Just as the human body needs to be washed regularly, so the soul, according to the Orthodox Church, every believer needs to be cleansed from dirt from time to time. To receive forgiveness of sins at Confession, and then to unite with Christ during Communion - what could be more important and beautiful for a Christian?
There are seven fundamental Sacraments established in the Orthodox Church: Confirmation, Confession (Repentance), Communion (Eucharist), Marriage, Baptism, Priesthood, Blessing of Anointing (Unction). Thanks to these sacred rites, Divine grace descends on believers. Baptism, Penance and the Eucharist are special in that, according to the New Testament, they were established by Jesus Christ. Many people who consider themselves Orthodox Christians go to church for years, pray intensely, or, for example, regularly light candles. No one openly requires them to participate in the Sacraments, except that in the final part of the Liturgy (“Liturgy of the Faithful”), unbaptized parishioners should, according to church rules, leave the temple. But having taken part in Confession and Communion for the first time, a person becomes a member of the church in the fullness of this concept, takes the path of self-improvement and receives God's help to fight sins and all evil in his life.
Preparation for Communion
Unlike Repentance, Communion in most cases requires careful preparation. Firstly, Christians from the age of 7 can begin the Eucharist only after Confession, having received permission from the priest. In some cases (for example, after committing particularly serious sins), the priest may not allow the penitent to receive Communion. However, if both Sacraments in which a person is going to take part take place at the same service, in any case one must prepare to receive the Holy Gifts.
Preparation begins with fasting. Eucharistic fasting most often lasts a week or three days. During this period, it is customary not to consume dairy and meat products, eggs, and, on days of especially strict fasting, fish. For infants, pregnant and lactating women, as well as for those suffering from diseases that require a special regimen for taking medications, food fasting with blessing can be softened or even canceled. You should also avoid entertainment, watching TV, going to the theater and listening to secular music, and spouses should refrain from physical intimacy. Particular attention should be paid to maintaining peace with others. “Be reconciled to those who have grieved you,” such a call sounds in prayer before receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Without complying with this requirement, it is prohibited to begin the Cup.
You need to take communion on an empty stomach - after midnight the night before, it is forbidden to consume any food, drink, or brush your teeth. Those suffering from tobacco addiction also need to refrain from smoking during this period.
The Sacrament and Essence of Communion and Confession
Being church Sacraments, that is, special sacred rites through which God’s Grace is communicated to believers, Confession and Communion play a special role in the life of every Orthodox Christian. Repentance is the confession of sins in front of a priest, in which the believer receives forgiveness from God.
Many people are interested in the question: why can’t you ask for forgiveness during prayer in a temple or, for example, at home? Why bend over the Bible and the cross, and confess in the presence of the priest?
It is this moment that confuses the majority, because telling a stranger about your misdeeds would seem so unpleasant and shameful. But in order to wash away spiritual dirt, you need a source of clean water, and this can only be the Church. Through the Sacrament of Confession, God's grace is poured out on the repentant. This is difficult to explain, but you can clearly feel it once you come to Repentance with a heaviness in your soul and leave the temple with an incomparable feeling of purity and lightness.
Communion is the acceptance of the Body and Blood of Jesus under the guise of particles of bread and wine. The Lord said: “If you do not receive communion, you will not have My life in you.” In other words, the Eucharist is the acceptance of the Holy Gifts for the purpose of leaving sins and inheriting Eternal Life.
For a non-church person or a new Christian, these phrases sound confusing and not particularly clear. In simple terms, Communion is the Sacrament of union with Christ. The Lord himself established the order of such sacred rites, which can be read in detail in the Bible. To be admitted to Communion, an adult must be cleansed through repentance. However, in some special cases it is possible to receive the Holy Gifts without Confession (for example, after Baptism).
By the way, Confession and Communion in the canonical Orthodox Church are allowed only for people baptized in it.
How often should these Sacraments be administered? It is known that in ancient times Orthodox Christians confessed very often, in some cases even daily. Today, confessors recommend individual frequency of Confession and Communion for different people: for some lay people it is useful to repent and take the Chalice every week, for others – once a month or less. Monks practice the most frequent Communion. The frequency, as a rule, depends on the spiritual state and needs of each individual Christian.
How to prepare for confession for the first time?
Confession is perceived as reconciliation with the Lord. There is a priest present as a witness, to whom you reveal your sins. And he, in turn, prays for the forgiveness of your sins.
Before confession, you should remember several important rules:
- Realize your sins and sincerely repent. If you decide to come to confession, then you understand that you are doing something wrong in your life. Therefore, you should reconsider all the points that do not suit you and that you regret. Sincerely ask God for forgiveness for all sins and ask to cleanse your soul and mind from filth.
- Don't write huge lists . In this case, it’s as if you are simply reading the list without opening your soul. You can jot down briefly what you want to confess so you don’t forget. But you shouldn’t write the entire confession on paper.
- Confess only your sins . There is no need to say that you did something sinful in response to the sinful deed of a neighbor, relative or colleague. These are their sins for which you should not speak. Cleanse your soul and thoughts first.
- Don't come up with any fancy words or phrases for your speech . God accepts and loves us no matter what. And he certainly knows about your sins. Don't be shy about the priest either. Over the years of service, he has listened to a lot, so I certainly won’t be surprised by your words.
- If you have not gone to church for many years, then you should first confess this sin and talk about serious sinful deeds and thoughts. Wearing short clothes or watching TV during Lent can be said at the end. Because if there are more serious sins, it’s not so important to mention TV and clothes.
- Try to change your life before confession. You should not think that confession is an event after which you can continue to commit sinful acts. Change your life for the better. Let it be gradual and slow, but surely.
- Forgive and you will be forgiven. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness, then be ready to forgive the people with whom you are offended.
Don't forget to pray
Now we offer practical recommendations before confession:
- Find out about the time of confession in the temple. If you come for the first time, then it is better not to choose days of major holidays. On such days there are usually a lot of people who want to confess. It’s better to choose a quieter day to have the opportunity for a full, leisurely confession.
- Before confession, it is advisable to read prayers of repentance . They can be found in prayer books.
- It is advisable to confess at least once a month. Then you will feel in good physical and mental tone.
Canons for Holy Communion
To get into a prayerful mood for Holy Communion the night before or (with the blessing of the priest) during the days of Eucharistic fasting, you need to read three Canons addressed to Jesus Christ:
To the Blessed Virgin Mary:
To the Guardian Angel:
They are not difficult to find - they are in almost every Orthodox prayer book. These rules create a special prayerful mood for those preparing for the Eucharist and help to internally tune in to the Sacraments. By the way, you can confess both before and after reading the canons, because they relate specifically to Communion. If for some reason a believer is going to begin Confession without accepting the Holy Gifts, reading special prayer rules is not required.
Rules for Holy Communion
The following (rule) for Holy Communion is prayers and the canon, the reading of which is obligatory on the eve of receiving the Holy Gifts.
Follow-up can also be found in almost any prayer book for the Orthodox. The rule helps to spiritually attune to the Eucharist and contains prayers that must be read while directly approaching the Holy Chalice. The prayers of the saints - Symeon Metaphrastus, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, John of Damascus, Symeon the New Theologian - remind every believer of the special spiritual responsibility before accepting the Holy Gifts. To avoid the dangers of unworthy communion, you need to carefully prepare by fasting and prayer for the Eucharist and sincerely repent, without concealing your sins during Confession.
Prayers for Holy Communion, in Russian
In most prayer books you can find prayers in Old Church Slavonic, written in Russian letters. This is quite convenient in terms of reading, however, not all words and formulations are understandable even to experienced Orthodox Christians. Prayers with interpretations, explanations and translations require much more time, although from the point of view of intelligibility they are one of the best options.
Today, prayers for Holy Communion in Russian have become especially popular. They are easy to read and also simply perceived, allowing the prayer to understand the deep essence and meaning of each phrase.
Prayer before communion to St. John Chrysostom
However, they also have disadvantages. First of all, the problem is that services in most Orthodox churches are held in Church Slavonic. And yet, it is better to understand the meaning of prayers in a homely atmosphere, so that you can then delve into every word at the service, than to pray at home in Russian and then not understand most of what is read in church. But the main drawback is that Church Slavonic is the traditional language of Orthodox worship in different countries, and the use of other languages is not always blessed.
After the Sacrament
We found out what prayers are read before confession and communion. After communion they also pray. They thank God for allowing us to begin the Sacrament. Prayers of thanksgiving are read in the temple. But you can read them at home.
There are these prayers in every prayer book. But it is advisable to listen to them in the temple. Prayers are read as people approach the cross after the service.
An example of a thank you text is presented below:
I thank You, Lord my God, that You did not reject me, a sinner, but deigned me to partake of Your Holy Things. I thank You that You have honored me, unworthy, to partake of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts.
But, Lord Lover of Mankind, who died for us, and rose again, and gave us these terrible and life-giving Sacraments of Yours for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies, make them be for me, for the healing of soul and body, for the reflection of every enemy, for enlightenment the eyes of my heart, into the peace of my spiritual strength, into firm faith, into unfeigned love, into the fulfillment of wisdom, into the observance of Thy commandments, into the increase of Thy divine grace and the acquisition of Thy Kingdom.
So that, preserved by them in Your sanctification, I always remember Your mercy and live no longer for myself, but for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And thus, having left this life in the hope of eternal life, I reached a place of eternal peace, where the unceasing voice of those celebrating and the endless pleasure of those looking at the indescribable beauty of Your face.
For You are the true goal of aspiration and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings to You forever. Amen.
Communion in the morning, communion in the evening
The Most Holy Bloodless Sacrifice - Holy Communion - is offered during the Divine Liturgy. This service most often takes place in the morning, which is why believers usually begin the Chalice in the morning hours. However, there is also the opportunity in the church to receive communion at the evening Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent. Unlike Communion in the morning, the evening Eucharist allows you to spend the entire day in prayerful preparation for receiving the Holy Gifts, in strict fasting and in a special mood.
How to fast before Confession and Communion?
Confession does not require special fasting; only prayerful preparation and deep self-analysis of the individual, recollection of past sins are appropriate. But before Communion you need to fast carefully and consciously.
The duration of fasting before the Eucharist is determined by the confessor. Most often this is three days, but pregnant and lactating women, for example, are sometimes blessed with one day with permission to take, for example, all products except meat (including dairy). The degree of fasting also depends on the state of health.
If a person wants to take communion, for example, during Great Lent and strictly observes it, he will not have to change his diet three days before the Eucharist. But refusal to eat and drink after midnight, if the liturgy is celebrated in the morning, is mandatory for both pregnant women and women during lactation. An exception may be, for example, people for whom it is vital to drink medicine after waking up. By the way, for those who are tormented by thirst at night, priests recommend that they take communion on holidays and Sundays in those churches where several services are held, at the earliest possible time.
Confession: what to read before Confession and Communion
Before Confession, it is recommended to read special prayers at home, but this is not a mandatory requirement. It would also be a good idea to familiarize yourself with books containing a list of possible sins in order to accurately tell the priest your own offenses. After all, sin is primarily a violation of church rules, and not all sorts of problems or difficulties that parishioners often list during Repentance.
You need to come to the temple on time, without being late, in order to hear the prayer said by the priest at Confession. During its reading, all parishioners preparing to begin Repentance must, at the request of the priest, say their names out loud.
Before Communion, in addition to the three canons and the Follow-up, it is worth reading articles about what “unworthy acceptance of the Holy Mysteries of Christ” is. Also, when preparing for the Eucharist, it is recommended to refrain from reading fiction books, secular magazines and newspapers. It is better to devote your free time to spiritual literature and attending worship services.
How to prepare for confession?
With the reading of the prayer for communion and confession, everything is clear. With preparation for the Sacrament of Communion too. How to prepare for confession?
Only by introspection. Take a good look at your own thoughts and soul. Is there something weighing on your conscience? So ingrained that you don’t even want to remember? So write it down on a piece of paper. We get rid of old sins first.
There are special books for penitents - tips. More precisely, brochures are tips. They are small and quite thin. A very good book, “The Experience of Constructing a Confession.” It was compiled by Father John Krestyankin, who died in 2006. The text is written in easy language and makes you think about your life.
Words during Confession to the priest, what sins need to be told to the priest
There is a fairly large list of sins, and believers are advised to first think through a monologue in front of the priest or write down their sins on a piece of paper. In some cases, when spiritually necessary, priests bless the parishioners with a full Confession according to God’s commandments and the Beatitudes.
During fasting and on the eve of major holidays, when there are a lot of penitents, general Confession is practiced in some Orthodox churches. The priest names in front of the parishioners a list of the most common sins, and those participating in the Sacrament repeat in chorus the word “I repent.” Then, approaching the cross and the Gospel reverently, believers name only personal sins that were not mentioned in the general list.
Each parishioner ends Confession with words of repentance. Then the priest asks to name the name and reads a prayer of permission over the believer. If sins were read from a piece of paper, the shepherd, as a rule, tears it up. Most often, parishioners take such sheets home and burn them.
For general development
The prayers for communion and confession given in the article are not read by the laity. They are pronounced only by priests before performing the sacrament. Upon completion, a prayer of permission is also read. With its help, the priest absolves the sins of the repentant.
We emphasize once again that these prayers are for informational purposes only. Texts that the priest reads during confession:
Prayer #1
O God, our Savior, who was granted forgiveness of his sins by Thy prophet Nathan, who repented to David of his sins, and who received Manasseh’s prayer in repentance, Himself and Thy servant (name), Accept the sins you have committed regarding yourself with Your usual love for mankind, despise all that you have done, forsake the untruths and surpassing iniquity. For thou art, O Lord: I do not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live, and that he should forsake sins in seventy sevens. For Thy majesty is unapproachable and Thy mercy is immeasurable. If you see iniquity, who will stand? For You are the God of the repentant, and to You we ascribe glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer #2
Behold, child, Christ stands invisibly, accepting your confession, do not be ashamed, do not fear, and do not hide anything from me, but do not hesitate to say all that you have done, so that you may receive what is left. laziness from our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, His icon is before us, and I am precisely a witness, and I testify before Him with all things, when you say to me: If you hide something from me, it is a sin of the Lord. Hearken, therefore, before you came to the doctor’s office, lest you leave unhealed.
Permissive prayer
May the Lord and our God, Jesus Christ, by the grace and bounty of His love for mankind forgive your child (name) all your sins. And I, unworthy priest, by His power given to me, forgive and absolve you from all your sins, in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What prayers do we read before Confession and Communion?
Orthodox Christians are recommended to begin every task by invoking Divine blessing. Before confession, it is customary to read the prayer of St. Simeon the New Theologian, as well as a short prayer - everyone can learn its simple text and recite it when approaching the priest before this Sacrament.
When approaching the Chalice, it is also recommended to read prayers. They can be learned by heart; they are all in the Follow-up.
When we approach the Chalice
During the Liturgy, after the “Our Father,” the Royal Doors are closed. And preparations for communion begin. While prayers are read for the laity, priests receive communion at the altar. At this time, there is no need to walk around the temple, kissing the icons. It is advisable to stand and listen to prayers.
The Royal Doors opened, a priest comes out with the Chalice. He gives the cry: “Draw near with the fear of God and faith.”
People in the temple bow to the ground. And the priest begins to read a prayer. Every pious person should know its text.
I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the sinful world to save. From them I am the first. I still believe that this is Your Most Pure Body. And this eats Your Most Honest Blood. I pray to You: have mercy on me. And forgive me all my sins. Whether in word, in deed, in knowledge or ignorance. And make me worthy to partake of Your Most Pure Mysteries without condemnation. For the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen.
And the second prayer read by the priest. And believers repeat it mentally:
Thy Mystical Supper, today, Son of God, accept me as a communicant. I will not tell your enemy the secret. I will not kiss You like Judas. But like a thief I confess Thee: remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
After reading the prayers, the person folds his arms crosswise on his chest. The right wrist is placed on the left. When approaching the Chalice, there is no need to be baptized. There is a risk of hitting it or knocking it over. Before the Cup they say their full Christian name. They open their mouths wide and take communion. After which they kiss the edge of the Cup and go to the table with a drink. Be sure to eat a piece of prosphora and wash it down with warm water. Sometimes the water comes with jam. This is done so that there is no sacrament left in the mouth.
How many days should one fast before Confession?
There is no need to fast immediately before Confession. That is, if a person has committed some sin, he is tormented by his conscience and there is a desire to confess as soon as possible - there is no need to wait several days, you can attend a morning or evening service in the nearest church at the most convenient time. However, if an Orthodox Christian intends to begin Holy Communion after Confession, he must prepare for and observe the Eucharistic fast, the length of which can vary in accordance with his physical and spiritual state.
Examples of Confession before Communion
When approaching Confession for the first time or after a long break, it is advisable to read the instructions of the Holy Fathers to the penitent and become familiar with examples of Confessions. They can be easily found on the Internet and in spiritual literature. Ready-made templates help you analyze your own sins more thoroughly and make your work on yourself as effective as possible (one of the meanings of Repentance is to awaken in a person the determination to become a better person).
Why read prayers?
Why do we read a prayer for communion and confession? Is it really not enough that we fast physically and mentally?
Of course, this is not enough. Fasting is more necessary for us than for God. When we abstain from something, we turn to ourselves. We begin to open the long-dried sinful boils in our soul. It's painful to pick them out, but it's necessary.
And through prayer we ask God to allow us to receive communion. The sacrament can be for judgment and condemnation, as we see in one of the prayers. When we are poorly prepared or not prepared at all, we approach the Sacrament with negligence. Accordingly, we commune not into eternal life, but into condemnation. This is why you need to prepare, read prayers.
What words should I start with when confessing to the priest?
When approaching a priest with the intention of confessing, you need to clearly and distinctly state your intention to repent of your sins, or immediately begin a monologue with a list. The first may be the words “I have transgressed the commandments of God...”, “I repent that I have committed such actions...”, “I want to repent...”. There is no need to worry that the first words will be forgotten, or that it will not be possible to find suitable phrases - an experienced priest will help a Christian if necessary, starting Confession with his questions.
Sometimes, when a parishioner names one sin and hesitates, the priest may ask questions, for example: “Have you sinned with laziness?” or “Were you jealous?” There is no need to be embarrassed by this - the priest just wants to help continue the interrupted Confession, and in this case you just need to honestly answer “yes” or “no”.
Example of a list of sins before Confession
When preparing for Confession or directly participating in the Sacrament, you can use the list of sins. It helps to analyze your own life more carefully and mention the maximum number of sins. However, some parishioners are advised by priests not to abuse such “cheat sheets”, but to try from the heart to talk at Confession, first of all, about what is burdensome and confusing.
As can be seen from the article, Confession and Communion are not always simple and easy. Preparation for these Sacraments requires a Christian to carefully work on himself, self-discipline, determination and even courage. But as a reward, every Orthodox believer receives invaluable rewards - forgiveness of sins and unity with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Beginning of prayers
The prayers read before confession and communion are not always possible to see with your own eyes. In this case, you can pray while listening to the Rule. But this is an exception for sick people who cannot read it. Healthy adult Christians independently choose an hour of time to read the Rule for Communion.
Any prayer rule begins with the following texts:
Prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and Heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and worship Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)
