Why Do We Confess To A Priest?

[@blakewoodcrest4403]

I’m a severe sinner and thanks for your videos and efforts, I critique them from time to time but it’s not to ever discourage you or anyone else, it’s because the Faith and Order of Tewahido is the Most Precious Gift we have from our beloved Holy Fathers. I heard in a lecture one of the beloved Coptic bishops say that he was watching a program with a Roman Catholic priest who was taking questions and answers. So, a question was asked, which was like this: “What are the greatest faiths among human beings in this world?” The RC bishop responded, “There are two great faiths in this world! Catholicism and Islam!” The Coptic bishop said he wondered and questioned, but he knew that St Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians stating, “One God. One Baptism. One Faith.” Therefore, how can there be 2 faiths? The aforementioned statement was unorthodox - a heterodox to be exact. When we open a discussion about our Orthodox Tewahido Faith, we must put all heterodoxy to shame - not a person, but the ill teaching. I would like to add some points about the Mystery of Confession and Penance according to the Order of our Holy Faith. Firstly, there’s not enough room here to elaborate on this complex topic. Secondly, when we mention the Mystery of Penance, we must essentially mention the Mystery of Holy Orders / Priesthood. When the Holy Trinity (Glory be to His Holy Name forever and ever) created Adam, he blessed and bestowed upon him the titles: Priest, Prophet and King - Adam is the Son of God. Since the time of Adam’s error, he started to intercede to His Holy Creator on the behalf of his posterity - Adam learned this from the Almighty Creator directly. We read later that the Creator beheld the sacrifice of Abel and Cain; to make a long story short, they were aware that there was a need for an acceptable sacrifice. We continue and magnify Melketsidek the Priest of the Most High God, who at first terrified Abraham, but then received the tithe from him, blessed him and then offered Abraham wine and bread... As time progresses, our Most Merciful Creator begins to reveal and set up the order of a priesthood, altar, sacrifice, sanctuary and offerings. The people were ordered to confess their sins and to prepare the appropriate offerings. We can read and study the superficial interpretations about the priesthood and confession in the OT - it’s not a new concept, even the pagan priests accepted confession, but obviously they represented the devils. Moving forward to St John the Baptist,we read that the people came to him confessing their sins and he offered the baptism of purification, yet he informed them that One after him, Who is before him will baptize with the Fire of the Holy Spirit - the Son of God (the Second Adam). Recall (read) that the scribes and Pharisees constantly proclaimed that only God could forgive sins and “how is it that He (eYesus of Nazareth) forgive sins? Only God can forgive sins!” They are blind and deaf! Remember that Adam was Priest, Prophet and King, therefore - he held the office of the priesthood. As you (Dawit) mentioned, Christ our Creator (the Incarnate Word of God) blessed and bestowed upon His Apostles the power, the authority, the Mystery of the Priesthood and within this mystery is the order to forgive others for their trespasses/injuries they have committed knowingly and unknowingly. As a matter of fact, our Lord Christ is telling all of the faithful to forgive others and if they don’t, God Almighty will not forgive them! This is the regeneration of the sons of God - to forgive others. Now this priesthood holds a distinct and unique role to absolve or bind sins (Note: the discretionary measures of absolution apply to faithful, wise and orderly priests, not to those who abuse the office) and this is a sub-mystery of the priesthood: when a person commits sin, many times it is done in private - without another living soul being witness. This prompts the average person to act as though it didn’t happen, or to ignore it; perhaps they will think, “Well, I did this secretly, therefore I will confess in secret to God as well!” But this mentality will not bring correction to the soul, because there is no shame to the person and the sin! Another primary reason for the Mystery of the priesthood and confession: when the confessor is penitent, he/she must kneel down in front of the priest or bishop (not on the phone or via FaceTime), the priest or bishop will then place the Cross over the penitent’s head and say the prayer of absolution - this is the Mystery, that the penitent is confessing that he/she has picked up the Cross of Christ, has forsaken his/herself and has become the son/daughter of Christ as is the Lord Himself. God the Father sees the penitent as His Holy Son on the Altar of Calvary. I hope this makes sense to anyone who seeks understanding that our Lord Christ is the Creator, as God the Father created the world by Him (Christ is the Thought/Word of the Father), as the Holy Spirit is Their Breath - the Spirit of God Almighty. Glory be to the Holy Trinity forever and ever, Whose Kingdom has no end.

[@chrisgosey1821]

Blake Woodcrest , thank you for taking the time to expound on the Sacrament of Holy Confession! As a Protestant convert to Orthodoxy, I found your comment, as well as Dawit's talk, most helpful!

[@lidiaamanuel124]

Indeed it is a divine sacrament, of which we are so blessed to participate in! God bless you brothers! Truly the Orthodox Church has preserved the teaching's of Christ and His apostles!

[@sy-amongusandrobloxadventu3129]

Wow, looks like you learned a lot about His Trinity and how the world reacts to His Trinity.

[@blakewoodcrest4403]

Chris Gosey Hi Chris, I pray that you’re well. It took another reply for me to learn about your reply from two years ago! Our Lord is our Help...

[@blakewoodcrest4403]

Asmero. Okbazgi The True Faithful is always under attack for remaining truly orthodox in Christ the Creator and Savior. For whatever reason he, she and/or they attack the Creator - the Holy Trinity, we are ready to refute that heresy according to the Grace of our Lord...

[@zementeklu6319]

Thanks you for your good advice, God bless you

[@danielyaregal6628]

This the best explanation thankyou

[@melatleul9609]

My dad is a priest of Ethiopian Orthodox Church I Canada

[@melshiw8]

እግዚአብሔ ርጸጋህን ያብዛልህ!

[@eugeneoseifrimpong7687]

Hello, I'm in Ghana...and I would like to link up with you

[@abe6865]

We should confess to God daily but how often should we confess to a priest?

[@gedionendalkachew12]

You can get if go to you nearer Ethiopian Orthodox thewahedo church you can get apriest and you can also ask how you confess and they will tell you deeply

[@LuckyJackpotKing]

I wish i could confess ny sins over the phone. It will make me feel so much better