How and when do I schedule a meeting for confession with a priest?

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

To set a meeting for the Sacrament of Penance and Confession, you should follow the traditional order and etiquette of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

1. Identify Your Father of Confession

In the Coptic tradition, every believer should have a specific Father of Confession (Abouna) who serves as their spiritual physician and guide. If you do not have one, you should approach one of the priests at your local parish to ask if he can take you under his guidance.

2. How to Request the Meeting

• After Liturgy or Vespers: The most common way to request a meeting is to approach Abouna briefly after a service (Matins, Vespers, or the Divine Liturgy). You can simply ask, "Abouna, I would like to schedule a time for confession."
• Phone or Text: Many priests in the modern day prefer a text message or a phone call to coordinate their schedules.
• Online Booking: Many larger Coptic parishes now use online scheduling tools or apps where you can view Abouna’s availability and book a specific time slot for confession.

3. When to Schedule

• Regular Frequency: Ideally, you should confess once a month, or at the very least, before the major fasting seasons and feasts.
• Before Communion: It is a requirement to have a regular practice of confession to be prepared to partake of the Holy Body and Honored Blood. If you have committed a major sin, you must confess before approaching the Altar.
• Standard Times: Many priests set aside specific hours on Friday evenings, Saturday evenings (before or after Vespers), or Sunday afternoons for confessions.

4. Preparation Before the Meeting

Before you meet with Abouna, you should:

• Pray: Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind to remember your sins and give you a heart of true repentance.
• Self-Examination: Reflect on your actions, thoughts, and words using the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as a guide.
• Read the Agpeya: Praying the prayers of the Agpeya—specifically the Psalms of repentance like Psalm 50 (51)—helps prepare the soul for a humble confession.

When you meet, you will sit with Abouna, usually in a quiet area of the church or in his office. You will confess your sins openly and honestly. Afterward, Abouna will provide spiritual counsel and then place his cross (or the epitrakhelion) over your head to read the Absolution, through which Christ grants you forgiveness.