At Baptism and Chrismation we become members of the Church, are sealed with the Holy Spirit and receive Grace for our spiritual development and perfection. Immediately following this we find we are still faced with the temptations of sin. So, we need to be concerned about how we maintain our purity of our Baptismal state. How do we ever fulfill the command given to us by Christ to “be perfect, as our father in Heaven is perfect” (Mat 5:48)? It is only through the Mysteries of Repentance,and Confession and Holy Communion and our good works of love based on faith that we can preserve this purity. Our salvation comes as a gift when our will cooperates with the Grace of the Holy Spirit.

We are all descendants of Adam and Eve who fell from God’s grace and we must struggle to be freed from sin and the passions of this earthly existence which are rooted in our physical make-up. Christ came to give us the Grace necessary for our salvation and showed us the path to follow. He cast the seed and we must cultivate it. Sin is easy and common. When we are not in communion and union with God, we fall and become slaves of our passions. But God is compassionate, so we don’t have to despair about our weak condition. He will forgive us if we are repentant. God's Word promises "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The faithful are to bring their sins to God in repentance, and through appropriate preparation receive cleansing and forgiveness.

Through Confession repentance leads us to salvation
Repentance leads us to salvation provided it is coupled with Confession. Confession is what reconciles us with the Father who loves us unconditionally. He does not want us to die as a sinner, but wishes us to return to union with Him and attain eternal life in His kingdom. We see this clearly in the parable of the Prodigal Son who said, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” (Luke 15:21) With this the father opened his arms and embraced him. The Holy Fathers have taught us that Confession is the renewal of our Baptism. The Lord knows our weaknesses and does not punish us for them if only we are willing to repent and work to change our ways.

Yet, no matter how great our repentance is, if it is not completed by the Mystery of Confession it does not give rise to salvation or reconcile us with God. It is only through Confession preceded by the sincere repentance that our sins can be cleansed and our soul be healed. Repentance alone is not sufficient.

It is no different than when we have a bodily ailment and are suffering. It is not sufficient for us to know what we are suffering from. This will not cure us. We must seek out a physician of the body to help us get well. It is the same with our sins. It is not sufficient to know them and feel sorry about them. This is only the beginning of our healing. We must seek out a spiritual doctor, a Priest who is a Confessor, so he can grant us remission and offer the appropriate remedies for our spiritual sickness. If we do not, we will not be cured and our soul in its sickness will be eternally separated from God.

But I confess my sins privately
Many say, “I confess my sins privately in front of my icons at home. I pray and make the sign of my cross and ask for His forgiveness. I know He is compassionate and will forgive me. I do not want to tell them to a Priest because I feel embarrassed and I am fearful that he will reveal my sinfulness to others

This a serious error. Even the early Christians would stand and confess their sins to God in the presence of the whole congregation. Jesus encouraged His followers to walk in the light together, to confront problems corporately, to "tell it to the church" (Mat 18:17). Thus James writes, "Confess your trespasses to one another" (James 5:16). But as time went on and the Church grew in numbers, strangers came to visit and public confession became more difficult. Out of mercy, priests began to witness confessions of sin privately on behalf of the Church.

It was Christ Himself who gave His disciples the authority to forgive sin and said, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:23; cf. Matt 16:19, 18:17-19). He did not give this authority to icons or to anyone other than His disciples. They in turn passed this authority on to their successors, the Hierarchs and Priests. Not even the Theotokos was given this authority. It is only the Priests who were permitted to manage heavenly affairs. There is no doubt that God accepts the repentance of a sinner, but He forgives it only through the medium of the spiritual Father and the Mystery of Confession. In confession the slate is wiped clean like at the time of Baptism. This sacrament, like the others, is a gift from God. It is for our spiritual benefit and to help us attain theosis and salvation.

Ordination grants responsibilities
From the beginning, Christians understood that Ordination endowed the discernment and compassion to speak the words of remission, on behalf of Christ, regarding the sins of those who confess and turn from sin. For God has promised the removing of sin from us "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps 103:12). St John Chrysostom says, "The priests decree below, God confirms above, and the Master agrees with the opinion of His slaves".

"You did not choose Me", Jesus told the Twelve, "but I chose you and appointed you." (John 15:16). To these same disciples Jesus promised, "It is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11). Whom God calls, He equips. Paul writes to Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim 1:6). It is the grace of the Holy Spirit which enables the priest to serve God and the people. Priests are only the visible instrument of God's mercy at the performance of the Mystery, which is performed invisibly through them by God Himself. It is God (the Holy Triune) who forgives our sins.

The Priest is a spiritual Physician
The Priest is a spiritual physician. He will help you and give you advice about how to fight your passions. He will console you and offer solutions to the many problems you face. He will embrace you and he can commiserate with you. He is not a impartial fearful judge. He is a father, a physician of the soul as well as a brother and fellow sinner who experiences the same problems as you do. He is always praying for you. Pray for him.

But the Priest is a sinner
There are those who will insist and say that the Priest is a sinner and is therefore unworthy to hear my confession. It is another truth of the Church that the condition of the Priest does not condition the work of the Holy spirit is effecting the Mysteries of the Church. If this were true there would be no Church as we are all sinners including the Priests. In the performance of the Holy Mysteries the Priest does nothing on his own. He is only a tool of God designated through the Apostolic succession. We should not scrutinize the sins of the Priest. We do not do this when dealing with other people. When a check comes in the mail delivered by a sinful mailman we do not hesitate to go and cash it. When we are sick we do not judge the moral condition of the doctor but look for his expertise and knowledge to help us. When you receive your salary from your employer you do not question their moral worthiness. If you need to cross a river and the only bridge to use is an old one you are compelled to use it to cross. You don’t reason about why it is not in better shape. The same with the pipes that deliver us water. The pipes may be rusty yet we drink the water when we are thirsty. Our confessor may be like the bridge or the rusty pipe.. He is assuredly a sinner like us and we should pray for him and have compassion. But his condition has no impact on the validity of any of the Sacraments.

But I give alms
Others think that their sins will be forgiven if they simply give alms and do other good deeds without engaging in Confession with a priest. It is only our pride that does not allow us to humble ourselves and reveal our spiritual weakness to a Priest. What does a person do who is carrying a heavy load when he is tired from this physical effort? He sets it down and seeks a cart or some means to carry the load for him. Likewise, when your sins provide a heavy burden, it is prudent to go to the Priest and with his help to set aside the entire burden of your sins.

Confession brings relief
With Confession you can feel an incredible sense of relief, joy and satisfaction. You spiritual life will blossom. This is a path to holiness for many of our saints. Saint Cyprian was a renowned sorcerer and after repenting and confession became a Martyr for Christ. Saint Moses the Ethiopian was a former robber. Other examples are saint Mary of Egypt, Eudocia, and there are many more. These saints sinned greatly but in repentance they laid down the burden of their sins with Confession. This is what God wants us to do so we can be united with Him and allow Him to make us gods by Grace.

It is essential to remember that the remission of sins in the Sacrament is an act of mercy. It is given for our spiritual profit, "for edification, and not for destruction" (2 Cor 10:8).

Thus we come before the holy icon of Christ, to whom we confess, and are guided by the priest, our spiritual father, not a judge waiting to had out punishment but a healer and helper, helps us through a cleansing inventory of our lives. When we tell God all, naming our sins and failures, we hear those glorious words of freedom which announces Christ's promise of forgiveness of all our sins. We resolve to "go and sin no more" (John 8:11).

A change of mind
The Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook, of man's vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God... It is clear that what is at stake here are not particular acts of contrition, but an attitude, a state of mind. "For this life," states John Chrysostom, "is in truth wholly devoted to repentance, penthos and wailing. This is why it is necessary to repent, not merely for one or two days, but throughout one's whole life…."

Self-Examination According to the Ten Commandments
Use the following questions as a guide for self-evaluation.

First Commandment
Thou shall have none other gods before Me. (Deuteronomy 5:7).
Have I believed in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God in Three Persons?
Have I acknowledged God as the Lord, the Source of all good things, the Savior of my soul and body?
Have I loved God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength?
Have I constantly had the thought of God in my mind and the fear of God in my heart?
Have I failed to trust in God and His mercy?
Has my faith in God been shaken by skepticism or doubt?
Have I complained against God in time of adversity?
Have I been thankful for God’s blessings?
Have I questioned or doubted the holy tenets of the Orthodox Faith?
Have I asked God to strengthen my faith?
Have I despaired of God’s mercy or help?
Have I prayed to God every day, morning and evening?
Have I prayed with zeal?
Have I always attended Divine Services whenever possible?
Have I missed any of them without good reason?
Have I tried to serve God and keep His commandments?
Have I preferred religious books over others? Have I, in fact, read them?
Have I read atheistic or heretical books out of sinful curiosity?
Have I attended the meetings of heretics and schismatics?
Have I willingly contributed to charitable causes and to the Church? Have I given a sacrificial portion of my resources?
Have I neglected my duties to God through fear of ridicule or persecution?
Have I denied that I am a Christian?
Have I denied any teaching of the Orthodox Faith?
Have I given way to superstition?
Have I consulted astrologers, fortune-tellers or spiritualists?
Have I put myself before God?
Have I forgotten or neglected the most important thing in life, that is, preparing for eternity?
How will I answer God if I have given myself up to vanity, sloth, pleasure and carelessness?

Second Commandment
Thou shall not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them ... (Deuteronomy 5:8,9a).
Have I made an idol of any person or thing?
Have I given to any one or to any thing the worship that is due to God alone?
Have I put God first? Or have I given first place to: accumulation of money, acquisition of property, amusement or entertainment, food and drink, clothes, self-adornment, attention to myself, eliciting praise, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, spending time in distractions, obsession with myself or with other persons or things?
Have I been distracted from God by a passion for watching television or movies, attending the theater or playing games of one sort or another?
Have I been so anxious about myself, my family or my friends that I have neglected God, failed to serve Him and not carried out what is required of me by the Church?
Have I given too much attention to my home and its furnishings, its decoration and repair?
Have I paid too much attention to a car, truck, van, boat or other vehicle of travel?
Have I been irreverent during Divine Services, let my attention wander or been insincere?
Have I neglected to receive Holy Communion regularly?
Have I received the Divine Gifts without due preparation?
Have I made an idol of myself?
Have I made an idol of some passion? love of money? gluttony? sexual obsession? anger?
Have I allowed a passion to take possession of my heart?
Have I read the Holy Scriptures regularly?
Have I read books that would be spiritually nourishing?
Have I set before myself the holy life of Jesus my Savior and tried to imitate Him?
Have I called on Him to help me?
Have I read the lives of the Saints and tried to imitate their virtues, especially those of my Patron Saint?
Have I asked for their prayers and their strength?

Third Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain (Deuteronomy 5:11).
Have I profaned the name of God in any way?
Have I been thoughtless or irreverent with the name of God?
Have I used the name of God in a curse?
Have I treated something holy as a joke, or joked about holy things?
Have I grumbled toward God or even renounced Him at any time?
Have I shown due respect to the clergy and the faithful or hindered them in their work?
Have I shown respect for all other people?
Have I prayed absent-mindedly or inattentively?
Have I cursed anyone or anything?
Have I sworn a false oath?
Have I broken an oath or a promise?
Have I entered into any sinful or unlawful contract or made such a promise?
Have I given in to despondency?

Fourth Commandment
Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee (Deuteronomy 5:12).
Have I failed to attend Divine Services on the Lord’s Day or on a Great Feast Day without just cause?
Have I kept others from attending Divine Services?
Have I done unnecessary work on Sundays or on Great Feast Days?
Have I violated the sanctity of the Lord’s Day or Great Feasts by unwholesome or frivolous activities?
Have I distracted others from keeping these days in a godly way?
Did I pray at home if I was unable to attend Divine Services on the Lord’s Day or a Great Feast Day?
Did I make every effort to worship "in spirit and in truth" while I was at a Divine Service?
Did I allow myself to be distracted by worldly concerns at a Divine Service? to judge others? to think of unwholesome or frivolous things?
Did I make the effort to come to Divine Services on time?
Have I diligently kept the fasts of the Church?
Have I caused anyone else to violate the fasts or tempted anyone to do so?
Have I fasted properly in my heart, realizing a hunger for God and life in Him, rather than legalistically, just to fulfill the letter?

Fifth Commandment
Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Deuteronomy 5:16).
Have I been disrespectful to my parents or inattentive to their advice and concern for me?
Have I been lacking in love for them?
Have I withheld love from them?
Have I disobeyed them?
Have I neglected them or failed to help them?
Have I cared for my parents in their illnesses or old age?
Have I deceived my parents or caused them pain by my words or actions?
Have I prayed for my parents and other relatives?
Have I prayed for the repose of my parents and other relatives who are departed?
Have I done my duty toward my family?
Husbands: Have I sacrificed my life for my wife?
Wives: Have I been obedient to my husband?
Have I encouraged peace and mutual respect among the members of my family?
Have I been responsible toward my spouse, children and others who depend on me for help, counsel, guidance or support?
Have I been wanting in love for my spouse or harmed her/him in any way?
Have I set a good example for my children?
Have I tried to rear my children in godliness?
Have I disciplined them with patience? or in anger?
Have I been overindulgent with my children?
Have I been stingy with any members of my family or with others?
Have I neglected my godparents or failed to honor them?
Have I neglected my godchildren or failed to instruct, guide or encourage them in the Orthodox Faith?
Have I worked for my employer honestly and diligently?
Have I treated fairly and respectfully all who worked with me or who are under my supervision?
Have I respected and prayed for the civil authorities?
Have I honored those who are older than I?
Have I shown respect for all others?
Have I mocked anyone or made fun of him?
Have I respected the clergy of the Church and prayed for them?
Have I criticized them or mocked them?
Have I been embittered against them, especially when they chastised or corrected me?
Have I honored God as my Father, the Church as my Mother, and other human beings as my fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters?

Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill
(Deuteronomy 5:17).
Have I killed another person, or have I contributed to the death of another person?
Have I had an abortion or given support or encouragement to someone else to have one?
Have I wanted another person to die?
Have I wanted any type of harm to come to another person or group of people?
Have I tried to kill myself or thought seriously about doing it?
Have I caused injury to another person?
Have I caused injury to myself through smoking, overindulgence, drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs or too much medicine or through evil and intemperate living?
Have I given way to anger?
Have I cursed anyone or hurt anyone with unduly harsh words?
Have I been cruel to anyone?
Have I ignored someone who needed help or failed to defend someone who was being treated unjustly or cruelly?
Have I failed to respond to those who are in need: to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the imprisoned, the homeless, the ill, the troubled, the afflicted, the depressed or those with other needs that I could help?
Have I harmed someone spiritually by leading him into temptation to commit spiritual death through heresy, schism or by some other sin?
Have I shown malice or hatred toward another person?
Do I bear any malice or resentment or hatred in my heart toward anyone else?
Have I failed to forgive anyone or harbored evil thoughts against anyone?
Have I mistreated animals or destroyed or harmed any living creature unnecessarily?

Seventh Commandment
Neither shalt thou commit adultery (Deuteronomy 5:18).
Have I committed the sins of adultery or fornication?
Have I committed the sin of masturbation?
Have I had any sexual experiences outside of marriage?
Have I done anything impure alone or with any other person(s)?
Have I engaged in bestiality, transvestitism, sodomy or any other abnormal sexual practice?
Have I degraded myself or another person in any way?
Have I forgotten or ignored human dignity?
Have I been immodest?
Have I lived in an improper way with anyone else?
Have I read or looked at immoral, suggestive or pornographic books, magazines, pictures, websites, movies, tapes, dances, plays or performances?
Have I entertained impure thoughts or fantasies? Have I been unfaithful to my spouse through impure thoughts or fantasies?
Have I looked at any person or thing in an impure way?
Have I spoken or listened to impure or suggestive language, dirty jokes or lewd songs?
Have I eaten or drunk too much? Have I tempted others to do so?
Have I associated with bad companions?
Have I been a to unsavory place?
Have I been lazy, idle or wasteful of time?
Have I tempted others or led them to commit sinful acts or to entertain sinful thoughts?
Have I tempted others through my own immodesty or through suggestive language or actions?
Have I been unfaithful to any trust?
Have I betrayed the confidence of anyone else?
Have I judged any other person?

Eighth Commandment
Neither shall thou steal (Deuteronomy 5:19).
Have I stolen anything or wished to do so?
Have I stolen by fraud, deception or conspiracy?
Have I kept anything that did not belong to me?
Have I stolen by not rendering a service for which I was compensated?
Have I tried honestly to find the owner of lost articles I found, when it was reasonable to do so?
Have I cheated or defrauded anyone?
Have I accepted or purchased stolen goods?
Have I disposed improperly of the goods of another?
Have I paid my debts in a timely way?
Have I lived within my means?
Have I lived extravagantly or wastefully?
Have I been selfish with what is entrusted to me?
Have I been miserly in soul?
Have I shared with others?
Have I been stingy?
Have I given to those in need?
Have I given a sacrificial proportion of my goods to the Church for God’s service?
Have I been honest and upright in my dealings with others?

Ninth Commandment
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor (Deuteronomy 5:20)
Have I slandered anyone?
Have I lied?
Have I added to or taken away from the truth?
Have I made careless statements or spoken evil of anyone? Have I betrayed the confidence of another person?
Have I criticized others?
Have I rejoiced in the failings or downfall of others?
Have I covered my brother’s shame as Shem and Japheth covered their father Noah’s?
Have I spread gossip or scandal?
Have I hurt the reputation of anyone else?
Have I concealed the truth or assisted in carrying out a lie? Have I confessed to sins I have not committed?
Have I confessed all the sins I have committed?
Have I failed to come forward to defend another person when I knew he was being slandered or spoken against unjustly?
Have I tried to see the good in others?
Have I concentrated on the shortcomings of others?
Have I engaged in idle chatter?
Have I spoken unnecessarily?
Have I laughed or acted frivolously?
Have I made a real effort to be truthful at all times?

Tenth Commandment
Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbors wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbors house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s (Deuteronomy 5:2 1).
Have I envied others? either their lives or their goods?
Have I desired anything that was another’s?
Have I damaged or destroyed the possessions or property of others?
Have I desired things God has not given me?
Have I been discontent with my life?
Have I held back anything due to another because I wanted it myself or for any other reason?
Have I hoped for the downfall of another so that I might gain by it?
Have I failed to be gracious and generous to anyone?
Have I wanted from God what I refused to give to a fellow man: forgiveness? goods? grace? physical or spiritual blessings?
Have I been greedy?
Have I been jealous of another person’s goods, money, appearance, success, love, popularity, being loved by another or others?
Have I concentrated my time, efforts and thoughts on the things of the world rather than on the things of the spirit?

Psalm 51
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Beatitudes
Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5:3-10)

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit (πτωχοι τω πνεύματι): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are they that mourn [οι πενΘουντες]: for they shall be comforted [παρακληΘήσονται].
3. Blessed are the meek (οι πραεις): for they shall inherit the earth (κληρονομήσουσιν την γην).
4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness [οι πεινωντες και διψωτες την δικαιοσύνην]: for they shall be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful [οι έλεήμονες]: for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart (καθαροι τη καρδία): for they shall see God.
Psalm 24:3-4: Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers [ειρηνοποιοί]: for they shall be called the children of God [‘υιοι Θεου, hyioi Theou, sons of God].
8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake [οι δεδιωγμένοι ένεκεν δικαιοσύνης]: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [βασιλεία των ούρανων].

The Parable of the Lost Son

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. (Lk 15:11-24)

Podcast by Matthew Gallatin. Matthew is the author of Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells

Articles
Preparing for Confession by Department of Religious Education from "My Orthodox Prayer Book"

The Ten Commandments by Rev. George Mastrantonis

Young People and Confession by Fr. Milton Efthimiou

Repentance and Confession - Introduction by Fr. John Chryssavgis

What Is Necessary for a Saving Confession? by Metropolitan Innocent of Moscow

Self-Examination Before Confession by Saint Nicolas Varzhansky

How Everyone Should Prepare Before Confession:
An Excerpt from Exomologetarion (A Manual of Confession) by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

A Catechism on Confession. Reprinted from The Shepherd, published by the Brotherhood of St. Edward the Martyr, London, England.

AN ORTHODOX CONFESSION WHICH LEADS THE INWARD MAN TO HUMILITY
From "The Way of a Pilgrim"

A Lament for Sin by St. Basil the Great

Some reflections on Confession by Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 3, Fall, 1961, pp. 38-44)

OrthodoxWiki

Recommended Books

Do You Have a Ticket?, by Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili: a very concise and inspiring small book on confession in the Orthodox Church. Written in the style of the great saints of our Church. A must-have for any pious Christian. "Not Three Times a Year": a profound chapter on the importance of frequent confession (Ch. 11).

Confession, by Met. Anthony Khrapovitsky (Jordanville, NY: Holy Trinity Monastery): this was used as the primary reference for the section on Confession in the book A Guide to Orthodox Life and comes highly recommended by the author. It is mainly geared towards Priests (to teach them to be better confessors); however, there is a wealth of information for laypeople as well.

The Forgotten Medicine: The Mystery of Repentance, Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev.

Video
Holy Sacraments Series: Penance with Rev. John Chakos