THE QUESTION OF SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE

Doc. ThDr. Miroslav ŽUPINA, PhD.

associate professor, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Presov, Masarykova 15, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, miroslav.zupina@unipo.sk, 00421517724729, ORCID: 0000-0003-3620-4446

Abstract

This study analyses the relationship between the sacrament of repentance and spiritual guidance in the Orthodox tradition, seeking to clarify their respective boundaries and competences. Drawing on biblical, patristic, and liturgical sources, the author emphasizes that repentance possesses an ontological and charismatic character whose purpose is to prepare the faithful for full participation in the Eucharist. Although spiritual guidance is indispensable within the Church, it is primarily a subjective, anthropocentric process that depends on the personal interaction between spiritual father and spiritual child and lacks an ontological status. The article traces the historical conflation of spiritual guidance with the sacrament of repentance – a development that culminated after the fourteenth century under Western influence and monastic spiritual practice – and shows how this trajectory has fostered contemporary risks of authoritarian misuse, with detrimental effects on the spiritual freedom and maturity of the faithful. The author therefore proposes a clear distinction between confession and spiritual counselling: while confession remains a liturgically defined sacrament, spiritual guidance should retain a consultative and flexible character and must not be treated as a prerequisite for the sacrament of repentance. The conclusion underscores the need to preserve the integrity and charismatic dimension of the sacrament of repentance while cultivating responsible forms of spiritual guidance that foster personal freedom and mature Christian growth. In so doing, the study contributes to current theological discussions on the proper place of spiritual guidance within the Orthodox Church.

Keywords

sacrament of repentance, spiritual guidance, Eucharist, ontological and charismatic character, Orthodox Church, patristic tradition, spiritual freedom

SUMMARY

The topic of repentance and spiritual guidance is central to theological and ecclesiastical discussions in the Orthodox Church, as it represents the Christian’s effort to live a true Orthodox spiritual life. The Church exhibits particular sensitivity towards these issues, as the outcomes of improper spiritual guidance, especially within the sacrament of repentance, can be both positive and negative. The aim of this work is to examine the essence, method, significance, and factors of authentic spiritual guidance in the context of the sacrament of repentance, based on theological, biblical, and patristic teachings in accordance with traditional liturgical practices. The sacrament of repentance encompasses both an objective, ontological, and charismatic dimension, as well as a subjective, human dimension of spiritual guidance. Spiritual guidance is meant to assist the believer in fulfilling God’s will and developing a deeper communion with God, with the spiritual father providing this assistance. Problems arise when spiritual advice turns into authoritarianism, which disrupts the balance between the believer’s personal freedom and obedience. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing between the objective, ontological, and charismatic nature of the sacrament of repentance and the subjective, individual nature of spiritual guidance. The sacrament of repentance is not dependent on spiritual guidance, which should take place outside of its framework. Historical events, especially after the 14th century, contributed to the division of the sacraments in the Church, which diverges from the original holistic understanding of salvation in the early Christian Church. While spiritual guidance is necessary and beneficial in certain situations, it should not overshadow the essence of repentance. The primary goal of repentance is to prepare the believer for worthy participation in the Eucharist. Spiritual guidance is secondary and provides personal advice, without altering the essence of the sacrament. In conclusion, there is an emphasis on the need to preserve the integrity of the sacrament of repentance, while spiritual guidance occupies a specific, consultative role. The spiritual growth of the believer should not depend on constant external oversight, but on the believer’s personal spiritual maturity in Christ.

(Language: english)

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