Appendix C.

Brief Confession Before a Spiritual Father.

I confess to the Lord my God before thee, reverend father, all my sins which I have

committed up to the present day and hour, in deed, word and thought. Every day and

every hour I sin through ingratitude to God for His great and numberless blessings to me

and His most gracious providence and care for me, a sinner. I have sinned through:

idle talk

condemnation of others

scorn

insubordination

pride

envy

anger

slander

inattention

listlessness

negligence

carelessness

resentment and remembering wrongs

disobedience

grumbling

self-will

reproaching others

evil speech

lying

saying unseemly things

laughter

self-love

love of glory

love of honor

gluttony

love of sensual pleasure

over-eating

drunkenness

attachment to things

love of money

vainglory

laziness

acceptance of lustful and impure thoughts

missing church services

dozing and sleeping in church

neglect of prayer

concealing sins at confession

I have sinned with all my senses, both spiritual and physical, wherefore I repent to the

Lord and ask forgiveness. Absolve all my sins, reverend father, and bless me to partake

of the Mysteries of Christ.10

10 Compiled by the late Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco. Based on a longer version

by St. Dimitry of Rostov.