Do we need to forgive ourselves? (Orthodox)

AMM said:

a common thing heard today is that we have to learn to forgive ourselves, accept our mistakes, etc. what is the orthodox response to this? How would the saints have handled that?

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I'm not Orthodox. I'm looking to become Catholic if that matters but my main thought on this was these verses:

Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and stretching forth myself to those that are before,
Php 3:14 I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.

In a way this could be said to be Paul "forgiving" himself. What do you think?

yes we do, but really only after we realize God's forgiveness to us.

Many times we accept God's forgiveness, especially after confession, yet, we sometimes find it difficult to forgive ourselves.

Only in as far as it doesn't take away the humility that our experiences bring us. Balance is key. Proper self lies somewhere between crippling despair and arrogance. True forgiveness of self doesn't deliver us to either extreme and, as has been stated, comes only after repentance before God.

“Keep thy mind in hell and despair not...” or said another way... “Glory to You for all things, Lord... although I am unworthy.” Our “unworthiness” is our dependence on God for our very breath, our very life, our very being at all times and at every moment. Our true “love for self” comes from “love for God” by continual repentance, in prayer, towards humility. Forgiveness is accepting the Lord’s mercy he is every pouring into our heart with faith and dependence on Him for all things as we go from glory to glory in this transfiguration towards attaining to our hypostatic principle in Him. This is not by our own doing and effort, but by the grace of God that is working in us synergistically.

AMM said:

Could we say that the only true and spiritually healthy self-forgiveness comes through making a confession, penance, and the Eucharist?

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yes, and forgiving others and seeking their forgiveness.

AMM said:

a common thing heard today is that we have to learn to forgive ourselves, accept our mistakes, etc. what is the orthodox response to this? How would the saints have handled that?

Click to expand...

I'm not EO, but we've seen some here at C.F. afraid they have done something so terrible that they don't even feel they should bother trying to be saved.

So yes, they do need to forgive themselves and know they can be forgiven as well, start with a clean slate, and keep that slate clean by simply trying to do good, and continuing to ask for forgiveness.

This thread was very helpful. Thank you for the OP and also for all the responses to include the ever awesome Fr. Matt.