CONFESSION

CONFESSION is the open admission of known sins before God and man. It means literally "to agree with" God concerning our sins. Saint James admon­ishes us to confess our sins to God before one another (James 5:16). We are also exhorted to confess our sins directly to God (1 John 1:9). The Orthodox Church has always followed the New Testament practices of confession before a priest, as well as private confession to the Lord. Confession is one of the most significant means of repenting and of receiving assur­ance that even our worst sins are truly forgiven. It is also one of our most powerful aids for forsaking and overcoming those sins.