SACRAMENT OF PENANCE IN ORTHODOXY Historical development and theology of the “Holy Mystery of Confession/Repentance”

U radu podijeljenom u dva dijela, autor obrađuje sakrament pokore i pomirenja (svetu tajnu ispovijedi/pokajanja) u pravoslavnoj tradiciji, teologiji i liturgijskoj praksi. U I. dijelu najprije iznosi razvoj pokorničke prakse na Istoku, posebno u Bizantu, i to pod vidom kanonske pokore, prijelaza na pojedinačnu pokoru te nastanka i značenja pokorničkih knjiga. Slijedi teologija sakramentalnog pomirenja kao “svete tajne ozdravljenja”, odnosno duhovnog liječenja, u kojem Krist po službeniku Crkve primjenjuje duhovni lijek za dušu pokornika, kako bi mogao pristupiti euharistijskom sjedinjenju s Gospodinom. U II. dijelu rada autor obrazlaže pravoslavnu teologiju sakramentalnog čina u pojedinim elementima (pokajanje, priznavanje grijeha, odrješenje, pokora), donosi liturgijski obrazac “svete tajne ispovijedi” prema Velikom Trebniku (u Srpskoj pravoslavnoj crkvi), te otvara pitanja o pastoralnoj praksi, dotičući i moguće ekumenske poticaje za izlaz iz sadašnje krize prakticiranja ovog sakramenta, kako u pravoslavlju tako i u Katoličkoj crkvi.In this work, divided in two parts, the author treats the sacrament of penance and reconciliation (the holy mystery of confession/repentance) in the orthodox tradition, theology and liturgical practice. In the first part the author first presents the development of penitential practice in the East, especially in Byzantium, specifically in terms of canonical penance, transition to individual penance and also the development and significance of penitential books. Then follows the theology of reconciliation as a “holy mystery of healing”, i.e. spiritual treatment, in which Christ through the minister of the Church applies a spiritual remedy to the penitent’s soul, so that he may come up to the Eucharistic integration with the Lord. In the second part the author explains the Orthodox theology of the sacramental act in certain elements (repentance, admission of sins, absolution, penance); he also brings the liturgical pattern of the “holy mystery of confession” according to Veliki Trebnik (in the Serbian Orthodox Church), and opens the issues on pastoral practice, touching on the possible ecumenical initiatives as a solution of present crisis in practicing this sacrament, in Orthodoxy and Catholic Church as well