Saint John of Kronstadt

Father John Sergiev of Kronstadt’s Instruction for the Mystery of Confession

19th c. · Asceticism & Spirituality · English translation, 2026

3,527 words · 18 min read· Moderate

Source edition: Наставление о. Иоанна Сергиева (Кронштадтского) при совершении Таинства Покаяния (azbyka.ru; from the pre-revolutionary Russian edition, transcribed by Sergei Okhotsky)

Cover art: The Return of the Prodigal Son (17th c.) — Neapolitan school (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The printed text of the mass confession Father John of Kronstadt heard from hundreds of penitents at once in Andreevsky Cathedral, transcribed by a listener since John himself never published it. Framed by two Old Testament penitents, David and Manasseh, and two prayers read over the kneeling crowd, it states plainly what priestly absolution is, and reminds every hearer that the One receiving their confession is Christ, whose Body and Blood rest on the altar as He listens.