La penitenza nella Chiesa ortodossa /3. La storia – Il penitente

In brief

The Orthodox Church has seen various changes in how it practices the sacrament of penance over several centuries, according to a report by SettimanaNews.

Until the 3rd century, the ancient Church did not practice penance in its modern sacramental form. Instead, it used extraordinary and heavy forms of penance for heretics or apostates to prepare them for reintegration into the Church and its sacraments.

Alongside these exceptional measures, a different form of penance developed. In this practice, monks administered penance to lay faithful.