Confession is a sacred rite that has enormous power and utmost importance in Orthodoxy. It is not just a list of committed sins, but is also a real test for the conscience of every Christian; it allows you to analyze negative thoughts and actions in detail, and avoid their repetition in the future. Having confessed, a person deeply cleanses his spirit, receives inner liberation and becomes closer to the Creator.
How to prepare for confession
For a woman awaiting her next confession or ritual before communion, it is important to prepare for it correctly. You need to start preparing at least a week before your visit to church.
Before going to church, Orthodox priests advise:
- carefully study the instructions of spiritual fathers on confession and repentance;
- make a detailed list of negative deeds (when writing down bad deeds, you should focus only on yourself, and not look for excuses and culprits in other people);
- strengthen the prayer rule, read the Penitential Canon, the canons to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel daily (in the morning and before bed).
You should begin confession with a calm soul and a clear conscience. To do this, you need to ask for forgiveness from everyone who was offended by word or deed, as well as forgive your offenders and ill-wishers.
In the future, it is recommended to analyze every day, sort out which actions turned out to be positive and which could be considered sinful. This will help you be more attentive to your own thoughts and actions, and prevent negative actions and the accumulation of spiritual dirt.
Why do men confess before women?
Often in church women let men go first to Confession. Where did this tradition come from?
There are no official instructions on the correct order of Confession. It would be wise to let sick or disabled people go ahead, as some find it difficult to stand on their feet for a long time. Some clergy recommend letting children go first.
There are no canonical rules stating that confession must be taken in line, which is arranged depending on gender.
The parishioners are not divided by gender; all people confess in order. We know that for God we are all equally equal.
Perhaps this tradition took root because of a woman’s desire to humble herself. However, you should not push men and force them to go to Confession first.
Some believe that the man should be allowed to go ahead, since all the clergy in the temple are always men, and the woman is just an assistant.
Carrying out the ritual
During the confession of sins, the analogue contains an Orthodox cross and the Gospel, symbolizing the invisible presence of the Savior. Before the ceremony begins, the priest may ask the laywoman some questions. Most often they concern how often prayers are performed and whether important church rules are observed. When confessing, you need to speak in simple words, avoiding complex, confusing phrases and unclear hints.
If the ritual is not being performed for the first time and there are old sins on the conscience, they must be mentioned. Repeated transgression is considered a fairly serious offense and in particularly difficult situations requires the imposition of penance (temporary excommunication of a Christian from the holy sacraments and God's grace). After penance, special measures are provided. This includes strict fasting and constant reading of special prayer texts.
It often happens that at the end of confession the clergyman tears up the list of sins. This means that the sacrament is over, and the repentant has received absolution. An epitrachelion is placed on the head of a believer - a symbol of the return of the Lord's mercy. After this, you need to kiss the cross and the Gospel, confirming your desire to strictly follow the Christian commandments.
In some cases, for confession, the priest needs to be not in the church, but at the place of residence of the Christian. This becomes necessary when a person is seriously ill or on his deathbed.
Orthodox icons and prayers
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 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 at 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 with 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 tires, etc. 145. I spent money on entertainment (attractions, 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, was baptized, saying: “I will fail in this place,” etc. 151. She retold unpleasant stories (sinful in their 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, making 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. Rarely did self-tests; in the evening I did not read the prayer “I confess to you...” 237. Rarely thought about what I heard in church and read in Scripture. 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 advantage 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 fell into danger: she crossed the road in front of vehicles, crossed a river on thin ice, etc. 258. She rose above others, showing her advantage 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. I did not stop the speaking gossip. She herself often passed it on to others and with an addition from herself. 270. Until the morning prayer and during the prayer rule she did household chores. 271. She was autocratic as a true rule of life. 272. ate stolen. 273. I did not profess the Lord with my mind, heart, in a word, deed. She had an alliance with the wicked. 274. Behind the meal was lazy to treat and serve the neighbor. 275. I was sad about the deceased, that she was sick. 276. I was glad that the holiday has come and there was no need to work. 277. On holidays I drank wine. She loved going to dinner parties. I got fed up there. 278. I listened to the teachers when they spoke sincerely, against God. 279. I used perfumes, sprinkled Indian incense. 280. She was engaged in lesbianism, with voluptuousness touched someone else's body. With lust and voluptuousness I watched the matings of animals. 281. I took care of 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 did not try to be away from a person who loves to talk. 283. Not baptized, did not read prayers when the church bell was ringing. 284. While under the leadership of the spiritual father, she did everything of her own free will. 285. Naked during bathing, sunbathing, physical education, and during the disease it was shown to a doctor-doctor. 286. Not always with repentance recalled and calculated her violations of the Law of God. 287. During the reading of prayers and canons, she was lazy to do. 288. Hearing that a person was sick, she was in no hurry to help. 289. With a thought and a word, she extolled herself in the good. 290. Believed by saying. She did not punish herself for her sins. 291. During the service in the church, I read my home rule or wrote a gentleman. 292. I did not refrain from my favorite foods (albeit lean). 293. She did not fairly punished and gave notations to children. 294. did not have a daily memory of God's judgment, death, and the kingdom of God. 295. During sorrow, I did not occupy the mind and heart with the prayer of Christ. 296. I did not compel myself to a prayer, reading the Word of God, to cry about my sins. 297. Rarely commemorated the dead, did not pray for the deceased. 298. With an unused sin, she started the bowl. 299. In the morning she was engaged in gymnastics, and did not devote her patrimony to God. 300. In the prayer, she was lazy to cross, he examined her thin thoughts, did not think about what awaited me behind the coffin. 301. She was in a hurry in prayer, in laziness she reduced it and read it without due attention. 302. She talked about her insults to her neighbors, acquaintances. I visited places where bad examples were set. 303. I tapped a person without meekness and love. She became irritated when correcting her neighbor. 304. I did not always light the lamp on holidays and Sundays. 305. On Sundays, I did not go to the temple, but for mushrooms, berries ... 306. I had more savings than necessary. 307. I felt sorry for the strength, health, to serve my neighbor. 308. Frowning her neighbor in what happened. 309. Walking along the way to the temple, I did not always read prayers. 310. I assented when condemning a person. 311. She was jealous of her husband, with anger remembered the rival, wished her death, enjoyed the healer slander to lime her. 312. I was demanding and disrespectful to 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. I turned its abilities to earthly goods. 314. had jealousy for the spiritual father. 315. I tried to always be right. 316. I asked unnecessary. 317. cried about temporary. 318. Dreams interpreted and took them seriously. 319. It was boasted by a sin, a deed of evil. 320. After communion, it did not take care of sin. 321. I kept atheistic books and playing cards in the house. 322. She gave advice, not knowing whether they were pleased with God, was careless in the affairs of God. 323. I took a prosphora, holy water (shed a holy water without reverence, I woke up the crumbs of prosphora). 324. I went to bed and got up without prayer. 325. I pamper my children, not paying attention to their bad deeds. 326. In the post, she was engaged in clarification, loved to drink strong tea, coffee, and other drinks. 327. I took tickets, products from a black move, drove on a bus without a ticket. 328. Prayer and the temple above service to the neighbor. 329. transferred sorrows with despondency and murmur. 330. It was annoyed in fatigue and illness. 331. had free appeals with persons of the other sex. 332. In the recollection of worldly affairs, she threw a prayer. 333. Pronounced to eat and drink patients and children. 334. She was contemptuous of vicious people, did not strive for their appeal. 335. I knew and gave money for an unkind thing. 336. I entered without an invitation to the house, spied through the gap, through the window, into the keyhole, and eavesdropped at the door. 337. entrusted secrets to strangers. 338. I consumed food without need and hunger. 339. I read prayers with errors, got down, missed, stressed incorrectly. 340. I lived in a lustful husband. She allowed perversion and carnal pleasures. 341. Laid and asked the debts back. 342. I tried to find out about divine objects, moreover, what is openly open by God. 343. He sinned with body movement, gait, gesture. 344. Put herself as an example, boasted, boasted. 345. Passionately spoke of the earthly, delighted with 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 cash in on insurance. 348. There was a paddock for pleasure, not a kissed. 349. conveyed her conversations with the old man and her temptations to others. 350. It was a donor not out of love for his neighbor, but for the sake of drinking, free days, for money. 351. Bold and selflessly plunged herself into sorrows and temptations. 352. I missed, dreamed of traveling and entertainment. 353. made incorrect decisions in anger. 354. Distracted by the thought of prayer. 355. I went south for carnal entertainment. 356. I used the time of prayer for everyday affairs. 357. Dragged the words, perverted the thoughts of others, aloud expressed her displeasure. 358. I was ashamed to confess to the neighbors that the believer, and I visit the temple of God. 359. Swung, demanded justice in the highest authorities, wrote complaints. 360. Driven those who do not visit the temple and do not repent. 361. I bought lottery tickets with the hope of enrichment. 362. Siled alms and roughly stipulated the requester. 363. I listened to the advice of egoists, who themselves were slaves of the womb and the carnal passions of their passions. 364. She was engaged in self -extinguishing, proudly expected greetings from her neighbor. 365. She was burdened by fasting and was looking forward to the end of him. 366. Without disgust, I did not demolish the stench from people. 367. In anger, she convicted people, forgetting that we are all sinners. 368. I went to bed, did not remember the affairs of the day and did not shed tears about her sins. 369. did not keep the charter of the Church and the traditions of the Holy Fathers. 370. For help in the household, she paid vodka, tempted people with drunkenness. 371. In the post she made tricks in food. 372. Distracted from prayer at the bite of a mosquito, flies and other insects. 373. At the sight of human ingratitude, it was retained from the commission of good deeds. 374. Freetings of dirty work: clean the toilet, raise garbage. 375. During the period of breastfeeding, she did not refrain from marital life. 376. In the temple stood with her back to the altar and holy icons. 377. Prepared sophisticated dishes, tempted with a gendicalobesia. 378. With pleasure I read entertainment books, not the Scriptures of the Holy Fathers. 379. I watched the TV, spent all day I spent time at the “box”, and not in prayers in front of the icons. 380. I listened to passionate worldly music. 381. I was looking for comfort in friendship, yearned for carnal joys, loved to kiss in mouth with men and women. 382. She was engaged in extortion and deceit, judged and discussed people. 383. In the post, I felt disgust from monotonous, lean food. 384. The word of God told people unworthy (not “to throw beads in front of pigs”). 385. Contained the holy icons in negligence, did not wipe them from dust in time. 386. I was lazy to write congratulations on church holidays. 387. She spent time in worldly games and entertainment: checkers, backgammon, lotto, cards, chess, rocks, glasses, Rubika cube and others. 388. I spoke diseases, gave advice to go to the collars, gave the addresses of sorcerers. 389. I believed signs and slander: I spat over my left shoulder, a black cat ran, a spoon, a fork, etc. 390. Sharply answered the angry to its anger. 391. I tried to prove the justification and justice of her anger. 392. It was a bidwitter, interrupted the dream of people, distracted them from a meal. 393. Relaxed with secular conversations with young people of the other sex. 394. She was engaged in idle talk, curiosity, stuck out on fires and attended accidents. 395. I considered it unnecessary to be treated with diseases and visit a doctor. 396. I tried to calm myself with a hasty execution of the rule. 397. Excessively bothering himself with work. 398. I tasted a lot in a meaty week. 399. Gave incorrect advice to her neighbors. 400. She told shameful jokes. 401. For the sake of the authorities, the holy icons were closed. 402. neglected a person in his old age and poverty of his mind. 403. I extended my hands to my naked body, looked and touched my secret uda. 404. I punished children with anger, in a fit of passion, with abuse and curse. 405. I taught children to peep, eavesdropped, pummier. 406. I pamper my children, did not pay attention to their bad deeds. 407. There was a fear of Satanin’s body, she was afraid of wrinkles, gray hair. 408. I burdened other requests. 409. I made conclusions about the sinfulness of people according to their misfortunes. 410. I wrote insulting and anonymous letters, spoke rudeness, interfered with people on the phone, allowing jokes under a fictional name. 411. I sat on the bed without the permission of the owner. 412. In prayer, she imagined the Lord. 413. The Satanian laughter attacked when reading and listening to the Divine. 414. I asked for advice from the ignorant people in that case, I believed crafty people. 415. Seeking the championship, rivalry, won in interviews, participated in competitions. 416. I treated the Gospel as a fortune -telling book. 417. Teared berries, flowers, branches in foreign gardens without permission. 418. In fasting, she did not have a good location for people, allowed a violation of the post. 419. Not always realized and regretted the sin. 420. I listened to worldly records, sinned with video and porno-Kino, relaxed in other worldly pleasures. 421. I read a prayer, having enmity on my neighbor. 422. Prayed in a hat, with her head uncovered. 423. I believed signs. 424. I used it without analysis of paper on which the name of God was written. 425. She was proud of her literacy and wellness, imagined, distinguished people with higher education. 426. I assigned the money found. 427. In the church, put bags and things on the windows. 428. I rode for pleasure by car, motor boat, bicycle. 429. She repeated other people's nasty words, listened to people swearing obscenities. 430. With enthusiasm I read newspapers, books, worldly magazines. 431. Drowned by poor, wretched, sick, from whom it smelled bad. 432. I was proud that I did not make shameful sins, a grave murder, abortion, etc. 433. I erupted and based on the onset of posts. 434. acquired unnecessary things, having no need. 435. After the prodigal sleep, I did not always read prayers from desecration. 436. celebrated the New Year, dressed masks and obscene clothes, reveled, faded, overeat and sinned. 437. Damage to the neighbor, spoiled and broke other people's things. 438. I believed with the nameless “prophets”, in “Holy Letters”, “The Dream of the Virgin”, he herself rewritten them and passed them to others. 439. I listened to sermons in the temple with the spirit of criticism and condemnation. 440. I used my earnings for sinful lusts and amusements. 441. Distributed thin rumors about priests and monks. 442. Pushed in the temple, rushing to kiss the icon, gospel, cross. 443. It was proud, in a lack of poorness and poverty, she was indignant and Roptal on the Lord. 444. I urinated in public and even joked about this. 445. The borrowed loan was not always given on time. 446. Detered her sins in confession. 447. gloated with the misfortune of the neighbor. 448. I taught others in an instructive, imperative tone. 449. shared their vices with people and affirmed them in these vices. 450. Fared with people for a place in the temple, near the icon, near the eve of the eve. 451. By inattention, I caused animals pain. 452. I left a glass with vodka on the grave of relatives. 453. Not sufficiently prepared herself for the sacrament of confession. 454. The holiness of Sundays and holidays violated with games, visits to the spectacles, etc. 455. When the crops were grass, she cursed into the cattle with dirty words. 456. I arranged dates in cemeteries, ran in childhood and played hide and seek there. 457. Passed sexual ties before marriage. 45 459. I asked for alcohol, laid things, documents for this. 460. In order to attract attention, make you worry, tried to commit suicide. 461. In childhood, I did not listen to teachers, prepared lessons poorly, was lazy, tore off my classes. 462. I visited cafes, restaurants arranged in temples. 463. She sang in a restaurant, on the stage, dancing in Variet. 464. In transport, when cramped, I was pleasure from touching, I did not try to avoid them. 465. She was offended by her parents for punishment, remembered these grievances for a long time and told others about them. 466. I reassured myself with the fact that everyday concerns interfere with the affairs of faith, salvation and piety, justified myself by the fact that in his youth no one taught the Christian faith. 467. I spent time on useless chores, vanity, conversations. 468. She was engaged in interpretation of dreams. 469. She objected, fought, scolded with passion. 470. She sinned with thefts, stole eggs in childhood, handed them to the store, etc. 471. It was vanity, proud, did not honor her parents, and did not obey the authorities. 472. She was engaged in heresy, had the wrong opinion about the subject of faith, doubt and even apostasy from the Orthodox faith. 473. had a Sodom sin (copulation with animals, with wicked, entered into an incestive connection).
A detailed list of women's sins
When repenting, it is worth mentioning the most important events, omitting minor and unimportant actions. The acts that women should confess to are divided into several main types. The list of major sins includes:
- pride. It means an unwillingness to lead a simple worldly life, a contemptuous attitude towards others, disrespect for neighbors, an unwillingness to submit to God’s will, to be merciful, meek and humble;
- vanity. Such a sin consists of excessive attention to one’s appearance, preference for material values over spiritual ones, hypocrisy and pretense, the desire to gain fame and draw material income from it;
- love of money. It affects those who want to accumulate personal property and admire it, dream of wealth, strive for it dishonestly, and refuse to help the poor;
- anger. This sin looks like irritability, grumpiness, conflict, and a desire to get into arguments. Anger also includes inciting hatred, physical and moral violence against the weaker;
- adultery. This includes intimate relationships outside of legal marriage, participation in immodest conversations, masturbation, intemperance during fasting and church holidays, the practice of various kinds of perversions, unclean thoughts, indecent behavior, wearing seductive clothes, provocative makeup;
- gluttony. For people susceptible to such sins, carnal food comes first. Gluttonians do not observe fasts, eat before morning prayer, strive to eat refined rather than simple dishes, are satiated with food beyond measure, and are addicted to tea, coffee, and alcohol;
- despondency and laziness. The first sin is manifested in the lack of joy from life given by the Lord, the inability to notice the miracles created by God around oneself. Laziness takes the form of constant drowsiness, reluctance to work honestly, and a desire for frequent celebrations and feasts.
The list of sins for women can be supplemented by narcissism, passion for esotericism, taking the life of a child (abortion), and violation of marital fidelity.
When preparing for confession, you should remember: in case of sincere repentance and humility, the Lord forgives all sins committed. The only thing that cannot be forgiven is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, lack of faith, resistance to God's help.
Who needs to go
Representatives of the clergy recommend general confession to the following categories of Christians:
- people of mature age who want to be baptized and become Orthodox;
- persons who neglect to confess sins after receiving baptism;
- men and women who confess without true repentance and tend to repeat their sins;
- patients who are in serious condition and are likely to die soon.
Full confession is often required by lay people who rarely visit God’s temple, are not present at services, or have never been to church. It also becomes a salvation for people who bear the burdensome burden of their unseemly actions, and for this reason are deprived of the opportunity to get closer to the Creator and understand the meaning of Christ’s teaching.
Sample confessional text
You can write your confession on a piece of paper in your own words. In this case, you need to make a short introduction in which it is customary to ask for forgiveness of existing sins. At the end of confession, you must sincerely turn to God with a request for forgiveness of sins and repent of everything you have done.
Below is an example of a confessional text for women.
“I confess, the sinful servant of God (name), before the face of the Lord God Almighty in all my sins, committed in deed, word or thought.
She sinned in that she was proud, conflicted, irritable, wanted to live in wealth, but did not work for it properly, despised simplicity, did not respect her neighbors, did not fully follow God's will, did not learn humility, was misled by her appearance, decorated herself to attract male attention.
She also sinned in that she put material things above all else, did not develop spiritually, mocked the weak and poor, envied other people’s successes and wealth, wanted harm to other people, did not abstain during fasting, did not honor holy holidays, wanted to eat gourmet food, smoked and used alcohol.
I sinned with laziness, idle talk, jealousy, gossip, and discussion of others. She wondered for the future, believed horoscopes, mentioned the name of God in vain, prayed rarely and inattentively, did not read the Holy Scriptures, did not go to church services, and did not have due respect for Divine icons and shrines.
I sincerely repent of my sins, I ask the Lord to forgive me for the evil I have committed and I promise not to repeat bad deeds in the future. I ask God to give me strength to avoid new sins. I promise to make every effort to henceforth live as a true Christian should and follow the Divine commandments. Amen".
What does the general confession give to a Christian?
When “turning over the pages” of life, a Christian sees a holistic picture of the years he has lived. In prayer, you should ask the Holy Spirit to highlight those moments when a person stumbled or allowed unforgiveness into his heart, which became the cause of bitterness, cruelty, and resentment towards all humanity.
General confession of one's sins will bring freedom to a Christian
After confession, by the great mercy of God, a person throws off the psychological burden that he has sometimes carried for many years, and at the same time he is freed from voluntary and involuntary sins.
The time for confession must be agreed upon in advance, so that in a calm atmosphere, with unlimited time, the soul can be freed before the Almighty.
Advice! It is very important for confession to choose a priest whom you trust, so that he himself is an example of Christian life.
A wise confessor will not ask indecent questions or delve into “dirty laundry.” He will gently and unobtrusively help the confessor to go through the path of analyzing his life, remembering its good and bad moments.
While remembering a particular offense during a general revision of his soul, a person can explain why he acted in this or that way.
Rules of conduct in church
The day and time of confession must be agreed upon with the priest in advance. You need to come to the temple on time, in modest closed clothes, without makeup on your face, with your head covered and hair tied up. You should not enter church wearing high-heeled shoes that make harsh sounds.
When approaching the priest, you should bow your head, fold your hands in front of you in a cross shape and ask for a blessing. Then place your head on the Bible and two fingers of your right hand on the Holy Crucifix. After this, the clergyman covers the repentant woman with an epitrachelion, asks her name given at baptism, and asks her to list all the sins she has committed.
You should speak calmly with the priest, answering all the questions he asks, avoiding arguments and raising your voice. The ritual implies maximum frankness, so there is no need to hide sins during confession. If this rule is not observed, the innermost meaning of the confession is completely lost, the believer is deprived of God's forgiveness, and his soul does not receive purification.
Is it possible to give a note to a priest to read?
This is not important; there is such a practice in the Russian Orthodox Church: people write down their sins for Confession and give the note to their confessor to read. Why is this not important? The most important thing in Repentance is a contrite heart, a desire to improve and go to God.
An example is the parable of the publican and the Pharisee. The publican stands with a contrite heart and begs for forgiveness, not listing his many vices, but repeating each time the same phrase: “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He considers himself unworthy to look up and ask the Creator for anything, because he is a sinner. Then, like the Pharisee, he is proudly self-satisfied, boasting in his thoughts about his piety . God directly says that the one who has a “broken and humble” heart will be heard.
But if a person really wants to repent with all his soul, should he let someone read his sins? Shouldn’t he himself, personally, with the desire to become better, to be closer to the Lord, name, repenting, his spiritual vices and illnesses, independently bring to the Creator all that weakness, impurity and ask the All-Merciful to have mercy and help him improve. Everyone answers this question for themselves.
Contrition... of an old man
... One woman who came from afar (to the Glinsk Hermitage) asked Father Andronik to confess to her. What she told him was the secret of confession, but only after everything he had heard did he begin to cry, saying: “How could you insult the Lord like that?!” His contrition for her sins, which may have weighed on her, but which she probably did not yet know how to properly repent of, struck her so much that she, moving away from the lectern, said out loud: “I’ll come home and spend the winter, God willing, and in the spring I’ll sell the heifer so I can get here again.”
“Glinskaya mosaic” M., 1997
