The Confession of Sins as a Re-Establishment of Man’s Communion with God in the Teachings of Saint John Chrysostom Cover Image

The Confession of Sins as a Re-Establishment of Man’s Communion with God in the Teachings of Saint John Chrysostom
The Confession of Sins as a Re-Establishment of Man’s Communion with God in the Teachings of Saint John Chrysostom

Author(s): Liviu Petcu
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: confession; sins; penance; St. John Chrysostom; communion; remission; priest

Summary/Abstract: Although St. John Chrysostom did not exhaustively describe the Sacrament of Confession and has not listed all its conditions either, what he did clearly elucidate were those elements that solidify the authority of the Priest to hear confessions and absolve sins. The great Archbishop of Constantinople emphasizes not only the responsibility of the Priest to give counsel, but also to prescribe an appropriate canon. In his vision, just as worldly leaders have the power to judge and decide in reference to his vassals, Priests judge, decide, forgive, and set canons, which means that they have power and responsibility for the souls of believers over whom they have jurisdiction. This decision of theirs is received by God, Who Himself forgives and consecrates, using Priests as His instruments. True repentance must be made in secret before the Bishop or Priest who administers the redeeming grace. It must be accompanied by good works such as humility, repentance, fasting, alms and prayer. It must be sincere, complete and on-going, just as sin is repetitive.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 111-127
  • Page Count: 17