Penance Services
Welcome to our penance services Page. The service allows believers to confess their sins to a priest and receive absolution. It's a way for individuals to seek forgiveness and return to a state of grace, especially before participating in the Holy Communion.
Penance process
1
Find a Penance Father
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the "Penance Father" is often referred to as the priest or father-confessor. This priest plays a crucial role in the sacrament of Penance, where he listens to the penitent's confession, offers spiritual guidance, and grants absolution in the name of the Holy Trinity. If you don't have a penance father, the church highly recommends to explore and get your own penance father from your parish.
2
Confess Sins
The penitent confesses their sins to the priest, acknowledging their wrongdoings and expressing genuine remorse.
3
Get a Prayer of Repentance
The priest leads the penitent in a prayer asking for God's forgiveness. This prayer often includes asking for the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen the penitent in their journey of repentance.
4
Get Absolution
The priest pronounces absolution, declaring that the penitent's sins are forgiven in the name of the Holy Trinity.
5
Receive a Penitential Acts
The penitent may be assigned certain acts of penance, such as fasting, prayer, or almsgiving, to demonstrate their commitment to turning away from sin and living a more righteous life.
6
Get Blessed
The priest concludes the sacrament with a blessing, encouraging the penitent to continue their spiritual journey with faith and devotion.