An integral part of the harassment is confession, that is, repentance. This is one of the Orthodox mysteries, when a person tells the minister of the church about his sins that were committed by him during his life. It is important to know how to prepare for confession, because without this it will be impossible to start the sacrament.
How to prepare for confession and communion?
There are several requirements, which the clergy say to people who want to confess and receive communion.
- A person should be an Orthodox Christian who was baptized by a legitimate priest. In addition, it is important to believe and accept the Scriptures. There are different books with which a person can learn about faith, for example, "Catechism."
- Finding out what you need to know before confession and communion, it is worth pointing out that it is necessary to remember evil deeds, starting from the age of seven or from the moment of baptism, if it happened in adulthood. It is important to point out that one can not mention other people's sins in order to justify one's own actions.
- A believing person must give a promise to the Lord that all efforts will be made to no longer make mistakes and do good.
- In a situation where sin caused damage to close people, then before confession it is important to make every possible effort to make amends for the perfect act.
- It is equally important to forgive the existing grievances to people, otherwise you should not count on the Lord's condescension.
- It is recommended to develop a habit for yourself daily, for example, before going to sleep, to analyze the past day, bringing repentance before the Lord.
Fasting before confession
Direct prohibitions on whether food can be eaten before the sacrament of confession are not, but it is recommended to refrain from eating for 6-8 hours. If you are interested in how to fast before confession and communion, then it is necessary to adhere to a three-day fast, so to the allowed products include: vegetables and fruits, cereals, fish, pastries, dried fruits and nuts.
Prayers before confession
One of the important stages of preparation is the reading of prayer texts, and it can be done both at home and in the church. With their help, a person spends spiritual cleansing and prepares for an important event. Many Orthodox believers insist that in order to prepare for confession, it is important to read the prayers, the text of which is understandable and well-known, so you can get rid of anxious thoughts and gain understanding of the upcoming ritual. Clergymen assure that you can ask for even your loved ones who are to confess and communion.
How to write down sins before confession?
Many people misunderstand the need to list their own sins, using even "lists". As a result, confession turns into a formal enumeration of one's own mistakes. Clergymen allow the use of records, but these should only be reminders and only if a person is really afraid of something to forget. Finding out how to prepare for confession, it is worth pointing out that it is important to understand the term "sin", so this is an act that is contrary to the will of the Lord.
There are several tips on how to write sins before confession in order to fulfill everything according to the existing canons.
- First you need to remember the misdeeds that concern the Lord, for example, the lack of faith, the use of superstitions in life, the use of fortune-tellers and the creation of idols.
- The rules before confession include an indication of the sins committed against yourself and other people. This group includes the condemnation of others, neglect, bad habits, envy and so on.
- It is important during the conversation with the clergy to discuss only their own sins, not devising a special ecclesiastical language.
- Confessing people should talk about really serious things, not trivial matters.
- Determining how to properly prepare for confession and communion, it is worth pointing out that a believer should try to change his life before going to an individual conversation in the church. In addition, we must try to live in peace with the surrounding people.
Can I drink water before a confession?
There are many prohibitions concerning such important and important events in the life of a believer as confession and communion . It is believed that as preparation it is necessary to refrain from taking food and liquids at least 6-8 hours. It is important to note that before a confession it is allowed to drink water only to people who need to drink medicines important for life. If a person drank water before the communion, then the clergyman should be told about this.
Can I smoke before communion and confession?
On the account of this topic there are different opinions, which the clergy show.
- Some believe that if a person smokes a long time, it will be difficult for him to give up a bad habit, and there are cases when it is dangerous. In their opinion, cigarette dependence can not be the reason for refusal to confess and communion.
- Other clergymen, responding to the question of whether it is possible to smoke before confession and communion, are categorical, arguing that if it is difficult for a person to refrain from tobacco before this important event, then it is difficult to talk about the presence of the triumph of the spirit over the body.
Is it possible to have sex before a confession?
Many believing people wrongly perceive sexual relations , considering it something dirty and sinful. In fact, sex is an integral part of marital relations. Many priests hold the view that the husband and wife are free personalities, and no one has the right to enter their bedroom with their advice. Sex before confession is not strictly forbidden, but if possible, abstinence will be superfluous for maintaining the purity of the body and soul.