Can I follow an examination of conscience before Confession?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, an examination of conscience is not only permitted but is a mandatory spiritual exercise before the Sacrament of Penance and Confession.

True repentance is not merely a legalistic list; it is a "return to the Father" and a "renewal of Baptism." To benefit from sitting with your Father of Confession, you must first sit with yourself in the presence of God.

1. Preparation through Prayer

Before you begin, pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind. The human heart is deceitful, and we often hide our sins from ourselves. Ask the Lord: "O my Lord Jesus Christ, reveal to me my hidden sins and give me the tears of true repentance."

2. The Threefold Standard of Examination

You should examine your life using these three specific "mirrors":

• The Ten Commandments: Go through each one. Have you put anything—money, career, people—before? Have you taken His name in vain? Have you honored the Lord's Day (Sunday) by attending the Liturgy?
• The Sermon on the Mount: Our Lord heightened the Law. It is not enough not to kill; have you been angry with your brother? It is not enough not to commit adultery; have you looked with lust? Have you loved your enemies?
• The Five Elements of Sin: Examine your sins of:

1. Thought: Pride, judgment, lustful fantasies, or despair.
2. Word: Gossip, lying, swearing, or insulting others.
3. Deed: Theft, physical impurity, or hurting others.
4. Senses: What have your eyes looked at? What have your ears listened to?
5. Omission: What good things did you fail to do? Did you neglect your Agpeya prayers? Did you fail to help the poor?

3. Avoid "Catholic" or "Protestant" Examination Styles

While Roman Catholics use an "Examination of Conscience," it is often tied to their legalistic view of "mortal" vs. "venial" sin. In Coptic Orthodoxy, any sin is a separation from the life of God.

• Do not be scrupulous in a legalistic way, but be honest in a medicinal way.
• Avoid Protestant "guilt-tripping" that lacks the sacramental remedy. Remember that you are examining yourself so that you can be "cured" by the Great Physician in the presence of the priest.

4. Practice "Metanoia" (Prostrations)

As highlighted by HG Bishop Mettaous, prostrations and repentance are signs of humility that "burn the devil." While you examine your conscience, perform physical metanias. Bowing your forehead to the ground reminds you that you are dust and that you are pleading for the mercy of the Lord.

5. Writing Sins Down

It is highly recommended to write down your points before going to the priest. This ensures that you do not forget anything due to nerves or the "forgetfulness" the devil tries to cast over the mind during confession.

6. The Goal: A Broken Heart

As the Prophet David says in the Psalms (which we pray in the Agpeya), "A broken and a contrite heart, these, O God, You will not despise." Your examination should lead to a genuine feeling of sorrow for having grieved the heart of God, not just a feeling of "failing a test."

7. Consult the Synaxarion

Read the lives of the saints (the Synaxarion) during your period of examination. Seeing the purity of the martyrs and the struggles of the Desert Fathers provides a standard of holiness that exposes our own lukewarmness.

Note on "Political Correctness":

Do not try to "soften" your sins or use modern psychological terms to excuse them. Be straightforward. If you lied, call it a lie. If you were arrogant, call it pride. The truth as presented in the True Orthodox faith is what sets you free.

Once you have completed this examination, go and "show yourself to the priest," laying your sins under the Cross, and leave them there forever..