BRIEF CONFESSION BEFORE A SPIRITUAL FATHER

Compiled by the late Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco.

Based on a longer version by St Dimitry of Rostov.

I confess to the Lord my God before thee, reverend father, all my sins which I have committed up to the present day and hour, in deed, word and thought. Every day and every hour I sin through ingratitude to God for His great and numberless blessings to me and His most gracious providence and care for me, a sinner. I have sinned through:

  • idle talk
  • saying unseemly things
  • condemnation of others
  • laughter
  • scorn
  • self-love
  • insubordination
  • love of glory
  • pride
  • love of honour
  • envy
  • gluttony
  • anger
  • love of sensual pleasure
  • slander
  • over-eating
  • inattention
  • drunkenness
  • listlessness
  • attachment to things
  • negligence
  • love of money
  • carelessness
  • vainglory
  • resentment and remembering wrongs
  • laziness
  • disobedience
  • acceptance of lustful and grumbling impure thoughts
  • self-will
  • missing church services
  • reproaching others
  • dozing and sleeping in church
  • evil speech
  • neglect of prayer
  • lying
  • concealing sins at confession

I have sinned with all my senses, both spiritual and physical, wherefore I repent to the Lord and ask forgiveness. Absolve all my sins, reverend father, and bless me to partake of the Mysteries of Christ.




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