Why is confession necessary?

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

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession is not merely a "good practice" but a necessary part of the life of any believer who seeks salvation and spiritual healing. It is the gate through which we return to the life of the Spirit after falling into sin.

1. Biblical Authority and the Power of Lowly Absolution

Our Lord Jesus Christ specifically instituted this sacrament after His Resurrection. He breathed on His disciples and said:

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:23).

This authority was not given to the general congregation, but specifically to the Apostles and their successors—the bishops and priests. When you confess to a priest, you are not talking to a mere man, but to the steward of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1). The priest acts as a witness to your repentance, and it is Christ Himself who forgives you through the hand of the priest during the prayer of Absolution.

2. The Healing of the Soul

Sin is often described in our Coptic tradition as a sickness. Just as a physically ill person must go to a doctor to describe their symptoms to receive the correct medicine, the sinner must go to the spiritual physician (the priest) to describe the "symptoms" of their soul.

• Spiritual Guidance: The Father of Confession provides a "prescription" or canon to help you overcome the root causes of your sins, which you often cannot see clearly on your own.
• Objectivity: Private "confession to God alone" can sometimes lead to self-deception. We may go easy on ourselves or, conversely, fall into despair. The priest provides an objective, external voice of the Church.

3. Reconciling with the Body of Christ

When we sin, we do not only hurt ourselves and God; we wound the whole Church, which is the Body of Christ. Because the priest represents the entire Church community, confessing to him is the act of being "re-admitted" and reconciled to the community of believers. This is why, in the early Church, confession was often done publicly before the whole congregation. For the sake of mercy and privacy, the Church later moved this to a private setting with the priest.

4. Humility as a Weapon Against Satan

Satan thrives on pride and secrecy. He wants you to keep your sins hidden in the "darkness" of your own mind. By speaking your sins out loud to another human being (the priest), you perform an act of profound humility. This humility "crushes the head of the serpent." Bringing the sin into the light takes away its power over you.

5. Preparation for the Holy Eucharist

As Coptic Orthodox Christians, we believe the Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Liturgy, the priest declares: "The Holy is for the holy". To partake of the Mysteries worthily, one must be in a state of repentance. Confession is the "bath" that cleanses us so that we do not partake of the Eucharist "unworthily" and bring judgment upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

6. Relieving the Conscience

There is a psychological and spiritual weight to guilt. Many people carry the burden of past sins for years, never feeling truly "forgiven." When the priest places the Cross on your head and prays the Absolution, you receive an audible, tangible assurance of God’s mercy. You hear the words: "May God absolve you... through the mouth of my lowliness." This brings a peace that private prayer alone often cannot provide.

Confession is necessary because it is the divinely appointed means by which the grace of forgiveness is applied to the individual soul after baptism. It is the "Second Baptism" of tears and repentance.