The spirituality of the Eastern Orthodox Church differs markedly from both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Despite superficial similarities to the Roman church, there is a striking difference between their perspectives on sin. This is especially evident in the sacrament of confession as shown in the chart below.
The Roman Catholic Church traditionally approaches the sacrament of confession primarily (though not exclusively) through a legal or forensic lens, focusing on offense, debt, absolution, reparation, and justice. Many aspects of this legal concept of sin (based mostly on Romans and Galatians) were preserved by the Protestant tradition which, at the same time, jettisoned the sacrament.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, though not rejecting the legal or forensic idea of sin, effectively views sin as a disease of the soul and a refusal to love God (Mat 9:12-13, Acts 10:38, Isaiah 1:2-6, Ps 38, James 5:13-16, 1 John 2:15, etc.). Correspondingly, the sacrament of confession is a therapeutic or medicinal remedy, focusing on the healing of this spiritual illness. The priest functions as a witness, physician, and spiritual guide, rather than a judge.
Confession, like no other rite, reveals the nature of Orthodox spirituality, clearly distinguishing the Church’s approach from those of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
