Repentance and Holy Confession
As taught in the Eastern Orthodox tradition
The healing of the soul through the mystery of reconciliation and metanoia.
What is the nature of the healing of the soul? Within the Orthodox tradition, this question is not answered through the lens of a courtroom or a ledger of debts and payments, but rather through the lens of a hospital. The subtopic of Repentance and Holy Confession—frequently referred to as a "Holy Mystery" or Sacrament—is understood as the therapeutic process by which the fragmented human person is reintegrated into the life of God. Unlike some Western frameworks that may view confession primarily as a legal transaction to satisfy divine justice, Orthodoxy views it as a "Second Baptism," a return to the purity of the baptismal font and a renewal of the covenant between the Creator and the creature.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the Greek concept of *metanoia* and its distinction from mere psychological remorse or legalistic penance.
- **Distinguish** between the Orthodox "therapeutic" model of confession and the "juridical" models often found in other Christian traditions.
- **Explain** the role of the priest in Holy Confession as a "witness" and "spiritual physician" rather than a judicial arbiter.
- **Articulate** the biblical basis for the authority of the Church to "bind and loose" sins as established in the Gospel of John.
- **Trace** the historical development of confession from the public penitential practices of the early Church to the private sacramental encounter.
- **Defend** the necessity of verbal confession in the presence of a priest against the "private-only" model of confession.
- **Apply** the teachings of Saint Philaret and contemporary elders like Archimandrite Zacharias to a personal discipline of self-examination and repentance.
- **Compare** the Orthodox understanding of "Second Baptism" with the Protestant emphasis on "Once Saved Always Saved" or "Initial Justification."
Scripture
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