Epitimia #
Epitimia is a spiritual directive intended to help a person overcome sinful attachments and serve as a means of atoning for sins committed. Epitimia may consist of specific prayer assignments (for example, making a certain number of bows each day with a prayer to a particular saint, or reading a set number of kathismas), of particular forms of abstinence (such as refraining from meat or alcohol), or even of certain practical instructions (for instance, avoiding contact with a specific person, refraining from a certain activity, or on the contrary, performing something regularly, such as acts of charity). All of this is determined by the priest at his discretion, based on the teachings of the Holy Fathers and the customs of the Church.
As a rule, epitimia is given for a specific, agreed-upon period—perhaps for several years, until the next confession, or until the next fast. When deciding on and prescribing an epitimia, the priest often consults with the penitent to determine whether it is realistically achievable.
Epitimia is a labor that is manageable but not overly easy; it is meant to benefit the soul of the one who repents. The fulfillment of an epitimia is a sign of the penitent’s sincere desire to receive forgiveness of sins and of his willingness to labor for it.
When Christ entrusted His disciples—the Apostles—with the authority to forgive sins, He declared: “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20:23). In other words, the spiritual father is given, in full accordance with both the letter and the spirit of the Gospel, not only the right to forgive sins, but also, when necessary, to withhold forgiveness. In past centuries, both of these options—forgiving and withholding forgiveness—were used by the Holy Church with equal frequency, which undoubtedly helped Christians diligently strive for the keeping of the commandments and a virtuous life.
If a person earnestly fulfills the epitimia given to him, the grace of God strengthens him in observing the commandments and protects him from the wiles of the devil. Confession, when supported by the conscientious fulfillment of an epitimia, is never in vain and most certainly helps a person progress along the path of spiritual perfection.
The meaning of epitimia also lies in this: by fulfilling it, a person gradually extinguishes the righteous wrath of God, which was kindled by his sins, and inclines the Lord toward mercy. In this way, the person draws closer to reconciliation with God. Therefore, the words spoken at the conclusion of confession, which the priest utters on behalf of the Lord—“God forgive thee”—are spoken, as it were, in advance: not meaning that the person is already forgiven in that very moment, but that forgiveness will follow afterward—after a true correction of life and, in any case, after the faithful fulfillment of the epitimia.