ROC – Confession

5 September 2019

With God’s Grace, today the mothers and children’s group met again at the Monastery and discussed “Confession in children” with Fr Thalassios.

The parents are the primary example for the children. If the children from a very young age watch their parents to go to confession, then it is much easier for them to participate in the sacrament as they are growing up.

Parents, with the guidance of their spiritual father, can take their children to confession from a very young age, from the time they can speak and understand. Getting used to talking to the spiritual father is the first step.

At the beginning, confession will be as simple as just admitting that they have made a mistake; as simple as understanding that we all make mistakes, and when we do, we confess them to the spiritual father confessor, who will pray for us and God will forgive us. This prayer that the confessor reads to us at the end of the confession is an amazing blessing for the child to have from a very young age.

If parents see confession as something that is an intrinsic part of their life, the children will do too. Children go through many phases as they grow, but those children who have familiarised themselves with confession from a very young age, will always know, even at the hardest of circumstances, where to go to for advice, and how to find peace.

Confession, and participation in all the sacraments of our Church, is a great gift we can give to our children. It teaches them humility and obedience. Forgiveness. It is their spiritual inheritance.

For those interested in finding out more, you can listen to this talk by Elder Evagrios: https://youtu.be/64z1iohB5BY

Also please note that Fr Thalassios receives confessions. For more information or to arrange for a confession, please contact the Monastery.