The text of this confession is taken from the parish website of the [Moscow Patriarchate] Church of the Holy Martyrs Grand Dutchess Elizabeth and the Nun Barbara in Berlin, Germany. We are publishing it verbatim, with the accompanying comments by priest Leonid Tsypin, a clergyman of the MP. It is included in the July issue of our parish bulletin, Parish Life, because it was in July 1918 that the awful sin of regicide mentioned in the following confession was committed, the awful transgression, which was among the worst criminal acts committed by the Russian people during the Soviet period of Russia's history.
"This Confession was brought to us from Russia, and after some editing, we recommend its use for individual and general, collective repentance. In reading it, you recognize your Soviet-ness - the result of life in a Theomachist [in opposition to God] environment, and your participation to a greater or lesser extent, in the works of those lawbreakers. This Confession allows those coming to Church to offer a more comprehensive repentance, a down payment toward their subsequent return to spiritual health. The Confession also points to the future direction of work on oneself: to live in accordance with the dictates of one's conscience, in accordance with the Word of God and within the Church; to reject pandering to the mighty of this earth, to respect one's parents, to improve the spiritual heart - to hope in God, to struggle against hypocrisy, envy, greed, and lasciviousness. One should not take this Confession to be a political document that blackens the Soviet era. All of the above-mentioned examples of mass lawlessness - opposition to God, and other sins, did take place, and did enter into our bodies and blood, and are subjects for repentance. As to good in our life during those years, that too had its place. But to discern what was good and what was bad requires seeing with clean spiritual eyes, something that can be acquired only by repenting of all of that has been listed above." Priest Leonid Tsypin
1. Our people accepted both the revolution and the Bolshevik power. thereafter, under its direction, it participated in Theomachy, pillaging and destruction of holy things, blaspheming against God, in the repression and murder of innocent people, of clergy, monastics, and Orthodox Christians. I realize that our people bear responsibility for the sin of regicide, for our people did not prevent the regicide and in the ensuing years showed no compunction about it. Ever since childhood, I read and heard about all of that, and watched it on television programs and in films. I agreed with much of it, albeit under the influence of propaganda. By sympathizing with those actions I took the side of the criminals, and giving my assent, as it were silently participated in their actions. Sometimes I even talked and laughed about them, related them [to others], and uttered derisions and blasphemy.
I repent of all that, and what I had agreed with and shared I thrice renounce.
2. I repent of often having supported, either by word or silence, the Soviet leaders, who imposed an atheist and Theomachist ideology upon our country, tearing us away from God and leading the people into eternal suffering.
I repent of, and thrice renounce all of that.
3. I repent of having participated in studying or teaching, in schools or other educational institutions, curricula infected with atheism, including courses in atheism. I repent of having memorized and recited blasphemous ideas, poems, stories, and of having laughed at believers.
I repent of, and thrice renounce everything I heard, read, memorized, and recited that was sinful and impious.
4. I repent of having accepted the atheist Soviet ideology and the laws of the Soviet dictatorship.
I repent of and thrice renounce all of that.
5. I repent of having been a member of atheist organizations: [of having been] an Oktobryonok [Young Octobrist], a Pioneer, a Komsomol [Young Communist], a member of the Communist Party, of having worn the corresponding medals and Pioneer kerchief, of having sworn oaths to, and taken part in meetings of these organizations.
I repent of having participated in atheist organizations, and thrice renounce the oaths and promises I made [to them].
6. I repent of having taken part in celebration of Soviet Theomachist holidays, assemblies, conferences, demonstrations, protests, of having participated in competitions held as part of those events, of having mindlessly shouted "hurrah" and "glory," of having congratulated others, having accepted others' congratulations, and having accepted awards and prizes in connection with those activities.
I repent of, and thrice renounce all of that.
7. I repent of having taken part in election campaigns and in propagandizing others, of having been elected a deputy, of having taken pride in receiving certificates, pins, medals and awards bearing the images of Soviet leaders and Theomachist and Masonic symbols; I repent of having worn, displayed, or shown off such things.
I repent of and thrice renounce it all.
8. I repent of having either attended or watched on television blasphemous spectacles that are detrimental to the soul, presented in movie theaters, circuses, theaters, and at sporting events. I thrice renounce everything I saw that was impious and harmful to the soul 9.
I repent of having read atheistic, depraved and corrupting, impious books. I thrice renounce everything I read that was impious and destructive to the soul.
10. I repent of everything sinful and harmful to the soul that I consciously or unconsciously undertook as the result of my Soviet upbringing.
11. I repent of having been fascinated by or participated in all manner of occult enterprises, of having consulted people who practiced occultism, magic, ESP, or folk-healing, of having watched their sйances on television.
I thrice renounce all of that.
12. I repent of the fact that, infected by the example of Pavlik Morozov, I did not maintain respect for my parents, did not obey them, raised my voice to them, said spiteful things, or raised my hand against them, or even betrayed them, I did not do enough for them even when they were in need of help, and did not remember to think of them.
I repent, and thrice renounce what I said and did.
13. I repent of the fact that, having given myself over to materialistic ideology, having approved of [others] not remaining chaste before marriage and faithful to their spouse after marriage, I myself did not keep these things [i.e. chastity and faithfulness]. I talked about it, and inclined my acquaintances toward [committing] those sins, or myself assisted them.
I repent of, and thrice renounce what I said and in what I took part.
14. I repent of having approved of friends and family members having abortions, or even of insisting upon [them having abortions], and thus participating in them.
(For women: I repent of having had [specify the number of] abortions).
15. I repent that, tempted by the all-pervasive thievery, and using my position in the workplace, I took for myself money, clothing, produce, tools, materials, appliances and other property belonging to the state or to social or collective organizations. I repent of having secretly, like a thief, taken them from the workplace and hidden them. I repent of having, through personal connections, illegally, sought to buy things that were in short supply, to gain access to training, employment, recreational trips, and other privileges.
I repent of having supported and in ways participated in this system of corrupt influence, and of having given and accepted gifts and bribes.
16. I repent of having spent my entire life estranged from God, from the Orthodox Church, of having led a an incorrect spiritual life, of not having followed God's Commandments, of having spent my life, energies, and time on what is shallow ? harmful for the soul, of having lived a pagan life.
I repent of everything in my life that was a transgression and harmful to the soul, before God and man, and before myself.
O merciful Lord! Accept my repentance and my renunciation of everything listed above that is sinful and detrimental to the soul! Forgive us, O Lord, the living and the dead - our parents, relatives, friends and all of our compatriots - who knew not what they wrought!