Category Image Forgiveness


Part of the traditions leading up to the beginning of Lent (which is today), is Forgiveness Vespers. This service, not done as frequently in all jurisdictions unfortunately, is, as the name suggests, focused on forgiveness. Much of the service is a standard Vespers service, but with the selection of psalms and hymns focused on our need for forgiveness.

At the end of the service is something I've never experienced before, and I have to say, is quite powerful. We attended an Antiochian Parish not far from Grandma's house as our parish wasn't offering Vespers, and we were expected at Grandma's for dinner. At the end of the service, everyone approaches the priest, bows, and says, "Please forgive me" (or words to that effect). After that, the Priest says "God forgives, and I forgive." A sign of what is to come is when he then says "Please forgive me, a sinner." To this we are to respond, "God forgives, and I forgive." The first person then stands over to the side, and the next person approaches the priest, and goes through the same sequence as the previous person. What is interesting is that this person then goes to the previous person and does the same thing. This continues on until everyone in the community has asked the other's forgiveness. The forgiveness here is mostly centered around the sorts of insensitive things we do that offend those around us. The priest at this parish, Fr. Braun , wanted to ensure that families, and husbands/wives, came up together so that they all asked for forgiveness of one another at about the same time - as we are very much in need of forgiveness for the many ways in which we offend our children, our spouses, and our parents.

We're hoping we can convince our priest to re-establish this practice at our parish next year, as the Archdiocese considers this something that should be done, and it would only increase in power as we ask forgiveness of the various members of our community, whom we have undoubtedly offended throughout the year.

Posted: Monday - February 19, 2007 at 11:18 AM          

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