Who is able to act as confessor depends on the bishop’s discernment. In many places in Greece, the bishop selects certain priests and appoints them as confessors through a special prayer and the ‘laying on of hands’. Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain allows all priests to act as confessors without any particular prayer of appointment. Regardless, no one can act as a confessor without the blessing of the bishop, for he is the spiritual father par excellence of all those under his jurisdiction, clergy and laity alike. The ideal is that the confessor/spiritual father should be a priest with whom the spiritual child can easily have regular contact - if not the local parish priest, then at least a ...
