Question about Orthodoxy & Confession

[sue57]

In exploring Orthodoxy, one's initial impressions can, sadly, sometimes focus on the "difficulties" of living an Orthodox life, all that fasting, different calender, etc. However, there is one aspect which just strikes me as curious, and something that I think I need to have explained to me. Here goes: One day at Vigil, I watched people in a short line, waiting to Confess, and I noticed that the priest's children were also in line. They are not small children, but adolescents. I found the idea of confessing one's sins to one's own father very odd, to say the least. Certainly, sins are not always minor transgressions, but things we can only tell to God! Wouldn't a child be hestiant to tell it's father that they were angry at their parents and "hated" them, or in the case of older children, I would think that sexual issues would be VERY difficult. How does this idea of priest's children confessing to them work in Orthodoxy? Am I misunderstanding this situation? I appreciate any explanation, because this honestly does seem quite strange to me. Thank you in advance!
Sues.

[Natasha]

good question....what I have noticed is that sometimes a Priest will tell his family members to go to another local Orthodox Priest for confession, however, maybe that is impossible in your area and there is no other choice.

[Savva24]

Dear In Christ, Sue,

From what some priests told me, children should NEVER go to confession to their own father, precisely for the reasons you pointed out, and more often than not, they will not confess sins that they are too embarrased about. I have heard that some priests will have their children confess to another priest over the phone and recieve absolution from their father afterwards. I think that is the best idea if they can't get to another priest.

When I was a child, my parish priest confessed his children ( and still wants them to this day to go only to him for confession; they are all grown men in their thirties and forties), one of whom I am very close with. All three of them are wacos ( I mean that in a loving way since they are my friends) and one told me how weird and practically impossible it is to confess certain sins to your own father.

I think that by doing this you really open up the possiblility that the children will conceal certain sins, which is a far greater sin and misfortune.

Just my two cents,

In Christ,

Nicholas

[Daniel]

In one of Frederica Matthews-Greene's books she talks about the family going to a monstery for confession were they had, I guess, their family confessor.

[sue57]

I didn't know whether this was a standard practice in Orthdoxy or not. I know the church I attend really stresses the importance of confession before receiving Holy Communion, and again, I do not mean to criticize children confessing to their own father, it just seems strange to me. I suppose it is difficult, because the church I go to is ROCOR, and the next closest one is about 60 miles away. I guess the phone option would be what I would choose in this situation, but of course, I'm not (yet) Orthodox, so like I said, I'm not being critical, just curious. I know you are not supposed to ever conceal sins during Confession, but this just seems like an additional complication.

[LatinTrad]

I have heard that some priests will have their children confess to another priest over the phone and recieve absolution from their father afterwards.

WHAT??

How can this be? The Priest in Confession is supposed to be a judge--how can a different priest offer absolution, not having judged the sins in question?

LatinTrad

[zlata]

I know many pk's (priest kids) who write confession letters once a month or so to other priests and then come to their father for absolution every week.

I live around 120 mi away from my spiritual father, and can see him maybe 2-3 times a year. I still can't put something so special and personal as confession on the paper. :ohvey: