Gyónás

Gyónás is a Hungarian term meaning confession—the act of acknowledging guilt or sins, or more broadly, admitting something false or wrong. In religious contexts it most often refers to the Catholic sacrament of reconciliation, but the word can also denote a secular confession of wrongdoing.

In the Catholic rite, gyónás involves confessing sins to a priest, expressing contrition, and receiving absolution, with a penance prescribed by the priest. The confession is typically private, conducted in a confessional or another suitable setting. The priest acts as an intermediary who grants absolution, while the sacramental seal binds him to complete confidentiality about everything heard in the confession.

Canon law in the Catholic Church states that the penitent is obliged to confess grave sins at least once a year, and to confess sins in a state of mortal sin; confessing venial sins is encouraged as part of ongoing spiritual formation. The practice emphasizes sincerity, contrition, and the intention to amend one’s life.

Beyond Catholic usage, gyónás can denote any admission of guilt or fault. In Protestant contexts, confession may be directed to God, to a pastor, or to a community, and can be private or public. In secular usage, the term can simply mean admitting a wrongdoing or telling the truth about one’s actions.

In Hungarian culture, gyónás is a well-known concept across religious and literary discourse. It denotes both a formal religious sacrament and the broader act of confessing faults, reflecting the Common European emphasis on repentance and accountability.