this difficult situation from the point of view of the Church and God? Thank you in advance for your answer and help with advice.
Victoria
Victoria, If God gave love, which became the beginning of a family, then you really cannot refuse it. And justifying betrayal with “first true love” is a step that will be repeated later. A marriage when the family is abandoned for the sake of it is never successful. Moreover, the consequences fall mainly on the woman (often in the area of childbearing). This is not a rule, people just noticed, but it should not be neglected. May the Lord strengthen you.
Priest Sergius Osipov
Good health! I started going to church a year ago. And only a couple of weeks ago I decided to confess. But I wrote my sins on paper. Father, without reading the paper, tore it after reading the prayer. Afterwards I took communion. Is such a confession valid? After all, Father did not know what sins I wrote about. Another question about Baptism. Is it harmful to plunge into an ice hole without ever trying it before? How do you feel about the Never-Sleeping Psalter? I ordered online on the Optina Pustyn website, about health. Thank you.
Alexy
Alexey, the fact that you decided to confess is very good. I believe that the priest did the wrong thing by not reading your confession. But don’t be embarrassed, this is not your sin. I advise you to once again write down all the same sins that you wrote last time, and come to confession to another priest. And read your paper yourself. It is better to plunge into the ice hole at Epiphany only if you are absolutely sure of your health; this is not mandatory; this is a folk and not a church tradition. We must strengthen our soul more than our body, although, of course, we must take care of our health. But excessive care for him is also a sin. The Psalter is a prayer, and, of course, when they pray for us, it is very good. I have a good attitude towards the Indestructible Psalter and welcome this form of prayer, but do not try to do this yourself. If you wish, you can read one or two kathismas a day, since we are obliged to read other prayers every day - morning and evening.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! I fasted during Lent 2 years ago, but I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Lent; as a result, at confession before Easter, the priest reprimanded me, saying that it was pointless for me to fast if I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Lent ... Please tell me how to properly prepare yourself for Great Lent, when exactly do you need to confess and take communion before fasting (and is it necessary to do this), when to ask for a blessing from the priest, and what other procedures need to be followed? I really want to do everything correctly, as it should be, so that fasting does not turn into a formal diet. Thank you!
Julia
Julia, we must live together with the Church, church life, and together with the Church we must approach the feat of Great Lent. Lent is preceded by several preparatory weeks, during which recollections are made of those edifying moments in the history of mankind, which most of all can dispose the soul to repentance and spiritual work. In parallel with this, believers are gradually preparing for fasting, excluding meat from their diet first, and then other fasting foods. It is very useful to be together with the entire Church these days. You can confess and receive communion these days if your soul so requests. But the most important event occurs, perhaps, on Forgiveness Sunday, when believers ask each other for forgiveness and accept the blessing of the clergy for fasting. This Sunday we must try to be in church.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello. Writes the servant of God Ilya. Please tell me what to do if there are sins of adultery that are very embarrassing to tell the priest in confession? I tried to confess them in general, but I feel that it is not enough. Help me please. Waiting for an answer. Thank you.
Ilya
Ilya, there is no need to tell everything in detail in confession. When you were just beginning to think that betrayal is a sin, your repentance had already begun. During confession, the priest reads a prayer of permission, but this does not mean that you will always feel inspiring freedom. After a grave sin, memories may remain that can make you despondent if you do not accept them with heartfelt contrition, which has become a continuation of penitential work. Sympathize with yourself that you have struck your soul in such a way, and sigh: “Lord, forgive and have mercy on me, a sinner.” With time, relief will come. God help.
Priest Sergius Osipov
Dear Father Victorin! Life so happened that my godson, at the age of eight, moved with his parents to another city. I was interested in his life, gave him birthday gifts, but 10 years ago I had a bad fall and ended up on the operating table, then in a cast for 3 months. These days, my godson, already an 18-year-old guy, being in my city, not only did not visit me, but never called me, although he knew that I was in the hospital. In the quiet hope of his attention, I handed him the next gifts. I didn’t receive his attention and was very offended. A couple of months later, his mother died and communication with his family ceased. Several years ago I learned about his unseemly act, which I don’t want to publicize. Now he is an adult, an officer. Whether he needs my attention, I cannot find out, and I don’t want to. This really torments me, because I understand that as a godmother I have to do something, but what? I understand that I have committed a great sin. What should I repent of in confession?
Elena
Elena, when we take on the responsibility of becoming godparents, this does not mean that we will simply give gifts. First of all, this should be expressed in prayer to God for the godson. You yourself, apparently, are not a completely church person, and a godfather must be a believer and a church person, and teaching his godson Orthodoxy is the main duty of godparents, and not to give gifts, although they are also needed. Your big mistake is that you neither yourself nor your godson instilled faith, did not lead him to God, to the church. This is what you need to repent of, and you must pray for your godson for the rest of your life, this is your duty, and not expect any reward or attention from him. Try to live the church life yourself, go to confession, receive communion, and study Orthodoxy.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, father. I ask for your answer to my questions. I am tormented all the time because I do not repent as I should. I can’t understand how specifically one should name one’s sins; it seems that one should speak concisely, but then the confession turns out to be somehow careless. I went to the website to look at an example of a confession, and there were 473 points of sins, and many could be counted among my own. What should I do? There are some that are completely childish, which I hadn’t even thought about before, which I considered just childish pranks or acts of misunderstanding, but now they need to be called. Whether it is necessary? This way I can take up all the time from the priest.
Margarita
Margarita, what and how to do in confession is a very individual matter, so there can be no such thing as “supposed” here. For one, a detailed confession is needed, for the other, a short one. Follow your soul: if it requires a detailed confession, find a priest to whom you can confess, and preferably, sins committed from the age of seven years and later.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, I often come to your site and read questions and your answers. I am very grateful to you for finding time, understanding and sympathy for our problems. I have the following question: I was baptized 23 years ago in Omsk, and lived in the Novosibirsk region. We were baptized together with our sister and her 2-year-old daughter. My sister found out about baptism. We didn’t confess before baptism (no one prompted us), but recently I heard that if there are mortal sins, then we need to confess before baptism. What to do now, how to fix it? And yet, we were not given a certificate at baptism, and we do not remember the date. Was there a previous registration of those being baptized to confirm the date? My sister doesn’t remember if she told me any information about us. Thank you for your answer, God bless you.
Natalia
Natalya, indeed, there is such a custom, when an adult is baptized, to confess it before the Sacrament itself, but this confession is rather educational or pedagogical in nature, since all sins are forgiven in the Sacrament of baptism anyway, and now you cannot confess those sins again need to. Instead, thank God that they are forgiven. Baptisms should have been recorded at the time you were baptized, and to clarify the date, try to inquire about this issue in the church where you were baptized.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! I am married, married, everything was somehow bad with my husband at one time, every day there were quarrels, fights, we separated, we wanted to get a divorce. I started communicating with a young man on the Internet and by phone, the conversations were adulterous, we seemed to fall in love with each other, I always thought about him, wanted to be with him, imagined him as my husband, etc. Later, my husband and I We decided to live again without swearing, but I still communicated with that person, I realized that I was sinning greatly, and I stopped communicating with him. I now want to go to confession and wanted to ask advice on how to correctly name this sin? In a word, did she commit adultery? I didn’t see that person, but I thought about him, and there were conversations and all that, or should I say something separately? How to say it correctly? Thank you, sorry.
Maria
Maria, you are married. The church has blessed you for a married life together. You promised to God, and you will answer before God for faithfulness or infidelity. You have no right to get a divorce, marriage is for life. Your sin is not considered a grave sin, and thank God for this that He took you away from this sin, you almost destroyed everything. You would have lost this happiness, and you would not have built another. I am glad that everything ended well for you, without consequences. You sinned in your thoughts, and you wanted to sin in action, but it didn’t work out - such a sin is easily forgiven. In confession, just say that you wanted to cheat on your husband, and that there were such conversations on the phone (adultery in words and in thoughts). You need to forget that person completely, repent in confession and take communion. Don’t allow such thoughts anymore, and God will forgive you.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! I'm going to go to church soon for confession. Please tell me, are there any sins for which one cannot attend church and how to correct this?
Anastasia
No, Anastasia, no sin can be an obstacle to coming to church, to God, to confession. Walk boldly, and may Christ help you!
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, fathers! Tell me, should I tell my confessor about past sins that I confessed to in another church and to another priest? After all, confessed sins are forgiven, and he doesn’t have to mention them? Or should he still know? God bless you!
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