Always interesting to note this difference between Orthodox Christian practice, and Catholic observance (Ancient Faith is an Orthodox site, if you didn’t know).
In Catholic practice one confesses to, and is absolved by, the priest attending the confession. In Orthodoxy, one confesses to God (before an icon of Christ to remind you who is actually listening to the confession.) The priest serves as a witness, guide, and advisor, and follows with prayer to God to forgive your sins. The priest is not a mediator, as much as someone who keeps you honest.
It’s surprisingly similar to Twelve Step programs’ step 5,”Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” There’s a reason for another human being to be involved - to challenge any attempt to justify our sins/wrongs.
Of course, the theology is that the priest acts in persona Christi, as a stand-in or figurehead for Christ, who is the real minister of every sacrament.
For example, Russian Orthodoxy:
May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, by the grace and compassion of His love for mankind, forgive you, my child, N., all your transgressions. And I His unworthy Priest, through the power given me, forgive and absolve you from all your sins, + in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now, having no further care for the sins which you have confessed. depart in peace, knowing such sins are as far from you as the East is from the West. Amen.