The Mystery of Repentance

The Preparation

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

(The Trisagion Prayers are said:)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(Psalm 50 is read in full:)

Reader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You only have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight, that You might be justified in Your words and victorious when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, You have loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom You have made manifest to me. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You shall make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled shall rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with Your governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; with whole burnt offerings You shall not be pleased. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shall You be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer bullocks upon Your altar.

The Admonition

(The Priest stands before the Icon of Christ, and the penitent stands or kneels beside him.)

Priest: Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession. Therefore, be not ashamed or afraid, and conceal nothing from me. But tell me without hesitation all things that you have done, so that you may receive remission from our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, His holy icon is before us; and I am but a witness, bearing testimony before Him of all things which you shall say to me. If you conceal anything from me, you shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the hospital, you should go away unhealed.

The Confession

(The Penitent confesses their sins. The Priest may ask questions or offer spiritual counsel.)

(After the confession, the Priest says:)

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Lord God of the salvation of Your servants, who are merciful and compassionate and long-suffering, and who repent of our evil-doings, and who desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: Do You Yourself, O Master, in Your goodness and love for mankind, forgive Your servant (Name) through me, Your unworthy priest, and grant him (her) a place of repentance and the remission of sins. Reconcile and unite him (her) to Your holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom also are due unto You glory and dominion, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Absolution

(The Priest places his Epitrachelion (stole) over the head of the penitent, makes the sign of the Cross, and says the Prayer of Absolution:)

Priest: May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, through the grace and compassions of His love for mankind, forgive you, my child (Name), all your transgressions. And I, His unworthy priest, through the power given unto me by Him, forgive and absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(The Priest makes the sign of the Cross on the head of the penitent. The service concludes with the blessing:)

Priest: Go in peace, and sin no more.