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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Hello to all,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I've noticed that some UGC parishes still use the confessional and others do not. Is there a reason for this? Is it because of the influence of Latins over the EC in general?
The EO do not use the confessional at all( to my knowledge- I could be wrong..).
For UGC members who are not comfortable going to the confessional( for various reasons), what are the options??
Francois
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Joined: Jul 2003
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The UGCC in Australia still use the old RC confessionals no one would know how to do anything else. The RCs over here stopped using them in the mid to late 70s. If people want to see a few old RC things/practices they will find them in the UGCC churches in this Eparchy. 
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Joined: May 2009
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An alcove near the iconostasis - equipped with an analogion, a hand cross, a book of the Gospels and an icon of Christ - can be provided for faithful's reception of the Mystery of Penance. In our parish we omit the alcove & it's accoutrements and make our confessions in front of the iconostasis' main icon of Christ. People present in church remain toward the back so that no confession is overheard - the priest & penitent speak in low voices anyway.The Latin-style confessional box also makes it difficult or enen impossible for the priest to place his epichatril over the penitent's head & shoulders while pronouncing the words of absolution.
Anonimity is lost in the procedure I just described but is that a Byzantine Christian value? Methinks not, in comparison to sincerety of repentance.
A permanent deacon of the Latin Diocese of Dallas was giving a tour of a certain church to some people. The confessional boxes had been replaced by "reconciliation rooms" or "reconciliation chapels". He told the tour members that "this is where you go in a wreck and come out reconciled."
Last edited by sielos ilgesys; 02/08/11 10:13 AM.
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At Holy Transfiguration, confessions are heard before an icon of Christ, either on the iconostasis, or on an analogion to one side of the south deacon's door. The lines typically are long, even outside of fasting seasons. Nobody seem to care about anonymity. I attribute this to the excellent catechesis provided by Father Joseph and the other priests of the parish.
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The confessional boxes had been replaced by "reconciliation rooms" or "reconciliation chapels". The problem developing with these is the fear of pirests to be in a closed room with women or children. The fear of a false accusation looms large for some. We have one in our new parish and there has been a discussion of putting a sound-proof glass in the wall separating it from the sacristy for the protection of the priest. Bob
Last edited by theophan; 02/08/11 05:31 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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The UGCC parish I frequent uses a room with an icon screen and a kneeler in front of it. I think a few other Ukrainian parishes in this area have similar practices.
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The UGCC parish I frequent uses a room with an icon screen and a kneeler in front of it. I think a few other Ukrainian parishes in this area have similar practices. We do this at our mission simply because the chapel is small and crowded. A smaller side room opening into the chapel has an analoy with the Gospel and a Cross upon it with icons on the wall above it which the penitent faces while the priest stands next to him.
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