[kosta50]

Alex, the Orthodox priests do not “absolve”; God does. There was a period of time when Russian priests, under Latin influence, did say words to the effect that they were “absolving” in place of Christ (which is a rather “unOrthodox “ notion in itself for an Orthodox parish priest) but that has stopped if I recall correctly

Alex, Kolo is 100% correct. This is what the priest says before the prayer of absolution:

"My spiritual child, thou who hast confessed to my unworthy self, I, a humble sinner, have not the power to forgive sins on earth but God alone can do this. Through that divine voice which came to the apostles after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and said, 'Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted,' etc., we, trusting in it, say, 'Whatsoever thou hast confessed to my deepest unworthiness and whatsoever thou hast omitted to say either through ignorance or forgetfulness, whatever it may be, God forgive thee in the present world and in that which is to come.' "

The priest then reads the Prayer of Absolution while placing the corner of his stole over the penitent's head. The prayer says:

"O God, who, through Nathan the Prophet, forgave the sins of David after he confessed them, and to Peter, bitterly weeping, his denial, and to the harlot, shedding tears at His feet, and to the publican and the prodigal, may the same God forgive thee, through me a sinner, all thy sins in this world and in that which is to come, and may He establish thee uncondemned before His fearful judgment seat. Without anxiety for thy confessed transgressions go in peace."

Then placing the cross on the head of the penitent, the priest says:

"May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, by the grace and compassion of His love toward mankind forgive thee, O spiritual son [name], all thy transgression. And I, His unworthy priest, by the power which was given to me by Him, I say to thee that thou art forgiven and absolved of all thy sins, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

The priest is merely stating that the penitent's sins have been forgiven by God.

I think there is a qualitative difference in "I absolve" and "Your sins are forgiven [by God]." But, as Kolo observed earlier, we see priests as an icon of Christ; the Latins see a priest as "alter Christus" (another Christ). Apples and oranges.

[annalex]

No question that the Orthodox wording is different in tone, but still, the decision to read or not read the absolution prayer is the priest’s, so the difference is not of essence: either way, the priest makes a human decision and relies on God to deliver on it.

Does the Orthodox penitent know that his sin has been absolved, or is he left woandering if God heard the absolution prayer and agreed with it?

In what way, do you think, Alter Christus is different than Icon of Christ?