Penitential Canon of Andrew of Crete Wednesday of the Fifth Week. Canon of the Repentant Andrew of Crete in Russian

Great penitential canon Andrew of Crete is read on the first four days of Lent, one part at a time. The entire creation is read in the seventh week. The Canon teaches people repentance. Accept your sins and learn to deal with them. Also, this scripture instructs to take an example from pure and unselfish people.

About Andrew of Crete

Saint Andrew was born somewhere in the 660s of our era, in the city of Damascus. Legends say that until the age of seven the child could not talk. Andrei's parents were believers and often attended church. Once, during communion, God's blessing descended on Kritsky and he spoke. After this miracle, Andrey's parents sent him to study the basics of religion.

When the guy was 14 years old, he was transferred to serve in Jerusalem, in the Monastery of the Holy Sepulcher. Andrei was a very versatile young man, so he was immediately identified as a notary.

Then Andrei moved to Constantinople, where he served in an orphanage as a deacon for 20 years. In the same city, he began to write his hymns, which are still widely used in the Orthodox Church.

After this, the future saint was sent to the island of Crete in the rank of bishop. There he faithfully served the church, instructing heretics on the true path and giving support to believers. Andrew built several orphanages and churches in Crete. For his faithful service he received the rank of archbishop. In 1740 the monk died on his way from Constantinople to the island of Crete.

About canons

Andrew of Crete was the first to write canons instead of kontakia. The saint has hymns for all major holidays: Christmas, Easter, Palm Sunday and others. Many of them are also used in modern liturgical menaia. The canons are closely related to "biblical songs". The structure of this chant is as follows. First comes the irmos, which is the connecting chain between the biblical song and the content of the canon. Next come the troparia. They sing along with the songs. The most outstanding work, undoubtedly, is the great canon of St. Andrew of Crete. He teaches us repentance. It is best to ask for forgiveness from the Lord in Lent, when the canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read.

In his canon, Andrew touches briefly on the entire Bible. From the 1st to the 8th song, this is the Old Testament, after - the New. Andrew evaluates each story of the biblical characters of the canon from the point of view of human morality. If this is a bad deed, then he talks about its sinfulness, and if it is good, then he declares that this should be strived for. The author hints to us that we can save our soul when we give up our vices and strive for virtue.

Song 1

In the first canto, the canon of Andrew of Crete talks about original sin. Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation and gave the apple to Adam. He, in turn, was tempted by power and tried it. In this song, Andrew says that we are all sinners, and if the Lord punished Adam and Eve for violating one commandment, then how will he punish us who violate almost all of them. We can only repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Song 2

In the second canto, the great canon of Andrew of Crete talks about how we all succumbed to carnal consolation. First, they pulled on their clothes, ashamed of their naked body, which was created in the likeness of the Lord. The second - put at the head of pleasure and beauty of the body, not the soul. Even in this song of the great canon of Andrew of Crete it is said that we are subject to all earthly passions and, unfortunately, do not want to fight them. For all these sins, we must sincerely ask God to forgive us. The main thing is to understand your bad deeds yourself and strive to get rid of them.

Song 3

In it, the great penitential canon of Andrew of Crete tells how the Lord could not stand the outrage that was happening in Sodom and burned the city. Only one righteous Lot managed to escape. Andrew calls on every person to renounce the pleasures of Sodom and run away as soon as possible. The sins of this city haunt us every day, tempting us to repeat them, I think many succumb. But, the main thing is to stop, think about what awaits us in the future. What kind of afterlife will we have after Sodom entertainment.

Song 4

It states that laziness is a great sin. If a person, like a vegetable, moves forward, not realizing himself and the world around him, then his end will be corresponding. The patriarch in the song worked day and night to have two wives. One of them meant industriousness, and the other - reason. Thanks to this combination, we can improve our contemplation and our activity.

Song 5

The penitential canon of Saint Andrew of Crete tells of Saint Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers and his beloved and sold into slavery. He calmly endured everything, did not get angry at his fate. Andrei says that each of us can betray his neighbor. But the trouble is that we betray ourselves and our soul every day. Without enduring any disasters, we violate the commandments of the Lord and do not even think about it.

Song 6

Andrei in this song calls for humanity to take the true path. Do not turn away from the Lord, like some historical characters. And to believe that just as God delivered the sick from leprosy by the hand of Moses, so our soul can be forgiven for its sins.

Song 7

In the seventh ode, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete says that no matter how grave sins a person commits, if he sincerely repents, he will be forgiven. Otherwise, the punishment of the Lord will be great. You need to pray to God in his three guises and the Mother of God with repentance and a request for forgiveness.

Song 8

Andrew narrates that our Lord gives to each according to his merits. If a person lived righteously, he will ascend to heaven, like Elijah in a chariot. Or in life he will receive the support of God, like Elisha for dividing the Jordan River. If you live in sin, like Gehazi, then the soul will burn in a fiery hyena.

Song 9

In this song, the great canon of Andrew of Crete says that people have forgotten the ten commandments of God, engraved on the tablets by Moses. They are not attached to the writing of the gospel. Once upon a time, Jesus came into our world to save us. He blessed babies and old people, because some had not yet had time to repent of their sins, while others could no longer. If a person is of sound mind, then he himself must ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Songs to be recited on the Tuesday of Lent.

Here it is told how Cain killed his brother, envious of him. Andrei asks to live his life righteously, not thinking to whom and what the Lord has given. If a person lives according to the commandments of God, then grace will soon come to him. We must strive to be like Abel, who with a pure soul brought his gifts to the Lord.

Calls on people to repent that they have rejected spiritual wealth and attach importance only to material things. In the pursuit of clothing and other benefits, they completely forgot to pray to the Lord. We forget that a mentally rich person will be much happier.

This song from the canon of Andrew of Crete calls to live like Noah, to whom the Lord alone gave a chance to be saved. Or like Lot, the only survivor of Sodom. Because if we sin, then we will suffer the fate of people during the flood.

There is strength in knowledge. One must strive to see God in oneself, and a ladder to heaven will be built, like the patriarchs. In everyday life we ​​imitate Esau, who hates everyone. We must live in love and harmony.

Just as the entire Jewish people lived in Egyptian slavery, so our soul lives all the time in sin. We must muster up the courage to end slavery. Even if at first it will be necessary to suffer, then in the end we will acquire true freedom of the spirit. Then life will become much easier and more pleasant.

He continues to tell about the adventure of Moses, who sought to lead the people out of Egyptian slavery. People do not have much faith to endure a little wandering in the name of a good cause. So we need everything at the same time. We need to believe in the Lord and ask for forgiveness, and then we can free our souls from the slavery of sins.

The song of the great canon of St. Andrew of Crete tells how we repeat the sins and addictions of biblical characters, but do not have the strength and desire to follow the great martyrs. Our body indulges in sinful acts, such as adultery, without considering the consequences for the soul.

The eighth song tells about people who were able to find the strength in themselves to repent and receive the Lord into their souls. So Andrew calls us to renounce past life sinful and go towards God. At the end of the eighth song, the Old Testament is summed up - one must not repeat the sins of the biblical characters and strive to live like the righteous of this Holy Scripture.

In the ninth ode, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete gives comparisons from the New Testament. Just as Jesus resisted Satan's temptation in the wilderness, so we must resist all temptations. Christ began to work miracles on earth, thus showing that everything in this world is possible. The main thing is to believe and live according to the commandments of the Lord, and then our soul can be saved on the Day of Judgment.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, 9 songs are also read. Since the first days of the creation of the world, there have been people who glorified the Lord our God with their deeds. Andrew calls on people to repent of their sins and become like those saints in everyday life. Praise the name of the Lord by doing deeds worthy of it. Also remembered in the songs are great sinners who turned their backs on God, gave priority to material goods, or succumbed to the temptation to try the forbidden fruit. The Lord punished them according to their merit for their deeds. So our soul after death awaits the day of judgment, on which it will not be possible to lie, it will not be possible to hide our atrocities with some imaginary excuses. Therefore, Andrew calls on us to repent during our lifetime, ask the Lord for the forgiveness of sins and strive to change our actions for the better. Learn to resist temptation. There is nothing difficult in this. Just by remaining human, you will see that most of the commandments of the Lord indicate to live without envy and gluttony, without betrayal and desire to receive someone else's.

Thursday

On this day of Great Lent, the last part of the canon is read. As in previous songs, virtues are sung here and the sins of mankind, which have been committed over the centuries, are condemned. Also in this part they appeal to the Lord, Jesus, the Virgin Mary with a request to forgive sins and give them the opportunity to repent.

Also, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete teaches to admit one's mistakes, not to seek guilt for bad life in those around. Accept your sinfulness as a proven fact. But that doesn't mean you have to put up with it. On the contrary, admitting guilt is the first step towards forgiveness. If we stop now, we have a chance for eternal life after death.

It is precisely when the canon of Andrew of Crete is read, during Great Lent, that we have the opportunity to realize our sins and begin new life. A life that will please God. Then humanity will be able to feel grace, peace and wait for the Day of Judgment with a calm soul.

Dare to repent

On the first Monday of Great Lent (March 2), at the evening service, in complete darkness, the entire priesthood of the temple, with candles in their hands, accompanied by the quiet singing of the choir, leaves the altar to the center. This is how the reading begins. Great Canon of Andrew of Crete, which has been going on in the Church for almost 1200 years.

The great canon of Andrew of Crete is called penitential. But you can't teach what you don't know how to do. The Great Canon is the fruit of repentance brought to God by Saint Andrew.

About the events of the sacred history of St. Andrei speaks as about the events of his life, and does not find in it a single sinner whom he himself would not be like.

But to a person who dares to repent - honest, without self-justification, self-assessment - the Lord gives the opportunity to change. This path - from despair to hope - glorifies the Great Canon.

Heroes and images of the canon

The patriarchal rank from the Church of John Chrysostom in Korovniki, Yaroslavl, 1654. Photo from skyscrapercity.com

While reading the Great Canon, we hear many names, well-known and not so well-known: Adam, Eve, Abel, Cain, Lamech, Ham, David, Solomon, etc. All these are the real heroes of the Holy Scriptures, whose life history is revealed to us here. But this is not the main thing.

The "key" to understanding the canon of Andrew of Crete is to see in the biblical heroes, in their falls and deeds, one's fall and the possibility of an uprising.

Saint Andrew tells the story of the world that has fallen away and is returning to God, which at the same time is the story of the soul of each of us.

Because each soul goes through the same path of trials, faces the same choice.

But how can you see yourself in the heroes of the Bible?

Here we read at the very beginning of the Canon: “Instead of Eve, the sensual thought was Eve, in the flesh a passionate thought, showing sweet and tasting ever-bitter drink.” (“Instead of a sensual Eve, a mental Eve arose in me - a passionate thought that seduces with pleasant, but when tasting it always makes bitter bitter”). What does all of this mean?

Eve's example led Adam to sin. In the same way, each of us is attracted to sin by mental Eve - a passionate, sinful thought.

Until a person's passion is satisfied, he suffers, suffers. With the satisfaction of passion, he hopes to get pleasure, deliverance from torment. This is what a passionate thought promises to the soul, pushing it to sin, just as it once pushed our foremother Eve to sin.

But just as Eve was deceived in the hope of receiving bliss from the forbidden fruit, so is a person deceived in his calculations, who dreams of finding endless sweetness in sin.

How to read canon

Photo by RIA Novosti / Sergey Pyatakov

The penitential canon of Andrew of Crete is read during Great Lent twice: the first time from Monday to Thursday of the first week of Lent (March 2-5 this year) in parts, and the second time, in full, on Thursday of the fifth week of Lent, at the service of the standing Mary of Egypt.

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of Lent, nine songs of the Canon are read. At the end of the sixth song, a kontakion is sung: “My soul, my soul, what are you sleeping…” At this time, a prostration is due.

It is more convenient to come to the Great Canon with your own text with a parallel Russian translation in order to follow the progress of the reading in the church, better understanding the meaning. You can read the canon at home (with translation) in advance. During the service of reading the Canon, the lights are turned off in the temple, so you can buy a candle in advance and light it during the reading.

Advice: If you want to understand the meaning of the Penitential Canon and read about biblical heroes as if they were old acquaintances, you cannot do without knowledge of Sacred History. Its brief but complete version (with pictures) can be found in the book of Prot. Seraphim Slobodsky "The Law of God".

Andrei Kritsky worked as the director of the orphanage for 20 years

St. Andrew of Crete. modern fresco

The author of the Great Canon of Penitence, St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete (VII), was considered mute until the age of seven - until this age he did not utter a word. When, at the age of seven, Saint Andrew received Communion for the first time, the dumbness passed.

At the age of fourteen Saint Andrew enters a monastery and soon becomes known for his learning. But theology does not interfere with practical mercy: for twenty years St. Andrew has been heading the Orphanage in Constantinople.

Here he begins to study church poetry. Saint Andrew is ordained as a bishop and appointed to the farthest see of the empire - the island of Crete. Almost exile becomes a time of prosperity for the bishop, monk and poet: on the island he builds not only churches, but also houses for orphans and the elderly, and also writes canons for almost all the twelfth (the most important) holidays and many Lenten services, including marvelous hymns of Passion Week.

17.03.2016

For a person who is not very familiar with the Holy Scriptures, it is difficult to understand what we repent of during the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Mention is made of people and events from the Sacred History, about which someone, perhaps, hears for the first time in their life. Who are all these people, what happened to them, and how does this relate to our lives?

Monday

Canto 1

Jealous of the primordial Adam of crime, know yourself naked from God and the everlasting kingdom and sweetness, sin for my sake.

Alas for me, cursed soul, why have you become like the first Eve? I saw that you were evil, and you were wounded by a highlander, and you touched a tree, and you tasted boldly wordless food.

Adam(ancient Hebrew "earth, man") - the first man on earth.

Eve(Hebrew "life") - Adam's wife.

The Lord created Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life. As an assistant and spiritual support for Adam, God created Eve from the rib (part) of the first man. However, Adam and Eve were not grateful to the Creator for His gifts, for the life given to them and the opportunity to communicate with God. They wanted to become god-like without God, and without His help, through tasting, as they thought, a magical fruit, to acquire all the perfections that a person can only dream of. In this they were helped by the enemy of God - the devil, who, in order to turn to people, entered the serpent. But, as it turned out, true knowledge, perfection, and life itself are impossible without God. All that Adam and Eve acquired is the shame from the consciousness of their betrayal of God, the vision of their nakedness - the deprivation of the Divine Light. The Lord sends sinning and unrepentant people out of the Garden of Eden - the place of His presence, so that the pangs of their conscience would not be so unbearable, and they would not remain in this state of theirs forever.

Genesis 2:25-3:7; 3:21-24

25 And they were both naked, Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.
1 The serpent was more cunning than all the beasts of the field that the Lord God had made. And the serpent said to the woman: Did God truly say: Do not eat from any tree in paradise?
2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruits of the trees,
3 only the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God said, do not eat it or touch it, lest you die.
4 And the serpent said to the woman, No, you will not die,
5 but God knows that on the day you eat them, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eye and desirable, because it gives knowledge; and took its fruit and ate; and gave also to her husband, and he ate.
7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons.
21 And the Lord God made garments of leather for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, Adam has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, no matter how he stretched out his hand, and took also from the tree of life, and ate, and began to live forever.
23 And the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
24 And he drove out Adam, and set up in the east by the garden of Eden the Cherubim and the flaming sword that turned to guard the way to the tree of life.

It was worthy to be expelled from Eden, as if not keeping Your only, Savior, Adam's commandment: what if I suffer, always sweeping away Your animal words?

We are going, The Garden of Eden (ancient Hebrew “garden of bliss, delight”) is a garden in which the Lord settles the first people. In Slavic, it is called "paradise" - this word is taken from the mythology of our ancestors, where it meant the mysterious southern land of eternal joy and warmth, where the soul flies after the death of a person. This garden on earth, which was all paradise before the fall, differed from other places in that the Lord consecrated it for His presence and fellowship with man.

After the expulsion from Eden, humanity also lost the memory of exactly where he was. At different peoples vague traditions have been preserved that in the East. The book of Genesis mentions four rivers that once watered this garden of God. Two of them are known, these are the Euphrates and the Tigris. On this basis, Mesopotamia or India, the cradle of ancient civilizations, is considered the location of the ancient paradise. However, it is most likely that people later named these Mesopotamian rivers in memory of paradise. Some researchers believe that paradise was in Africa, where the most ancient settlements on earth were found, in Madagascar or in the Sahara (in ancient times there was a mild climate and tropical gardens). However, the reliable knowledge of the place in which paradise was located, the Lord hid from man.

Canto 2

The storm will overcome the evil ones, merciful Lord: but like Peter, stretch out your hand to me too.

Peter- a disciple of Christ, one of the 12 apostles.

Matthew 14:23-32 says:

23 And sending the people away, he went up the mountain to pray in private; and stayed there alone in the evening.
24 And the boat was already in the middle of the sea, and the waves were tossing it, because the wind was contrary.
25 In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, and said, This is a ghost; and cried out in fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, Take heart; It's me, don't be afraid.
28 Peter answered and said to him, Lord! if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.
29 And he said, Go. And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to come to Jesus,
30 But seeing a strong wind, he was frightened, and, beginning to drown, he cried out: Lord! save me.
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, supported him, and said to him, You of little faith! why did you doubt?
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Canto 3

Sometimes the Lord rained fire from the Lord, first they hit the land of Sodom.

Save yourself on the mountain, O soul, like Lot, and steal to Sigor.

Sodom- one of the five cities in the Dead Sea region, which around the twentieth century BC. were destroyed by the Lord for their sinful lives. The city-states of Sodom, Amorrah (Gomorrah), Adma, Sigor (Zoar) and Seboim (Tzvoim), among other crimes, were distinguished by great depravity.

Lot- Abraham's nephew, who, wishing to separate from the patriarch with his flocks, fell into extreme poverty and was forced to settle at the gates of the city of Sodom, where the poor settled.

According to the story in the book of Genesis (chapters 18-19), the Lord, in the form of three strangers, came to the righteous Abraham to announce to him the birth of the long-awaited son from Abraham, and also to test His righteous man - will he pity the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? Abraham showed mercy and asked the Lord to have mercy on the cities if there were at least ten righteous people in all of them.

However, when two of the three strangers who appeared to Abraham came to Sodom, all the inhabitants, young and old, gathered around them, wanting to harm them. Only one resident of the city turned out to be righteous - Lot. The Lord brought Lot's family out of Sodom, and poured brimstone with fire on the whole neighborhood. Until now, this area in the Dead Sea region testifies to a natural or supernatural disaster that once occurred here.

Neither Lot's wife nor his daughters proved righteous and worthy of salvation. Lot's wife disobeyed the Lord's request not to look back. She looked back, out of simple curiosity to look at the death of thousands of people, and perhaps regretting the depraved Sodom she had left behind. Both of them testified to her sinfulness. She turned into a pillar of salt - perhaps for the reason that everything that stopped its movement at the time of the catastrophe was instantly covered with salt and ash and solidified. After their miraculous salvation, Lot's daughters acted as depraved as all the inhabitants of Sodom. God-cursed nations became their descendants.

Seagor

Canto 4

The ladder, which was seen in ancient times as great in the patriarchs, is an indication, my soul, of an active ascent, a reasonable ascension: if you want to, live by deed and mind and vision, be renewed.

The heat of the day endured hardships for the sake of the patriarch, and you carried the scum of the night, creating supplies for every day, grazed, toiling, working, and combines two wives.

Understand my two wives, the deed and the mind in sight: Leah, then the deed, as if many children: Rachel, the mind, as if much labored: for apart from labors, neither deed nor sight, the soul, will be corrected.

Leah and Rachel- two wives of Patriarch Jacob, the ancestor Israeli people. At that time, polygamy was widespread in the east, but the biblical patriarchs remain faithful to one or two wives. Jacob was the grandson of the righteous Abraham and the son of Isaac. He bought from his brother Esau the birthright and the father's blessing, which Esau valued nothing and sold for lentil stew. But, thinking that in addition to the blessing, Esau also lost material wealth, the brother decided to take revenge on Jacob. Fleeing, Jacob stopped for the night in a field. There, in a dream, he sees a heavenly ladder, on which angels ascend and descend (Gen. 28:10-22).

Canto 5

Imitating Reuben, accursed Az, I have done unlawful and lawless advice against the Most High God, defiling my bed, as he is my father.

Reuben- the eldest of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), from whom the 12 tribes of Israel descended. Reuben defiled his father's bed by sleeping with his concubine. Genesis 35:21-22: “And Israel set out and pitched their tent behind the tower of Gader. While Israel was in that country, Reuben went and slept with Bilah, his father's concubine. And Israel heard. In Jacob's blessing of his sons (Genesis 49:3-4), instead of blessing Reuben, the father curses him for this sin.

I confess to You, Christ the King, I have sinned, I have sinned, as if before Joseph the brethren had sold, the fruit of purity and chastity.

From relatives, the righteous soul contacted, sold into sweet work, in the image of the Lord: you are all, my soul, you were sold by your evil ones.

Imitate Joseph's righteous and chaste mind, cursed and unskillful soul, and do not be defiled by wordless aspirations, always lawless.

And if Joseph sometimes lived in the ditch, Lord Lord, but in the image of Your burial and rising: what if I bring You chintz?

Joseph- one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), the brother of Reuben, the eldest son from Rachel, the ancestor of the two tribes of Israel - Ephraim and Manasseh. The life of Joseph is told in chapters 37, 39-50 of the book of Genesis. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. The brothers envied him and out of envy sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. In Egypt, the righteous Joseph shows himself chaste, refusing to become the lover of the wife of a nobleman. The angry wife of the nobleman falsely accuses Joseph and he is thrown into an underground dungeon. But the Lord turned the evil they did for good - for his wisdom, Joseph was called the ruler of Egypt, exalted at the court of the pharaoh and was able to save his father's family from hunger during a drought. Seeing the grief they brought to their father, Joseph's brothers repented of their deed.

Canto 6

You have evaded, soul, from your Lord, like Dathan and Aviron, but have mercy, call from the hell of the underworld, so that the abyss of the earth will not cover you.

Dathan and Aviron- the Israelites who rebelled against the authorities of the prophet Moses and the high priest Aaron in the wilderness. For this they were punished by the Lord.

Like a youth, a soul, furious, you became like Ephraim, like a chamois from the snares save your life, putting your mind and eyesight into action.

Ephraim- one of the sons of Jacob (Israel), the founder of the tribe of Israel. The tribe of Ephraim throughout the history of the people of Israel showed disobedience to the commands of God and rebelled against other tribes.

May the hand of Moses assure us, soul, how God can whiten and cleanse a leper's life, and do not despair of yourself, if you are a leper.

Moses- a prophet of God who brought the people of Israel out of Egyptian captivity (XIII century BC) and received commandments from God on Mount Sinai for all mankind. To assure Pharaoh that Moses was the messenger of God, the Lord miraculously made Moses' leper hand healthy.

Canto 7

Saul sometimes, as if destroying his father, soul, donkey, suddenly find a kingdom for prostitution: but watch, do not forget yourself, your bestial lusts are more arbitrary than the kingdom of Christ.

Saul- the first Israeli king (2nd half of the 11th century BC). Was from a simple family. He was anointed king by the prophet Samuel when he went looking for his father's lost donkeys. Subsequently, he apostatized from God, and the Lord instead of him chose David as king.

David is sometimes the Godfather, if you sin purely, my soul, he was shot with an arrow having been adultery, but he was captured with a copy of being murdered by languor; but you yourself are ill with the gravest deeds, with self-willed aspirations.

Combine, then, David sometimes iniquity, iniquity, but dissolving fornication in murder, repentance, pure display of abie; but you yourself, the most crafty soul, did it without repenting to God.

David sometimes imagine, having written off a song as if on an icon, the deed of which he denounces, hedgehog, calling: have mercy on me, for you alone have sinned all God, cleanse me yourself.

David- the second Israeli king (c. 1005 - 965 BC), called the Godfather, since the Savior descended from his family. Author of most of the Psalms. In the 7th ode of the canon, an episode from the life of King David, described in 2 Kings, chapters 11-12, is recalled. King David was tempted by the wife of his warrior Uriah - Bathsheba. To take her away from her husband, he sent Uriah into a dangerous battle, where he was killed. The prophet Nathan denounced King David, after which the king repented. The fruit of his repentance was the 50th psalm, read daily at the service. Bathsheba became the wife of King David. From their marriage, Solomon was born - the last king of the united kingdom of Israel.

Canto 8

The charioteer Elijah entered the chariot of virtues, as if into heaven, hoisting higher sometimes from the earth: this is the result, my soul, think of the sunrise.

Or me("my God is Yahweh") - a prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel (IX century BC). In the 2nd chapter of 4 Kings, the ascension of the prophet Elijah to Heaven on a miraculously appeared chariot is described.

Elisha sometimes received mercy on Elijah, received a special grace from God; but you, O my soul, did not partake of sowing grace for intemperance.

The stream of Jordan is the first mercy of Elijah Elisha a hundred everywhere and everywhere; but you, O my soul, did not partake of sowing grace for intemperance.

Elisha(“God will save”) - a disciple of the prophet Elijah, a prophet of the kingdom of Israel (IX century BC). The prophet Elisha asked Elijah for more grace than his teacher had, and received it. He was present at the ascension of Elijah to Heaven in a chariot. A mantle fell at the feet of the prophet Elisha ( outerwear) Elijah, whom later Elisha miraculously divided the waters of the Jordan, passing along the river like dry land (2 Kings 2 chapter).

Establish a righteous Somanitis sometimes, O soul, in a good disposition; you did not bring you into the house, neither strange nor traveler. The same halls are thrown out, weeping.

somanitida(Sonamite) - a woman from the city of Sonam in the northern kingdom of Israel (now the village of Solem), whose family repeatedly gave shelter to the wandering prophet Elisha. Through the prayer of the prophet Elisha, a son was born to the barren Sonamite woman, later the prophet, in gratitude for the hospitality, resurrects her child who died from a sunstroke, warns this family about the approach of seven years of famine so that they have time to go to the Philistine land, helps to return the house taken away by the king to the Sonamite woman (4 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6).

Geeziev was imitated by you, accursed, always a bad mind, soul, whose love of money put aside for old age; flee the fire of hell, having retreated from your evil ones.

Gehazi- servant of the prophet Elisha. After the prophet Elisha healed the Syrian commander Naaman, who was ill with leprosy, and refused material reward, Gehazi was tempted by Naaman's estate. He caught up with the Syrian nobleman and by deceit, allegedly for alms, begged him for two talents (about 90 kg) of silver and two changes of clothes, hiding them from Elisha. As a punishment for this sin, Naaman's leprosy was transferred to Gehazi.

Canto 9

Moses bring the world to you, soul, and from this all the covenant Scripture, which will tell you the righteous and the unrighteous: from them the second, about the soul, imitated you, and not the first, having sinned against God.

Moses- see canto 6.

Moses' world-being- the Old Testament book of Genesis, written by the prophet Moses, which tells about the events of biblical history from the beginning of the world.

Tuesday

Canto 1

Cain's murder has passed, by the will of the former murderer of the conscience of the soul, reviving the flesh and fighting against me with my crafty deeds.

Abel, Jesus, not like the truth, I did not bring you a pleasant gift when, neither divine deeds, nor pure sacrifices, nor a blameless life.

Like Cain and we, a cursed soul, all the Creator of the deeds are foul, and a vicious sacrifice, and an indecent life brought together: we will be condemned the same.

Cain and Abel- two sons of Adam and Eve. When both brothers offered sacrifice to God, the Lord did not accept Cain's sacrifice, because it was not offered from a pure heart. But Cain did not repent, but began to envy his brother, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God and accepted by Him. By deception, Cain lured Abel into the field and killed him, becoming the first murderer on earth (Gen. 4). The clan of Cain, expelled from the rest of the descendants of Adam and Eve, subsequently died in a catastrophe that entered into Holy Bible called the Flood.

Canto 3

Under Noah, the Savior, imitators of fornication, they inherited condemnation in the flood of immersion.

Noah

Hama onago, soul, imitating the parricide, shame did not cover the sincere, returning back in vain.

Ham One of the three sons of Noah. He insulted his father by mocking him. After Noah, not knowing the actions of the fermented grape juice, did not reach his bed and fell naked in the middle of the tent, Ham did not cover the nakedness of his father, but, laughing, went and told his brothers about it so that they would also laugh at their father. But the brothers covered their father, turning away so as not to see his nakedness. Upon learning of Ham's disrespect, Noah cursed his descendants (Gen. 9:18-27).

Inflammation, like Lot, run, my soul, sin: run Sodom and Gomorrah, run the flame of every wordless desire.

Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah- see explanations for the 3rd ode of the canon read on Monday of the first week of Great Lent.

Canto 4

Watch out, O my soul, work out, as if anciently great in the patriarchs, may you acquire an act with reason, may you be mind, see God, and reach the ever-setting darkness in a vision, and you will be a great merchant.

Having created twelve great patriarchs in the patriarchs, secretly affirm to you the ladder of the active, my soul, ascent: children, like foundations, degrees, like ascents, wisely laying.

Great Patriarch - Jacob (Israel), the founder of the chosen people of God. From him came twelve sons who became patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. For more information about Patriarch Jacob, see the explanation to the 4th ode of the canon, read on Monday of the first week of Great Lent.

Esau, who was hated, imitated you, soul;

Esau was called Edom, for the extreme sake of womanish confusion: with intemperance, we constantly inflame and defile with sweetness, Edom was named, which is said to inflame the soul of a sinful one.

Esau- Brother of Patriarch Jacob. With disdain, he treated his father's blessing and honor to be considered the firstborn son, selling them to Jacob for lentil stew (Gen. 25, 20-34). For his intemperance, Esau received the nickname "Edom" ("red") - from the color of lentil stew. After Jacob received the blessing once due to him, Esau hated his brother and wanted to kill him (Gen. 27).

Hearing Job on the fester, about my soul, who was justified, you were not jealous of that courage, you didn’t have a firm offer in all, even weigh, and you were tempted by the image, but you appeared impatient.

Even the first on the throne, naked now on the fester, festering, many in children and glorious, childless and homeless in vain: the chamber is festering and the beads of the scab are sane.

Job- the Old Testament patriarch, who, due to the action of the devil, lost his children, his estate and was subjected to an incurable disease - leprosy. He showed firm faith in God in trials. The Lord restored Job to health and gave him more children. The story of the righteous Job, who is called the long-suffering by the Church, is described in the Old Testament book of Job.

Canto 5

Moiseov heard thou the ark, soul, waters, river waves, as if running in the hell of old deeds, the bitter advice of the pharaohs.

If you heard a woman, sometimes killing an ageless masculine, cursed soul, act of chastity, now, like the great Moses, ssi wisdom.

Like Moses the great Egyptian, mind, wounded, cursed, did not kill thou, soul; and how, say, do you dwell in the desert of passions by repentance?

The great Moses moved into the desert; come, imitate that life, and in the bush of the Theophany, soul, in a vision you will be.

Imagine the rod of Moses, soul, striking the sea and thickening the depth, in the image of the Divine Cross: you can do the same great.

Moses- Old Testament prophet of God. In the 5th ode of the canon, the life of the prophet, described in chapters 1-2 of the book of Exodus, is recalled. The cruel pharaoh, fearing an uprising of slaves, gave the command to kill all male babies born to Jewish slaves. One of the children was miraculously saved - left near the royal baths in a tarred basket, where he was found by the pharaoh's daughter. The child was adopted by the king's daughter. He receives the name Moses - "taken out of the water" and is brought up at the court of the pharaoh. But, brought up as an Egyptian nobleman, Moses cannot endure the oppression of his people and stands up for a Jewish slave who is beaten by an Egyptian. At the same time, he kills an Egyptian and he has to flee the country to avoid punishment. Moses finds refuge in the Sinai Peninsula, where, after 40 years, the Lord calls him to free His people. For more information about Moses, see the explanation to the 6th ode of the canon, read on Monday of the first week of Great Lent.

Aaron offers fire to God undefiled, unflattering; but Hophni and Phinehas, like you, soul, bring a life alien to God, a defiled life.

Aaron- the elder brother of Moses, born before the publication of the cruel decree of the pharaoh on the extermination of babies. Aaron became the first priest of Israel and the founder of a priestly family. Throughout the history of the Old Testament people of God, only an Israelite from the descendants of Aaron could become a priest.

Ofni and Phinehas- the descendants of the high priest Aaron, the wicked sons of the priest Eli. They were priests according to the right of inheritance, but they were distinguished by greed and irreverence towards the sacrifice of the Lord. Before the Israelites offered the sacrifice, the sons of Eli came and chose for themselves the best pieces of meat for feasting, and the rest - the worst meat - were ordered to be offered to the Lord. They were punished by God with an untimely death. Following them, Eli also died - as a punishment for not raising his children in piety (1 Sam. 1-4).

Canto 6

Waves, Savior, of my sins, as if returning in the Black Sea, covering me suddenly, like the Egyptians are sometimes tristats.

Red (Red) Sea. Fleeing from Egyptian slavery, the Israelites miraculously crossed this sea, as if on dry land. The Egyptian warriors and horsemen (tristats) who rushed after them perished under the closing waves (Ex. 14). Further, in the 6th ode of the canon, other miracles of God, revealed to the Israelites in the Sinai desert after crossing the Red Sea, and the murmuring of the Jewish people, despite the many blessings of God, are recalled.

Try, soul, and look, like Joshua, the promises of the land as it is, and dwell in it with good law.

Joshua

Canto 7

The kivot, as if carrying on a chariot, Zany, when I turn into a calf, I touch it, I’m tempted by God’s wrath; but having escaped that boldness, soul, honor the Divine more honestly.

Zan (Oza)- the son of Aminadab, the keeper of the ark of the covenant in Kiryat-Yarim. During the reign of the Israeli judges, this main shrine of the Jewish people was hidden from the Philistines in the village of Kiryat-Yarim. After the accession of David over Israel, the threat of an attack by the Philistine tribes decreased. King David, accompanied by many people, personally took part in the transfer of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. Uzzah drove the chariot that carried the ark. On the way of the procession of the ark, misfortune happened - an ox pushed the chariot, and Uzza, who was sitting on it, grabbed the ark so as not to fall. Instead of taking care of the holiness of the Lord, he considered his safety more precious than the ark. For this, Uzzah was immediately smitten by the Lord and died (2 Sam. 6).

You heard Absalom, how you rose to nature, you knew that filthy deed, defiling the bed of David your father; but you imitated that passionate and gracious aspiration.

Absalom- one of the sons of King David, born from the daughter of the king of Gessur. Revolted against his father, seeking to seize his kingdom. As an expression of contempt for his father, he entered the house to his concubines in front of all the people. He died a shameful death: participating in the battle against his father, he rode a mule through the forest, and his long hair, which he was proud of, got tangled in the branches of an oak, the mule ran away, and Absalom hung on a tree, where, despite the prohibition of King David, he was struck down by the royal soldiers (2 Sam. 15-18).

David- The second king of Israel. For more details about it, see the explanation to the 7th ode of the canon, read on Monday of the first week of Great Lent.

You subdued your unworkable dignity to your body, other than Ahithophel, having found an enemy, soul, you lowered this advice; but this is Christ Himself scattered, so that you may be saved in every way.

Ahithophel- Advisor to King David. He went over to the side of the traitor Absalom and gave him advice on how best to destroy David. Seeing that one of his advice against the king was not fulfilled, Ahithophel, fearing the victory of the king and reprisals for treason, strangled himself (2 Sam. 17:23).

Solomon, wondrous and filled with the grace of wisdom, sometimes having done this evil thing before God, depart from Him; to him you have become like your cursed life, soul.

Sweeten the attraction of your passions, defiled, alas, to me, the guardian of wisdom, the guardian of prodigal wives and strange from God: you imitated him with your mind, about the soul, with filthy voluptuousness.

Solomon- the son of King David, the most famous of the kings of Israel (965-928 BC). He was famous for his wisdom, which he received from God as a reward for his humility. Author of the Old Testament books of Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes and Wisdom of Solomon. In Solomon's time, the kingdom of Israel reached its highest peak. But wealth and numerous pagan wives corrupted him and made him forget the Lord. By the end of his life, he repented.

You were jealous of Rehoboam, who did not listen to the advice of the father, but also of the worst servant Jeroboam, the former apostate, soul, but run away from imitation and call on God: you have sinned, have mercy on me.

Rehoboam- the son of King Solomon, who inherited the throne after the death of the king (1 Kings 11:43). He did not listen to the advice of the elders to be merciful to the people, and became a cruel ruler. During his reign, the united kingdom of Israel was divided into northern and southern.

Jeroboam- the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, from the tribe of Ephraim. His reign over the ten tribes of Israel was predicted by the prophet Ahijah. Upon learning of this, King Solomon wanted to kill Jeroboam, and he had to flee to Egypt. After the death of Solomon, Jeroboam led the Israelites, who were indignant at the exorbitant exactions of the new king Rehoboam, and began to rule over ten tribes that did not want to accept the power of Rehoboam. But after the accession to the throne, Jeroboam became proud and forgot God, becoming an idolater.

Canto 8

You Oziah, soul, jealous, this leprosy in yourself acquired this purely: you think without a place, but you act lawlessly; leave, even imashi, and the sons to repentance.

Oziya (Azaria)- the king of Judea, who ruled in the VIII century BC. (2 Kings 15:1-7, 2 Chr. 26). At the beginning of his reign he was pious. He waged successful wars with the Philistines. Subsequently, he became proud, wished to enter the Jerusalem temple and perform divine services in it instead of the priests. “And the Lord struck the king, and he was a leper until the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house” (2 Kings 15:5). The throne passed to his son Jotham.

Ninevites, soul, thou didst hear the penitent to God, with sackcloth and ashes, thou didst not imitate these, but thou didst appear the most evil of all, before the law and by the law of those who sinned.

Ninevites- the inhabitants of Nineveh, the Assyrians, after the Jewish prophet Jonah came to them and convicted them of their sins, not only repented, but also unanimously wished to put on sackcloth (coarse clothing) and sprinkle ashes on their heads as a sign of their repentance, as they usually did in days of mourning.

In the ditch of blat you heard Jeremiah, soul, the city of Zion crying out with sobs and looking for tears: imitate this deplorable life and be saved.

Jeremiah- Prophet of the Kingdom of Judah (7th-6th centuries BC), author of the Old Testament texts of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah and Lamentations of Jeremiah. He preached about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in case of impenitence of its inhabitants. For the words of his sermon, he was considered a traitor to the people and thrown into a ditch with mud. Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled during his lifetime. The Babylonians who invaded the city released the prophet and allowed him to stay where he wanted to live, while his compatriots were taken into captivity. Jeremiah was left to mourn the holy city and his people in the ruins of Jerusalem. Later, he was taken into Egyptian captivity by the Israelis, who wished to flee to Egypt from the occupied lands. In Egypt, Jeremiah was martyred by the Jews for his denunciations. According to legend, he was buried in Alexandria.

Jonah fleeing to Tarshish, having understood the conversion of the Ninevites, understand more, like a prophet, God's mercy: the same is jealous of the prophecy, do not lie.

And she- prophet of the kingdom of Israel (XI-VIII centuries BC). He was sent with a sermon to the pagans - the Assyrians, who lived in the city of Nineveh. He opposed this command of God, because he learned that the Ninevites would repent, and the prophecy would remain unfulfilled. Jonah fled by ship to Tarshish (a city on the Iberian Peninsula or in North Africa), but on the way he was overtaken by a storm. Realizing that the Lord was sending a storm because of him, he asked the sailors to throw him over the deck. Jonah is swallowed by a huge fish and washed ashore three days later. Jonah repented and went to preach in Nineveh. Its inhabitants really repented and announced a fast to cleanse their sins. The Old Testament book of the prophet Jonah tells about this.

Thou hast heard Daniel in the ditch, how shut up the mouth, about the soul, of the beasts; Thou didst take away, like the youths, like Azariah, extinguishing the burning flame by the faith of the cave.

Daniel- Old Testament prophet (c. 607-516 BC), author of the book of the prophet Daniel. In his youth, he was taken to Babylonian captivity and, due to his noble birth, among other young men, he was left to serve at the royal court. He earned the respect of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II thanks to his wisdom and gift for interpreting dreams. He predicted to the Babylonian king that his empire would be taken by the Medes and Persians. Twice - under the Persian kings Darius I and Cyrus the Great - for his faith and refusal to serve idols, he was thrown into the lions' den. Both times the Lord sent an angel who blocked the lions' grazing and saved the prophet from death.

Azaria- one of the three young men - friends of the prophet Daniel. For refusing to bow to the image, three Jewish youths - Azariah, Ananias and Mishael - were thrown into a red-hot furnace by order of the Babylonian king. But suddenly an Angel of God appeared in the oven and saved the martyrs. Unharmed young men walked among the fire and sang a song of praise to the Lord. Frightened, the Babylonian king ordered their release and issued a decree on the veneration of the True God in Babylon (Dan. 3). According to church tradition, Azariah, Ananias and Misail did not escape martyrdom - many years later they were beheaded at the behest of the Persian king Cambyses. The life of the three holy youths is described in the book of the prophet Daniel.

Canto 9

Desert-loving dove, cry out the voice of a crying one, Christ's lamp, preach repentance, Herod is lawless with Herodias. Look, my soul, do not get caught up in lawless nets, but kiss repentance.

The grace of the Forerunner settled in the desert, and all Judea and Samaria, having heard, flow and confess their sins, baptizing zealously: you did not imitate them, soul.

Herod II Antipas- the ruler of the Palestinian regions of Galilee and Perea (Gilead) in 20 BC. - after 39 AD, son of Herod the Great. He had a criminal relationship with Herodias - the wife of Herod Philip II, his brother, co-ruler of Judea enslaved by the Romans. The prophet John the Baptist denounced Herod Antipas and Herodias for their sin. Wanting revenge, Herodias begged Herod to imprison John the Baptist. Once, when the daughter of Herodias Salome was dancing at a feast, Herod Antipas promised her to fulfill her wish as a reward for the dance. Herodias took advantage of this opportunity and ordered Salome to ask for the head of John the Baptist. In order to please Herodias and his close associates, Herod ordered the execution of John the Baptist and brought the head of the prophet to Salome on a platter (Mark 6:14-29).

Forerunner- John the Baptist, a prophet who preceded the coming into the world of the Lord Jesus Christ and preached repentance (about 6 BC - 30 AD). As a sign of repentance, John invited the Jews to bathe in the waters of the Jordan River. The Lord Jesus Christ, having come to John the Forerunner, was baptized by him in order to renew and sanctify the world and human nature.

Wednesday

Canto 2

He crawled, like David, fornicated and defiled, but washed by me, Savior, with tears.

David- Israeli king, author of the Psalter, progenitor of the Savior of the world. This song of the canon recalls the case of the fall of David, who was tempted by Bathsheba, the wife of his warrior Uriah (2 Kings 11-12). For more details, see the explanation to the 7th ode of the canon read on Monday of the first week of Great Lent.

To whom have you become like, O sinful soul? Only to the first Cain and Lamech onom, who stoned the body of villainy and killed the mind with wordless aspirations.

Cain

Lamech

All before the law, O soul, you did not become like Seth, nor did you imitate Enos, nor did you imitate Enoch, nor Noah, but you appeared to be a miserable righteous life.

You alone opened the abyss of the wrath of your God, my soul, and drowned you all, like the earth, flesh, and deeds, and life, and you remained outside the saving ark.

Sif- the third son of Adam and Eve, the progenitor of all living mankind. Revered by the Church in the rank of holy forefathers. As noted in the book of Genesis (4:26) “Seth also had a son, and he called his name: Enos; then they began to call on the name of the Lord,” Seth is considered the founder of conciliar prayer and public worship.

Enos- the son of Seth and the grandson of Adam, glorified by the Church in the face of the holy forefathers (Gen. 4:26; 5:6-11).

Enoch- the sixth descendant from Adam, holy forefather and prophet (Genesis 5:18-24). In the genealogy of mankind in the book of Genesis, it is only said about him "walked with God." For sincere repentance, the Lord raised Enoch alive to Heaven (Gen. 5:24; Sir. 44:15; 49:16; Heb. 11:5). In addition to Enoch, the prophet Elijah was raised alive to Heaven in the Old Testament. According to Tradition, Enoch and Elijah are the two prophets whose arrival before the second Coming of the Lord is mentioned in the Revelation of John the Theologian (Rev. 11:3-12).

Noah- the Old Testament patriarch, belonged to the 9th generation of people after Adam. In his time, the Lord decided to send a global flood to the earth in order to exterminate all sinful humanity. Of all the people turned out to be righteous and only Noah and his family were saved from the flood. God ordered Noah and his sons to build an ark in which the entire family of the patriarch fit, as well as representatives of the then flora and fauna (Gen. 6-9).

Canto 3

You did not inherit the blessing of Simov, damned soul, nor did you have a vast possession, like Japheth, on the land of abandonment.

Sim- the eldest son of Noah, the progenitor of the Semitic peoples - Arabs, Jews, Arameans and others. After the flood, Noah blesses his sons, prophesying about Japheth that the Lord will spread his descendants throughout the earth, and about Shem that the Lord will dwell in his tents (Genesis 9:24-27).

Japheth (Japheth) Noah's youngest son.

From the land of Haran, depart from sin, my soul, come to the land that wears away the ever-living incorruption, which Abraham inherited.

Thou hast heard Abraham, my soul, having left the land of the fatherland of old and being a stranger, imitate this will.

At the oak of Mamre, having established the patriarch angels, inheriting the promises of fishing in old age.

Harran- the ancient city of the northern Mesopotamia. For a long time it was the hometown of righteous Abraham.

Abraham- the Old Testament patriarch (elder of the clan), glorified by the Church in the rank of the righteous. He belonged to the 20th generation of people after Adam (XX century BC). According to legend, Arabs, Jews, Midianites and some other Semitic peoples descended from Abraham. Abraham became famous for his exceptional trust in God and His Providence. Thanks to Abraham's faith, his childless family in extreme old age received a promise from God about the birth of a long-awaited son. From Isaac, born of aged parents, the people of Israel will subsequently come. The life story of righteous Abraham is described in the book of Genesis (Gen. 11:27 - 25:10). The story of the appearance of three angels to Abraham at the Mamrian oak forest formed the basis of the iconography of the icon of the Trinity.

Isaac, my cursed soul, understanding a new sacrifice, secretly burned to the Lord, imitate his will.

Isaac- Old Testament patriarch, son of Abraham, holy forefather. From Isaac came the Jews and the Edomites. According to the book of Genesis, he was the long-awaited son of elderly parents. When Isaac was about 30 years old, the Lord tested His righteous ones by commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son. The sacrifice had to be voluntary for both patriarchs. In those days, the pagans considered sacrificing their children as a common thing. Therefore, Abraham was not surprised to hear such a command from God. But the Lord, on the contrary, wanted to show that He does not want such sacrifices. When Abraham raised the blade over Isaac, an Angel who appeared from Heaven stopped his father's hand and pointed to a lamb standing nearby as a sacrifice that befits to be offered to God. The Lord revealed himself as a God of mercy and love to His righteous ones after Isaac proved his loyalty to God by his willingness to die for Him, and Abraham by his willingness to sacrifice his long-awaited son (Genesis 22:1-19).

You heard Ismail, sober, my soul, expelled, like a slave offspring, see, but not like what you suffer, kindheartedly.

Ismail- the first son of Abraham, was born from the slave Hagar. He was distinguished by a daring and rebellious character. Became the ancestor of the Arab tribes (Genesis 16 and 21:1-21).

Canto 5

Like a heavy disposition, the bitter Pharaoh was, Lord, Ianni and Jambres, soul and body, and immersed in mind, but help me.

Ianni and Iamvri- the names of the Egyptian priests who resisted the miracles of God, revealed through the prophet Moses, but could not create such miracles with the help of their gods (Ex. 7:11; 2 Tim. 3:8). In the books of the Old Testament, names are not named, and the number of priests is not mentioned. More information about them was preserved by the ancient Jewish tradition, which is reflected in the 2nd epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy 3:8.

Canto 6

Joshua- the leader of the Israelites on their way to the promised land during the exodus from Egypt. After the death of the prophet Moses, he led the holy war of the Israelites against the wicked pagan tribes that inhabited Palestine.

Amalek, Amalekites

Gavaonites

Forego, the time of the current nature, as before the ark, and wake up the land of this in the possession of the promise, soul, God commands.

Here we recall the wonderful the Israelites crossing the Jordan like dry land when entering the promised land. After the priests brought the ark of the covenant into the middle of the river, its waters stopped.

As if you saved Peter, crying out, save, having preceded me, Savior, deliver me from the beast, stretch out Your hand, and raise me from the depths of sin.

Peter

Canto 7

Manasseyeva collected sins by pleasure, setting up as abominations of passion and multiplying, soul, indignation, but that repentance is jealous of warmth, acquire tenderness.

Manasseh- king of Judea (695-642 BC). He reigned at the age of 12 and ruled for 55 years. Son of the pious king Hezekiah. He was distinguished by special wickedness, was an idolater and inclined the entire Jewish people to idolatry (2 Kings 21: 1-18). He "led his sons through the fire", that is, burned them alive as a sacrifice to Moloch, and also installed the idol of Astarte in the temple of God. In addition, Manasseh shed much innocent blood. The result of the sin that Manasseh sowed among the Jews was the Babylonian captivity of the people. At the end of his cruel reign, he was taken prisoner by the Assyrians who captured Jerusalem, who took him away in chains to Babylon. During the long years of captivity, King Manasseh repented of his atrocities. After the Assyrians allowed him to return to Jerusalem, where he ended his days without returning to his former iniquities (2 Chronicles 32:33 - 33:23). The fruit of Manasseh's repentance was a prayer, which is given at the end of 2 Chronicles (2 Chronicles).

You were jealous of the filthiness of Ahaab, my soul, alas, was the abode of carnal filthiness and the vessel of shameful passions, but from your depths breathe and speak to God your sins.

Ahab (Ahav)- the king of the kingdom of Israel (873-852 BC). After his marriage with Jezebel, the daughter of the pagan king of Sidon, he introduced the cult of Baal and Astarte in Israel and raised the persecution of the prophets of God. Elijah was one of the few surviving prophets. The punishment for the iniquity of Ahab and the idolatry of the people was the drought and the siege of the cities of Israel by the Syrians. Wishing to turn Ahab to repentance, the Lord miraculously granted Ahab victory over the thousands of Syrian troops. But, attributing the victory to himself and becoming proud, Ahab entered into an open war with Syria, in which, without the help of God, he was defeated and killed by an arrow shot at random by one of the Syrian soldiers (1 Kings 16:28-22:40).

Close the sky to you, soul, and the smoothness of God comprehend thee, when Elijah the Thesvitian, like Ahab, do not obey the words sometimes, but like Saraffia, nourish the prophetic soul.

Elijah the Thesbite(“my God is Yahweh”) - Elijah the prophet, was from the city of Thissba in the kingdom of Israel. He preached in Israel in the era of severe persecution from the wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel. As a punishment for idolatry, a drought began in Israel, which ended only after the prayer of the prophet Elijah. Elijah was taken up by God to Heaven in a fiery chariot (1 Kings 16:28 - 2 Kings 2:15).

Sarafiya- a resident of Sarepta (Tsarfat), a city in the south of modern Lebanon, a widow who sheltered the prophet Elijah and in the days of famine shared with him the last thing she had. For this, the widow miraculously did not run out of flour in a tub and oil in a jug, and when her son suddenly fell ill and died, the prophet Elijah resurrected him (1 Kings 17:9-24).

Elijah sometimes hit two fifty Jezebels, always destroy the student prophets, in the denunciation of Ahabovo, but run away from the imitation of two, soul, and be strengthened.

Jezebel- the wife of the wicked king Ahab, the daughter of the king of Sidon. She brought with her from Sidon the cult of Baal and Astarte and the priests of these idols. Along with King Ahab, Jezebel was a fierce persecutor of the prophets. After the execution of many of the prophets of God by Ahab, Elijah proved before the whole people that the prophets of Baal, and not of God, were false. Elijah, by prayer, brought down fire from Heaven on the victim, while the pagan priests of Jezebel could not do this. Then the people seized 850 pagan priests, who were executed by the prophet Elijah. (1 Kings 18:17-40). After the death of Ahab, fifty soldiers of Jezebel came to seize the prophet Elijah because he denounced the new king - her son Ahaziah - in idolatry. The prophet Elijah, with his prayer, brought down fire from Heaven on them and burned them. This did not frighten King Ahaziah, and he again sent fifty soldiers, who were expected by the same fate (2 Kings 1). Ahaziah and Jezebel, like Ahab, were punished for their iniquity by premature death. Ahaziah fell out of the window and died two years after the accession, his mother Jezebel was thrown out of the window by the conspirators and left her body on the street to be torn to pieces by dogs.

Canto 8

Like a robber, I cry out to Ty: remember me; like Peter, I cry highlander: weaken me, Savior; I call, like a publican, I get down, like a harlot; accept my weeping, as sometimes it is Canaanite.

Peter- Apostle Peter. After having denied Christ three times (Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18, 18:25-27), the rest life mourned his deed.

Canaanite and imitating me, have mercy on me, crying out, Son of David; I touch the edge of the robe, as if bleeding, I cry, like Martha and Mary over Lazarus.

Canaan- a Syrophoenician who, despite being a pagan, begged Christ to heal her daughter (Mark 7:24-30).

Son of David- so the Jews called Christ because by humanity He was a descendant of King David, which was predicted by the prophets in the Old Testament.

Martha and Mary- Sisters of Lazarus in Bethany, in whose house Christ stayed. In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 10:38-42) the Lord reproaches Martha for the fact that she cares about many things, but not about the main thing - instruction in the Word of God.

Lazarus- a friend of Christ, over whom one of the most glorious miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ took place. The Lord resurrected Lazarus, who died of a sudden illness, on the fourth day after his death, when Martha and Mary bitterly mourned him and laid him in a coffin, from which the stench of a decaying body was already coming out. The resurrection of Lazarus, witnessed by many people, strengthened the faith of ordinary Israelis in Jesus as the sent Messiah, and confirmed the apostles after the crucifixion of Christ in the hope of His resurrection. This event led to the fact that the next day, thousands of people greeted the Savior with palm branches during His entry into Jerusalem, and the scribes and Pharisees, seeing how many people believed in Him, finally decided to plot against Christ (John 11:1 -12:11). The memory of the righteous Lazarus is celebrated on the Saturday before the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem ("Lazarus Saturday"). After his resurrection, the righteous Lazarus lived for another thirty years and was a bishop in the city of Kitia on the island of Crete.

Canto 9

Healing ailments, Christ the Word proclaimed the good news to the poor, harmful healers, with the tax collectors, you talked with sinners, return the soul of Jairus to the daughter of the deceased with the touch of your hand.

Jairus- head of the synagogue in Capernaum, whose daughter was resurrected by the Savior (Mark 5:22-43).

Zacchaeus was the publican, but both saved himself, and the Pharisee Simon was seduced, and the harlot received permission from the One who has the strength to leave sins, south, the soul, trying to imitate.

Zacchaeus- a tax collector in the city of Jericho, through which the Savior passed. Zacchaeus so desired to see Christ that he overcame his pride and climbed a tree in order to see Him behind the crowd surrounding the Savior. But the Lord turned to Zacchaeus and, calling him by name, said that he would stay in his house. The greedy Zacchaeus repented and distributed half of his estate to the poor (Luke 19:1-10).

Simon- a Pharisee who invited Christ to dine with him and condemned Him for allowing himself to be touched by a sinner - a penitent woman who poured myrrh on Jesus' feet and wiped it with her hair. In response, the Lord rebuked the Pharisee, contrary to the Eastern law of hospitality, who did not anoint the Savior’s head with oil and did not wash His feet, and said: “Her many sins are forgiven because she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little” (Lk. 7:36-50).

Yes, not bitter, O my soul, appearing in despair, hearing the faith of the Canaanites, even if you were healed by the word of God; Son of David, save me too, cry out from the depths of your heart, as she is to Christ.

Canaan- see the explanation for the 8th song.

Thursday

Canto 2

They killed the husband, he says, into an ulcer to me and the young man into a scab, Lamech, weeping out loud; you do not tremble, O my soul, defiling the flesh and defiling the mind.

About how jealous of Lamech, the first murderer, the soul is like a husband, the mind is like a young man, like my brother, having killed the body, like Cain the murderer, with gracious aspirations.

Lamech- a descendant of Cain from one of his sisters. He is known for taking two wives for himself, and also committed murder after his ancestor - the first human killer. (Gen. 4:17-24).

Cain is the son of Adam and Eve. When Cain and his brother Abel offered a sacrifice to God, the Lord did not accept Cain's sacrifice, because it was not offered from a pure heart. But Cain did not repent, but began to envy his brother, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God and accepted by Him. By deception, Cain lured Abel into the field and killed him, becoming the first murderer on earth (Gen. 4). The clan of Cain, expelled from the rest of the descendants of Adam and Eve, subsequently died in a catastrophe that entered the Holy Scriptures under the name of the Flood.

Wait, Lord, from the Lord, fire sometimes on iniquity that angers, burned the Sodomites; you burned the fire of Gehenna, in it imashi, about the soul, burn yourself.

Sodomites- residents of Sodom, one of the five cities in the Dead Sea region, which around the twentieth century BC. were destroyed by the Lord for their sinful lives.

Thou hast stretched out thy hands to the generous God, Mary, immersed in the abyss of evil; and as if to Peter the philanthropic hand of the Divine is outstretched, your appeal is in every possible way Seeking.

Peter- a disciple of Christ, one of the 12 apostles. When the Lord came to the disciples who were in the boat on the water, Peter walked on the water towards Jesus, but, being frightened, he began to drown. The Lord stretched out his hand and saved Peter (Matthew 14:23-32).

Canto 3

Hagar of old, soul, the Egyptians now became like you, enslaved by your will and giving birth to a new Ismail, contempt.

Hagar- Sarah's slave, the wife of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. The law of that time provided that if there was no heir in the family, the elder of the family could go to the slave of his wife. The child born from her, after he was laid on his knees to the wife of the patriarch, was considered the rightful heir. If the spouses after all had their own children, the son of the slave still inherited part of the property of the patriarch. This law was used by Abraham, whose wife Sarah was barren. Hagar's son Ismail was born. For disrespect to Abraham and Sarah and insulting the son of their old age, Isaac, Ismail, together with Hagar, was expelled into the desert, where he became the founder of the Arab tribes (Gen. 16 and 21: 1-21).

You, my soul, understood the ladder of Jacob, which is from earth to heaven: why did you not have a firm rise, piety.

Jacob- Old Testament patriarch, grandson of righteous Abraham and son of Isaac. He bought from his brother Esau the birthright and the father's blessing, which Esau valued nothing and sold for lentil stew. But, thinking that in addition to the blessing, Esau also lost material wealth, he decided to take revenge on Jacob. Fleeing, Jacob stopped for the night in a field. There, in a dream, he saw a heavenly ladder on which angels ascended and descended (Gen. 28:10-22).

The priest of God and the king is alone, the likeness of Christ in the world of life, imitate in people.

This is about Melchizedek(“king of righteousness”), king and priest of the Most High God from the city of Salem (“city of peace,” presumably the ancient name of Jerusalem) around the twentieth century BC, which is mentioned in the book of Genesis (Gen. 14:14-20) . When righteous Abraham was returning after defeating one of the local leaders, Kedorlaomer, the king and priest Melchizedek greeted Abraham and blessed him, offering him bread and wine. Unlike other Old Testament righteous people, the book of Genesis does not give the genealogy of Melchizedek, nor does it say when he was born.

In Psalm 109, Psalmist David calls Christ a priest after the order of Melchizedek: “The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 109:4).

The apostle Paul explains this comparison in his epistle to the Hebrews: “For Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, he who met Abraham and blessed him, returning after the defeat of the kings, to whom Abraham separated even a tithe from everything, - firstly, according to signification [name] the king of righteousness, and then the king of Salem, that is, the king of the world, without a father, without a mother, without a genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, like the Son of God, remains a priest forever ”(Heb. 7: 1-3).

Do not wake up the pillar of the angel, the soul, returning back, let the image of Sodom frighten you, save yourself in Sigor.

I remember the story of Lot's wife. During the flight of Lot's family from the city of Sodom, on which the Lord poured fire and brimstone, Lot's wife disobeyed the request of the Angels of God not to look back. She looked back, out of simple curiosity to look at the death of thousands of people, and perhaps regretting the depraved Sodom she had left behind. Both of them testified to her sinfulness. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt - perhaps for the reason that everything that stopped its movement at the time of the catastrophe was instantly covered with salt and ash and solidified.

Seagor("small") - a city-state that was part of a coalition of five cities along with Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma and Sevoim. He was spared by the Lord, Lot took refuge in him.

Canto 4

With royal dignity, a crown and purple robes, a man of many names and a righteous one, boiling with wealth and flocks, suddenly riches, the glory of the kingdom, having become impoverished, deprived.

If he was righteous, and more blameless than all, and not escaping the flatterer and the network; But you, sin-loving being, cursed soul, what will you do, if anything from the unknown happens to come to you?

We are talking about Job, the Old Testament patriarch, who, due to the action of the devil, lost his children, his estate and was subjected to an incurable disease - leprosy. Righteous Job showed firm faith in God in trials. The Lord restored Job to health and gave him more children. The story of the righteous Job, who is called the long-suffering by the Church, is described in the Old Testament book of the same name.

Canto 5

If you are a deep hoarder, Master, pour out water from your most pure veins, yes, like a Samaritan woman, do not drink to anyone, you exude a thirst for life.

Samaritan- a resident of Samaria in northern Israel, from whom Christ asked for water, contrary to the Jewish custom, not to communicate with Samaritans who professed a different faith. By this He surprised the woman and prompted her to talk with Him. The Lord revealed to the Samaritan woman her secret sins and thereby forced her to repent of them. Through the preaching of the Samaritan woman, many Samaritans came to believe in Christ (John 4:1-42). According to legend, the Samaritan woman bore the name Photinia. After the ascension of the Savior, Photinia continued preaching about Him among the pagans. Together with her sons and sisters, she was martyred in Rome during the reign of the cruel emperor Nero, in 66 AD. The memory of the Holy Martyr Photinia the Samaritan is celebrated by the Church on April 2 and on the fifth Sunday after Pascha.

Siloam, may my tears be mine, Lord Lord, may I wash even the apples of my heart, and I see Thee, smart Light is eternal.

Siloam- a body of water in Jerusalem, which has survived to this day. According to the Gospel of John, the Lord, having healed a man blind from birth, sends him to wash his eyes in the font of Siloam (John 9). The sixth Sunday after Easter is dedicated to the memory of this event, which represents the spiritual healing of a person from congenital blindness by sin.

Canto 6

Arise and fight, like Jesus Amalek, carnal passions, and the Gaonites, flattering thoughts, ever victorious.

Joshua- the leader of the Israelites on their way to the promised land during the exodus from Egypt. After the death of the prophet Moses, he led the holy war of the Israelites against the wicked pagan tribes that inhabited Palestine.

Amalek, Amalekites- a people who since ancient times occupied the lands between the Sinai Peninsula and the southwestern part of Palestine, to the borders of Egypt and Arabia. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. A battle took place between them, in which the prayer of the prophet Moses helped the Israelites win. When Moses raised his hands in prayer, the Jews won, and when his hands (and with them prayer) weakened, the Amalekites took over. The uplifted cross-shaped hands of Moses are a type of the victorious Cross of the Lord (Ex. 17:8-16). The last mention of the Amalekites in the Old Testament is found in 2 Kings (chapter 8), which tells that King David conquered the lands and gold of the Amalekites.

Gavaonites- residents of the Palestinian pagan city of Gibeon, which the Lord commanded to destroy the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua for iniquity. Having learned about this formidable command, the cunning Gibeonites came to the Israeli camp under the guise of poor wanderers from distant lands and forced the Israelites to swear by God that they would not be touched. When the Jews found out that in fact these people were the inhabitants of Gibeon, they could no longer harm them, since they took an oath. The Israelites left the Gibeonites in the camp as servants - they made them carry water and chop wood.

Canto 7

My days have disappeared, like the dream of one who rises; the same, like Hezekiah, I will descend on my bed, kiss my belly in the summer. But which Isaiah will appear to you, soul, if not God of all?

Hezekiah(“God strengthened”) - the Jewish king (752-698 BC), is revered by the Church in the rank of the righteous. He was an ardent opponent of idolatry. Through the prayer of King Hezekiah, the Angel of God struck down the Assyrian soldiers who had come to besiege Jerusalem. (2 Kings 18:13-37-19). The Lord sent His prophet Isaiah to the mortally ill Hezekiah to warn the king of his approaching death. But King Hezekiah, not wanting to die, prayed so fervently and tearfully that the Lord extended his earthly life for another 15 years. In confirmation that the king would not die, but would recover, the prophet Isaiah showed him a sign - the shadow from the sun on the steps of the royal palace moved ten steps back (2 Kings 20:1-11).

Isaiah("God save") - the prophet of the Kingdom of Judah (765-695 BC) during the reign of the pious king Hezekiah, the author of a prophetic book, which is called the Old Testament Gospel.

The book of the prophet Isaiah contains prophecies about the birth of Christ from the Virgin (Is. 7:14) in Galilee (Is. 9) from the family of King David (Is. 11 - about the Branch that will come from the root of Jesse and David, and about the gifts of the Spirit on Him ), as well as about the sufferings of Christ - about the exaltation of the Lord's mountain - Golgotha, to which all peoples will gather (Is. 2, 1-4), about the meaning of Christ's sufferings. The 42nd, 49th, 50th, 52-53rd and 61st chapters of the book of the prophet Isaiah so accurately testify about Christ, His Crucifixion, Resurrection and the coming Second Coming, that they are called the fifth Passionate Gospel. Isaiah also predicted the coming of the Forerunner of the Lord, John, “a voice crying in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3).

According to church tradition, the prophet Isaiah ended his life as a martyr - he was executed for his preaching during the reign of Hezekiah's successor - the wicked king Manasseh.

I buried Your image and corrupted Your commandment, all goodness was darkened, and extinguished with passions, Savior, light. But generous, reward me, as David sings, joy.

Turn, repent, open the hidden, say to God, all leading: You are my secret weight, the only Savior. But Thyself have mercy on me, as David sings, according to Thy mercy.

Like David sings- the words of the 50th psalm of the king and psalmist David are quoted, which he wrote as a prayer of repentance after his fall, when he sent the warrior Uriah to certain death in order to take away his wife Bathsheba: “Return to me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the sovereign Spirit” (Ps. 50:14), “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy mercies blot out my iniquities” (Ps. 50:3). This psalm is read daily during worship and in home morning prayers as an example of penitential prayer.

Canto 8

Seeing the miracle again, truly horrified by the divine in you, mother, Zosima: the angel is more sighted in the flesh and filled with horror, singing Christ forever.

Zosima- a reverend, a Palestinian hermit who witnessed the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River as the reverend Mary of Egypt on dry land and gave her a Christian parting word.

As if from the turning of the scarlet, the most pure, clever scarlet of Emmanuel inside in your womb, the flesh wasted away. We truly revere thee the Mother of God.

Emmanuel(“God is with us”) is the allegorical name of the Son of God, which is found in the prophet Isaiah: “So the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will take and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name: Immanuel” (Is. 7:14 ).

By day of the week

Since ancient times, the first week of Great Lent has been called the "dawn of abstinence" and "clean week." This week, the Church urges her children to get out of that sinful state into which the whole human race fell due to the intemperance of our forefathers, having lost heavenly bliss, and which each of us multiplies by our own sins, - to get out through faith, prayer, humility and God-pleasing fasting. This is the time of repentance, says the Church, this is the day of salvation, entrance of fasting: be awake to the soul, and close the passions of the entrance, looking to the Lord (from the first song of the triode at Matins on Monday of the first week of Great Lent).

Like the Old Testament Church, which especially sanctified the first and last days of some great holidays, Orthodox Christians, prepared and inspired by the motherly suggestions of their Church, from ancient times, according to its charter, spend the first and last week of Great Lent with special zeal and severity.
During the first week, especially lengthy services are performed and the feat of bodily abstinence is much more rigorous than on the following days of Holy Lent. On the first four days of Great Lent, Great Compline is served with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, who, as it were, sets the "tone", determines the entire subsequent tonality, the "melody" of Great Lent. During the first week of Lent, the Canon is divided into four parts. The wonderful creation of St. Andrew of Crete is fully brought to our attention on Thursday (more precisely, on Wednesday evening) of the fifth week of the Holy Fortecost, so that we, seeing the approaching end of Lent, do not become lazy in spiritual exploits, do not become careless, do not forget and do not stop strictly following everything behind you.
Each verse of the Great Canon is accompanied by the psalm refrain Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me! Several troparia are added to the canon in honor of the author himself - St. Andrew and Rev. Mary of Egypt. Even during the lifetime of St. Andrew, the Church of Jerusalem introduced the Great Canon into use. Departing in 680 for the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, St. Andrei brought there and made known his great creation and the life of St. Mary of Egypt, written by his compatriot and teacher, Patriarch Sophronius of Jerusalem. The life of an Egyptian ascetic is read together with the Great Canon at Matins on Wednesday of the fifth week of Great Lent.
Of all the prayers of Great Lent, the Great Canon strikes the soul more than any other. The Great Canon is a marvel of church hymnography, these are texts of amazing power and poetic beauty. The canon was compiled in the 7th century by St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, who also compiled many other canons that the Church uses throughout the liturgical year. The church called this canon great, not so much because of its volume (it contains 250 troparia or verses), but because of its inner dignity and strength.
The Great Canon is a conversation between the penitent and his own soul. Here's how it starts:
From where shall I begin weeping of my accursed life of deeds? How shall I begin, O Christ, the present weeping? But it is like a merciful give me forgiveness of sins - where do I start to repent, because it is so difficult.
Then follows the wonderful troparion:
Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh. Confess to the builder of all and remain the rest of the previous speechlessness, and bring tears to God in repentance.
Amazing words, here both Christian anthropology and asceticism: the flesh must also participate in repentance, as an integral part of human nature.
This conversation with the soul, its constant persuasions, calls to repent, reach its climax in the kontakion, which is sung after the 6th ode of the Canon:
My soul, my soul, get up, why are you sleeping? The end draws near, and the Imashi become confused; Rise up, then, may Christ God have mercy on you, who is everywhere, and fulfills everything.
These words are pronounced, addressing himself, by the great lamp of the Church, the one to whom the expression used by him regarding St. Mary of Egypt, who really was "an angel in the flesh." And so he turned to himself, reproaching himself for the fact that his soul was sleeping. If he saw himself as such, then how should we see ourselves? Immersed not only in a deep spiritual sleep, but in some kind of mortification...
When we listen to the words of the kontakion from the canon of St. Andrew of Crete, we need to ask ourselves: what should I do? If a person properly fulfilled God's law, his life would be filled with a completely different content. That is why the Church offers us this deep, penetrating Lenten canon of repentance, so that we look deeper into our souls and see what is there. And the soul is sleeping ... This is our grief and our misfortune.
In a wonderful prayer, Rev. Ephraim the Syrian, which we repeat throughout Great Lent, says: Lord King, grant me to see my sins! - I don’t see them, my soul fell asleep, dozed off and I don’t even see these sins, as I should. How can I repent of them! And that's why you need to focus more on yourself during the days of Great Lent, evaluating your life and its content by the evangelical measure, and not by any other.
The main features of the Great Canon include a very wide use of images and plots from the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testament. It is a pity that we are not familiar with the Holy Bible. For many of us, the names of the people mentioned in the Great Canon mean nothing, because we do not know the Bible well.
Meanwhile, the Bible is not only the history of the Israeli people, but also a grandiose chronicle of the human soul - the soul that fell and rose before the face of God, which sinned and repented. If we look at the lives of the people mentioned in the Bible, we will see that each of them is presented not so much as a historical character, not so much as a person who has done certain deeds, but as a person standing in the face of the Living God. Historical and other merits of a person fade into the background, what remains most important is whether a person has remained faithful to God or not. If we read the Bible and the Great Canon from such an angle, we will see that much of what is said about the ancient righteous and sinners is nothing but a record of our soul, our falls and rebellions, our sins and repentance.
One ecclesiastical writer very opportunely remarks on this matter: “If in our day so many find it (the Great Canon) boring and not relevant to our life, this is because their faith is not fed from the source of Holy Scripture, which for the Fathers of the Church was the very source of their faith. We must again learn to perceive the world as it is revealed to us in the Bible, learn to live in this biblical world; and no better way to learn this, how precisely through church worship, which not only transmits to us the biblical teaching, but also reveals to us the biblical way of life” (Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent, p. 97).
So, in the Great Canon, the whole Old Testament and New Testament history passes before us in persons and events. The author points to the fall of the forefathers and the corruption of the primitive world, to the virtues of Noah and the impenitence and bitterness of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, resurrects before us the memory of pious patriarchs and valiant men: Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Jephay, presents to our eyes the piety of King David, his fall and tender repentance, points to the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel and to the great examples of repentance - the non-nevites, Manasseh, a harlot and a prudent thief, and especially Mary of Egypt, repeatedly stops the reader at the Cross and the Holy Sepulcher - everywhere teaching repentance, humility, prayer, selflessness . On these examples, the soul is constantly being exhorted - remember this righteous man, he pleased God so much, remember this righteous man, he pleased him so much - you did nothing of the kind.
Some characters of the Bible are spoken of in a positive sense, others in a negative sense, some need to be imitated, and some do not.
The charioteer Elijah, the chariot of virtues entered, as if into Heaven, sometimes hovering above the earthly. Therefore, my soul, think of the sunrise - think, my soul, about the ascent of the Old Testament righteous.
You imitated Gehazi, accursed, always a bad mind, soul, put aside his love of money for old age, run away from the fire of hell, retreating from your evil ones - at least in old age, reject the love of money of Gehazi, soul, and leaving your atrocities, avoid the fire of hell.
As you can see, the texts are quite difficult, so it is necessary to prepare in advance for the perception of the Great Canon.
In the final song of the first day, after all the memories, troparia of amazing power follow:
The law is exhausted, the Gospel is celebrating, the writing is all negligent in you, the prophets are exhausted, and all the righteous word: your scabs, about the soul, multiplying, there is no doctor who heals you - there is nothing to remember from the Old Testament, everything is useless. I will give you examples from the New Testament, maybe then you will repent:
I cite a new scripture of instruction, introducing you, soul, to tenderness: be jealous of the righteous, but turn away the sinners, and propitiate Christ with prayers and fastings and purity and reverence.
Finally, the spiritual writer, having presented everything of the Old Testament, ascends to the Life-Giver, the Savior of our souls, exclaiming like a robber: Remember me!, crying like a publican: God be merciful to me a sinner! son of David!, shedding tears, instead of peace, on the head and feet of Christ, like a harlot, and weeping bitterly over herself, like Martha and Mary over Lazarus.
Further in the Canon, it is emphasized that the most terrible sinners have repented and will come to the Kingdom of Heaven before us: Christ became human, calling robbers and harlots to repentance: soul, repent, the door of the Kingdom has already been opened, and they anticipate the Pharisee and publican and adulterer repentant.
When, in a kind of spiritual horror, following the miracles of the Savior from afar and being touched by every feat of His earthly life, the author of the Canon reaches the terrible slaughter of Christ, the strength of his heart becomes impoverished and, together with all creation, he falls silent on the trembling Golgotha, at the last once exclaiming: My Judge and my Vedic, even if you come with the angels, judge the world of everything, with your merciful eye, then, having seen me, have mercy and have mercy on me, Jesus, who has sinned more than any human nature.
The Great Canon, moving us to repentance by all means, in the last troparia, as it were, reveals to us its “methodology”: how I talked with you, my soul, reminded you of the righteous of the Old Testament, and cited New Testament images for you as an example, and all in vain: they are not the same Thou, soul, was jealous of neither deed nor life: but woe to you, when you will be judged - woe to you when you appear in judgment!
Listening to the words of the Great Canon, peering into the history of the lives of people who fled from God, but were overtaken by Him, people who found themselves in the abyss, but whom God brought out of there, let's think about how God brings each of us out of the abyss of sin and despair in order to that we may bear to Him the fruits of repentance.

In detail: canon of the penitent Andrew of Crete in Russian - from all open sources and different corners world on the site site for our dear readers.

1. Monday of the first week of Great Lent
2. Tuesday of the first week of Great Lent
3. Wednesday of the first week of Great Lent
4. Thursday of the first week of Great Lent
5. Wednesday (Evening) of the Fifth Week of Great Lent

Audio and Video:

• Audio recordings of the Great Canon
• Video broadcast from the temple

Interpretations:

• Who is who in the Canon of Andrew of Crete? Maria Tsyrlina
• Great Canon Protopres. Alexander Schmemann
• Church-liturgical edification according to the Great Canon, ep. Benjamin (Milov)
• Great Compline with the canon of Andrei of Crete M.S. Krasovitskaya
• Canon of Repentance in verse transcription by Priest Gabriel Pakatsky
• The Great Canon: History and Iconographic Parallels by Prot. N. Pogrebnyak
• The Place of the Great Canon in the Songwriting Heritage of the Church Nun Ignatia
• Lessons of repentance according to the biblical legends of ep. Vissarion (Nechaev)
• School of repentance: Scholia on the margins of the Great Canon of the ig. Philip (Simonov)

Translations:

• Translation of Hieromonk Ambrose
• Translation of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov)
• Translation in four literary versions by archbishop. Jonathan
• Translated by Bishop A. Mileant
• Translation of Hieromartyr Theophan Adamenko
• Translation by N. I. Kedrov
• Translation by Vladimir Kovaldzhi
• Translation of the choir director Anna Vinogradova
• A new translation into Church Slavonic by Bishop. Augustine (Gulyanitsky)
• Great Canon in Church Slavonic
• Great Canon in Greek

Tests:

• Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
• Test 1 for knowledge of the Great Canon
• Test 2 for knowledge of the Great Canon
• Test 3 for knowledge of the Great Canon
• Test 4 for knowledge of the Great Canon

The Great Canon is an outstanding liturgical work of a touching, repentant nature, read in the Church during divine services on certain days of Great Lent. The fundamental role in writing the text of the canon belongs to St. Andrew of Crete.

Why is the Great Canon named after Saint Andrew of Crete?

The original text of the Great Canon, composed by a Cretan saint, was later supplemented by other Christian authors.

Despite the fact that this work in itself was of high artistic merit, had a high theological and spiritual and moral significance, subsequent church writers found how to enrich and decorate it, bringing it to the level of the highest liturgical standard.

It's believed that original version was written by Andrew of Crete under the influence of personal experiences and searches, deep penitential contrition. It is claimed that the canon was written by him for himself.

According to researchers, the original composition did not have a clear division into songs and did not contain later irmos. It is alleged that at one time the outstanding father of the Church, the Monk John of Damascus, added the irmoses, and the Monks Theodore and Joseph the Studites added troparia: in honor of St. Andrew himself and in honor of the Monk Mary of Egypt.

Why is the canon called Great?

The fundamental difference between the Great Canon and others is the volume of its content: in the Great Canon there are up to 250 troparia (see: Canon).

Meanwhile, he is called the Great not only for the vastness of the content, but also for the poetic perfection, the depth and sublimity of the material presented, the penetratingness of the displayed feelings.

Historically, the line of the canon unfolds along the entire history of the Old and New Testaments: from the life of Adam and Eve through the era of patriarchs, kings and prophets to the life of Christ and His judges.

Thematically, the Great Canon touches on such important sections of the Orthodox Christian teaching as dogmatic, moral, ascetic, highlights the abomination and danger of sin, and reveals the beauty of virtue.

Beginning with words expressing hope and hope in God as a Helper and Patron, the canon reproduces the cry of a penitent soul for sins. The theme of deep personal repentance is combined with the theme of the relationship between God and man in general, and together with the theme of personal transformation and deification. In this way, each individual pilgrimage is placed in an integral connection with the destinies of the world.

The canon gives many edifying examples borrowed from the lives of participants in biblical history: from vileness, impiety, lawlessness to contrition of the heart, selflessness and Christian feat. At the same time, episodes of the Old Testament history are harmoniously intertwined with fragments of the New Testament, appeals to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the exposure of the spiritual state of sinners and the righteous, through outlining their relationship with the Creator, the canon sets up the listener or reader for a thoughtful reflection on their own lives, immersion in moral introspection; warns against evil, focuses on good, jealousy for virtue; teaches not to forget about Divine Truth and Mercy, Longsuffering and Love.

The main goal of the creative impulse of St. Andrew and the authors who supplemented the text was to dispose the sinner to heartfelt prayer, unfeigned, sincere repentance, firm, unshakable hope in God, to awaken (or strengthen) the desire to ascend from the state of spiritual darkness to the state of holiness ; from neglect of God's grace to trust, love and complete obedience to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The use of the canon in worship.

There is a tradition that the widespread church practice of reading the canon during the divine service was formed and established after the strongest earthquake that occurred in Constantinople in 790.

Then, protecting themselves from the action of the earthquake, the nuns, trusting in the Lord, read this canon in private. Over time, other Christians began to resort to it, using it in the days of the onset of disasters, and then it began to be read widely during Great Lent.

In the modern tradition, the Great Canon is read during divine services in separate parts: on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week, on Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent.

Saint Andrew of Crete Patristic Library

The Great Penitential Canon of Andrew of Crete is read at the very beginning of Great Lent - four parts in the first four days.

Full text of the Canon of Andrew of Crete

Table of contents [Show]

Canon of Andrew of Crete by day:

Canon of Andrew of Crete on Monday of the first week of Great Lent

Canon of Andrew of Crete on Tuesday of the first week of Great Lent

Canon of Andrew of Crete Wednesday of the First Week of Great Lent

Canon of Andrew of Crete on Thursday of the first week of Great Lent

The text of the canon, read on Monday of the First Week of Great Lent, is given with a parallel translation into Russian. The translation is in italics.

Canto 1

Irmos: Helper and Patron be to my salvation, This is my God, and I will glorify Him, the God of my Father, and I will exalt Him: glorious be glorified.

(Ex. 15:1-2)

From where shall I begin to lament my accursed life of deeds? How shall I begin, O Christ, the present weeping? But, like a merciful one, give me forgiveness of sins.

Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh, confess to the Creator of all, and remain the rest of the former speechlessness, and bring tears to God in repentance.

Jealous of the primordial Adam of crime, know yourself naked from God and the ever-present Kingdom and sweetness, sin for my sake.

Alas for me, cursed soul, why have you become like the first Eve? I saw that you were evil, and you were wounded by a highlander, and you touched a tree, and you tasted boldly wordless food.

Instead of Eve, the sensual, mentally we were Eve, in the flesh a passionate thought, show the sweet and taste the ever-bitter drink.

It was worthy to be expelled from Eden, as if not keeping Thy one, Savior, Adam's commandment; but what if I suffer, always brushing aside your animal words?

Glory, Trinity: O Presence Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take the burden from me a heavy sinful one, and like a merciful one, give me tears of tenderness.

And now, the Theotokos: Mother of God, Hope and Intercession of You who sing, take the heavy sinful burden from me, and like the Mistress of the Pure, repentant, accept me.

Canto 2

Irmos: Look up, heaven, and I will proclaim, and I will sing of Christ, who came from the Virgin in the flesh.

Take heed, heaven, and I will speak, inspire the earth with a voice that repents to God and sings of Him.

Hear me, O God, my Savior, with Your merciful eye, and accept my warm confession.

I have sinned more than all people, I have only sinned against you; but, as God, Savior, have mercy on your creation. (1 Tim. 1:15)

Imagining the ugliness of my passions, gracious aspirations, ruining the beauty of the mind.

The storm will overcome the evil ones, merciful Lord; but like Peter, stretch out your hand to me.

I defiled my robe of flesh, and turned the hedgehog in the image, Savior, and in the likeness.

Darkening the spiritual beauty of passions with sweets, and in every possible way I created dust all over the mind.

I have now torn my first clothes, south of me, the Creator from the beginning, and from there I lie naked.

Tears of a harlot, Bountiful, and I offer, cleanse me, Savior, with Your goodness.

I gazed at the beauty of the garden, and was seduced by the mind; and from there I lie naked and put to shame.

Delasha on my back all the rulers of passions, continuing their iniquity on me.

(Ps. 129:3) Glory, Trinity: The One in three Persons, I sing the God of all, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And now, the Theotokos: Most Pure Theotokos Virgin, One All-Perfect, pray diligently, in a hedgehog we will be saved.

Canto 3

Irmos: On the immovable, Christ, the stone of Your commandments, confirm my thoughts.

Sometimes the Lord rained fire from the Lord, first they hit the land of Sodom.

On the mountain, save your soul, like Lot, and steal it to Sigor.

(Gen. 19:22-23)

Run away from the burning, O soul, run away from the burning of Sodom, run away from the corruption of the Divine flame.

I have sinned thee alone, I have sinned more than all, Christ the Savior, do not despise me.

You are the Good Shepherd, seek me the lamb, and do not despise me who has gone astray.

(John 10:11-14)

You are sweet Jesus, You are my Creator, in You, Savior, I will be justified.

I confess to You, Savior, I have sinned, I have sinned Thee, but weaken, leave me, as if you are compassionate.

Glory, Trinity: O Trinity Unity God, save us from charms, and temptations, and circumstances.

And now, the Theotokos: Rejoice, God-pleasing womb, rejoice, throne of the Lord, rejoice, Mother of our Life.

Canto 4

Do not despise your deeds, do not leave your creation, Justice. If only I have sinned like a man, more than any man, Lover of mankind; but imashi, as the Lord of all, the power to forgive sins.

(Matt. 9:6. Mark 2:10)

The end is approaching, soul, the end is approaching, and carelessly, neither prepare yourself, time is shortening, rise, there is a Judge near the door. Like a dream, like a color, the time of life flows: why are we restless in vain?

(Matt. 24:33. Mark 13:29. Luke 21:31)

Rise up, O my soul, think of your deeds that you have already done, and bring this before your face, and let out drops of your tears; greet with boldness of action and thought to Christ, and be justified.

Do not be in the life of sin, no deed, no malice, even if I, Savior, have not sinned, in mind and word, and will, and proposal, and thought, and deed having sinned, as if no one else ever.

From here the former was condemned, from everywhere the accursed one from his conscience was exalted, even if nothing in the world is most necessary; Judge, my Deliverer and Vedcha, spare and deliver, and save me Thy servant.

The ladder, which was seen in ancient times as great in the patriarchs, is an indication, my soul, of an active ascent, a reasonable ascension; if you want to live by deed, and by reason, and by sight, be renewed.

The heat of the day endured hardships for the sake of the patriarch, and carry the filth of the night, creating supplies for every day, shepherd, work hard, work, and combine two wives.

(Gen. 31; 7:40)

Understand my two wives, the deed and the mind in sight, Leah, the deed, as if many children, Rachel, as the mind, as if laborious; for apart from works, neither deed nor vision, soul, will be corrected.

Glory, Trinity: Inseparable Being, Inseparable Persons, I theologize Thee, the Trinity One Deity, as the One-Kingdom and Throne, I cry out to You a great song, in the highest chanting hymns.

Canto 5

Irmos: Morning from the night, Lover of mankind, enlighten me, I pray, and guide me to Thy commandments, and teach me, Savior, to do Thy will.

(Ps. 62:2; 119:35)

In the night my life passed away forever, for it was darkness, and the darkness was deep for me, the night of sin, but like the day of a son, Savior, show me.

Reuben, imitating the accursed Az, doing lawless and lawless advice against God Most High, defiling my bed, as if he were a father.

(Gen. 35:22; 49:3-4)

I confess to you, Christ the King: I have sinned, I have sinned, as if the brothers who had sold before Joseph, the fruit of purity and chastity.

From relatives, a righteous soul contacted, sold into a sweet work, in the image of the Lord; but you, soul, sold yourself to your evil ones.

Imitate Joseph's righteous and chaste mind, cursed and unskillful soul, and do not be defiled by wordless aspirations, always lawless.

And if Joseph sometimes lives in the ditch, Lord Lord, but in the image of Your burial and rising, what else will I bring to You when I bring chintz?

Glory, Trinity: Thee, Trinity, we glorify the One God: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, Father, Son and Soul, a Simple Being, ever worshiped by the Unity.

And now, the Theotokos: From Thee put on my mixture, imperishable, husbandless Mother Devo, God who created the eyelids, and unite human nature to Yourself.

Canto 6

Tears, Savior, with my eyes and from the depths of my sighing I bring clean, crying out to my heart: God, I have sinned, cleanse me.

You have evaded, soul, from your Lord, like Dathan and Aviron, but have mercy, call from the hell of the underworld, so that the abyss of the earth will not cover you.

(Num. 16:32) Like a youth, a soul, enraged, you became like Ephraim, like a chamois from the snares, save your life, putting your mind and eyesight into action.

(Jer. 31:18. Hos. 10:11)

Let the hand of Moses assure our souls how God can whiten and cleanse a leper's life, and do not despair of yourself, if you are a leper.

(Ex. 4:6-7) Glory, Trinity: I am the Trinity is Simple, Inseparable, Separate Personally, and I am united by nature, the Father speaks, and the Son, and the Divine Spirit.

And now, the Theotokos: Thy womb of God give birth to us, imagined for us; Him, as the Creator of all, pray, Mother of God, that by Your prayers we will be justified.

Lord, have mercy (three times). Glory, and now:

Kontakion, tone 6:

My soul, my soul, get up, why are you sleeping? The end draws near, and the Imashi become confused; Rise up, then, may Christ God have mercy on you, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything.

Canto 7

I have sinned, I have sinned, and I have rejected Your commandment, as if I had been made in sins, and I have applied scabs to myself with ulcers; but have mercy on me yourself, for you are compassionate, God of the fathers.

The secret of my heart is confession to You, my Judge, see my humility, see my sorrow, and pay attention to my judgment now, and have mercy on me yourself, as you are merciful, God of the fathers.

(Ps. 37:19; 24:18; 34:23)

Saul sometimes, like destroying his father, soul, donkey, suddenly find a kingdom for prostitution; but watch, do not forget yourselves, your bestial lusts are more arbitrary than the Kingdom of Christ.

(1 Samuel 9:1-27; 10:1)

David is sometimes the Godfather, if you sin purely, my soul, he was shot with an arrow having been adultery, but he was captured with a copy of being murdered by languor; but you yourself are ill with the gravest deeds, with self-willed aspirations.

(2 Sam. 11:14-15)

Combine, then, David sometimes iniquity, iniquity, but dissolving fornication in murder, repentance, pure display of abie; but you yourself, the most crafty soul, did it without repenting to God.

David sometimes imagine, having written off a song like on an icon, the deed of which he denounces, hedgehog, calling: have mercy on me, for you, God alone, have sinned all, cleanse me yourself.

And now, the Theotokos: We sing to Thee, bless Thee, bow to Thee, the Mother of God, as if the Indivisible Trinity gave birth to the One Christ God, and You yourself opened thee to us, who exist on earth, Heavenly.

Canto 8

Having sinned, Savior, have mercy, raise my mind to conversion, receive me who repents, have mercy crying out: I have sinned Thee, save me, transgressors, have mercy on me.

The charioteer Elijah entered the chariot of virtues, as if into heaven, sometimes hovering above the earthly; therefore, my soul, think of the sunrise.

(2 Kings 2:11)

Elisha sometimes received mercy on Elijah, received a special grace from God; but you, O my soul, did not partake of sowing grace for intemperance.

(2 Kings 2:9, 12-13)

The stream of Jordan is the first mercy of Elijah Elisha a hundred everywhere and everywhere; but you, O my soul, did not partake of sowing grace for intemperance.

(2 Kings 2:14)

Somanitida sometimes establish a righteous soul, with a good disposition; you did not bring you into the house, neither strange nor traveler. The same halls are thrown out, weeping.

Geeziev was imitated by the accursed mind, always a bad mind, soul, whose love of money put aside for old age; flee the fire of hell, having retreated from your evil ones.

(2 Kings 5:20-27)

And now, the Theotokos: As if from the conversion of the scarlet, the Most Pure, clever scarlet of Emmanuel, the flesh has been drained inside in Your womb. We truly revere thee the Mother of God.

Canto 9

The mind is aggravated, the body is sick, the spirit is sick, the word is exhausted, life is dead, the end is at the door. The same, my cursed soul, what will you do when the Judge comes to test yours?

Moses bring the world to you, soul, and from that all the Holy Scripture, which will tell you the righteous and the unrighteous; from them the second, O soul, imitated thou, and not the first, having sinned against God.

The Law is exhausted, the Gospel celebrates, the Scripture is all negligent in you, the prophets are exhausted and all the righteous word; your scabs, O soul, multiplied, I do not exist as a doctor who heals you.

I bring to you a new Scripture of instruction, introducing you, soul, to tenderness; jealous of the righteous, but turn away the sinners and propitiate Christ with prayers and fasting, and purity, and reverence.

Christ became human, calling thieves and harlots to repentance; soul, repent, the door of the kingdom has already been opened, and the Pharisees and publicans and adulterers who repent are anticipating it.

(Matt. 11:12, 21:31. Luke 16:16)

Christ became human, having partaken of the flesh with me, and fulfill the whole spruce of nature with your will, except for sin, the likeness of you, about the soul, and the image of foreshadowing His condescension.

Save Christ the Magi, convoking shepherds, the baby of the multitude of the martyrs, glorify the elders and the old widows, even if you were not jealous of the soul, neither deed nor life, but woe to you will always be judged.

(Matt. 2:1-16; Luke 2:4-8ff; Luke 2:25-26ff; Luke 2:36-38)

Having fasted the Lord forty days in the wilderness, follow the rush, showing the human; soul, do not become lazy, if an enemy attacks you, by prayer and fasting, let it be reflected from your feet.

(Ex. 34:28. Matt. 4:2. Luke 4:2. Mark 1:13)

Glory, Trinity: We will glorify the Father, we will exalt the Son, we will faithfully worship the Divine Spirit, the Inseparable Trinity, the Unit in essence, like the Light, and the Light, and the Life, and the Life, life-giving and enlightening the ends.

Chorus: Reverend Father Andrew, pray to God for us.

Andrew, honest and most blessed Father, pastor of Crete, do not stop praying for those who sing to you: let us be delivered from all anger and sorrow, and corruption, and immeasurable sins, who honor your memory faithfully.

The text of the canon, read on Tuesday of the First Week of Great Lent, is given with a parallel translation into Russian. The translation is in italics.

Canto 1

Irmos: Helper and Patron be to my salvation, This is my God, and I will glorify Him, the God of my father, and I will exalt Him: glorious be glorified.

(Ex. 15:1-2)

Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.

Cain's murder has passed, by the will of the former murderer of the conscience of the soul, reviving the flesh and fighting against me with my crafty deeds.

Abel, Jesus, not like the truth, I did not bring you a pleasant gift when, neither deeds of the Divine, nor a pure sacrifice, nor a blameless life.

Like Cain and we, a cursed soul, all the Creator of the deeds are foul, and a vicious sacrifice, and an indecent life brought together: we will be condemned the same.

Breezy Creator of life, gave me flesh and bones, and breath, and life; but, O my Creator, my Deliverer and Judge, repenting, receive me.

I inform Thee, Savior, sins, even deeds, and the soul and body of my ulcer, even inside the murderous thoughts of robbery laying on me.

Even if I have sinned, Savior, but we know, as if you are a Lover of mankind, you punish mercifully and are merciful warmly, tearing down and flowing, like a father, calling on the prodigal.

Canto 2

Irmos: Look up, Heaven, and I will proclaim and sing of Christ, who came from the Virgin in the flesh.

It is a sin for me to sew together skin garments, exposing me to the first richly woven clothes.

I am overlaid with a robe of cold, like fig leaves, in denunciation of my autocratic passions.

Dressed in a shameful robe and bloody jelly current of a passionate and lovable belly.

I fell into passionate destruction and into material aphids, and from now until now the enemy has been vexing me.

A loving and loving life of intemperance, Savior, prefers, now I am burdened with a heavy burden.

I adorn the carnal image of filthy thoughts with various taxation, and I am condemned.

He diligently cared for the outer decoration, despising the inner tabernacle of God.

The cellar of the first image is kindness, Savior, passions, even if you sometimes exact a drachma, find it.

I have sinned, like a harlot crying out to You: I have sinned to You alone, like peace, accept, Savior, and my tears.

Cleanse me, like a publican crying out to Thee, Savior, cleanse me: no one else who is from Adam, like I, have sinned with You.

Glory, Trinity: One Thee in Three Faces, I sing the God of all, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And now, the Theotokos: Most Pure Theotokos Virgin, One All-Perfect, pray diligently, in a hedgehog we will be saved.

Canto 3

The source of life is tied to Thee, the death of the Destroyer, and I cry out to Thee from my heart before the end: I have sinned, cleanse and save me.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned Thee, cleanse me: there is no one who has sinned against men, whom I have not transcended in sin.

Under Noah, the Savior, whoring imitations, they inherited condemnation in the flood of immersion.

(Gen. 6:1-17)

Hama onago soul, imitating the parricide, shame did not cover the sincere, returning back in vain.

(Gen. 9:22-23)

Inflammation, like Lot, run, my soul, run away from sin Sodom and Gomorrah, run the flame of every wordless desire.

(Gen. 19:15-17)

Have mercy, Lord, have mercy on me, I cry to Thee, when You come with Your Angels, repay everyone according to the property of deeds.

Glory, Trinity: Trinity Simple, Uncreated, Beginningless Essence, Hypostases sung in the Trinity, save us by faith worshiping Your power.

Canto 4

Irmos: Hearing the prophet your coming, Lord, and being afraid, as if you wanted to be born from the Virgin and appear as a man, and saying: I heard Your hearing and feared, glory to Your power, Lord.

Watch out, O my soul, act like a great patriarch of old, may you acquire an act with reason, may you be a mind, see God, and reach the unfading darkness in a vision, and you will be a great merchant.

Having created twelve great patriarchs in the patriarchs, secretly affirm to you the ladder of the active, my soul, ascent: children, like foundations, degrees like ascension, wisely laying.

Esau, who was hated, imitated you, soul;

(Gen. 25:32; 27:37. Mal. 1:2-3)

Esau was called Edom, for the extreme sake of womanish confusion: for intemperance, we are constantly inflamed and defiled by sweets, Edom was named, if the inflaming of the soul of sinful is said.

Hearing Job on the fester, about my soul, who was justified, you were not jealous of that courage, you didn’t have a firm offer in all, even weigh, and you were tempted by the image, but you appeared impatient.

(Job 1:1-22)

Even the first on the throne, naked now on the fester, festering, many in children and glorious, childless and homeless in vain: the chamber is festering and the beads of the scab are sane.

(Job 2:11-13)

Glory, Trinity: Inseparable in essence, unmerged Persons, I theologize Thee, the Trinity One Deity, as the One-Kingdom and Throne, I cry out to You a great song, in the highest hymns of hymns.

And now, the Theotokos: And you give birth, and you are virgin, and you are both in the nature of the Virgin, Be born renews the laws of nature, but the womb gives birth that does not give birth. Wherever God wants, the order of nature is defeated: he creates more, the tree wants.

Canto 5

Irmos: Morning from the night, Lover of mankind, enlighten, I pray, and guide me to Thy commandments, and teach me, Savior, to do Thy will.

(Ps. 62:2; Ps. 119:35)

Moses heard thou the ark, soul, waters, carried by river waves, as if running in the hell of old deeds, the bitter advice of the pharaohs.

If you heard a woman, sometimes killing an ageless masculine, cursed soul, act of chastity, now, like the great Moses, ssi wisdom.

(Ex. 1:8-22)

Like Moses the great Egyptian, having wounded the accursed mind, did not kill thou, soul; and how, say, do you dwell in the desert of passions by repentance?

(Ex. 2:11-12)

The great Moses moved into the desert; come, imitate that life, and in the bush of the Theophany, soul, in a vision you will be.

Imagine the rod of Moses, soul, striking the sea and thickening the depth, in the image of the Divine Cross: you can do the same great.

(Ex. 14:21-22)

Aaron offers fire to God undefiled, unflattering; but Hophni and Phinehas, as if you were a soul, I bring a life alien to God, a defiled life.

(1 Samuel 2:12-13)

Glory, Trinity: Thee, the Trinity, we glorify, the One God: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, Father, Son and Soul, a Simple Being, ever worshiped by the Unit.

And now, the Theotokos: From Thee put on my mixture, imperishable, husbandless Mother Devo, God, who created the eyelids, and unite human nature to Yourself.

Canto 6

Irmos: Cry with all my heart to the generous God, and hear me from the hell of the underworld, and raise my belly from aphids.

Waves, Savior, of my sins, as if returning in the Black Sea, covering me suddenly, like the Egyptians are sometimes tristats.

(Ex. 14:26-28; Ex. 15:4-5)

Unreasonable, soul, you had an arbitrariness, as before Israel: Divine manna foresaw you wordlessly gracious passions obedience.

Treasures, my soul, you preferred Canaanite thoughts over a vein of stone, a river of worthless wisdom, like a bowl sheds currents of theology.

(Gen. 21:25. Ex. 17:6)

Pork meat and cauldrons and Egyptian food, more than heavenly, you have foreseen, my soul, like ancient unreasonable people in the desert.

Like hitting Moses, Thy servant, with a stone rod, figuratively giving life to Thy ribs, foreshadowing, from them all the drink of life, Savior, we draw.

Try, soul, and look, like Joshua, the promises of the land as it is, and dwell in it with good law.

Glory, Trinity: The Trinity is Simple, Inseparable, separate Personally and the Unity is united by nature, the Father speaks, and the Son, and the Divine Spirit.

And now, the Theotokos: Thy womb of God give birth to us, imagined for us: Him, as the Creator of all, pray, Mother of God, that we may be justified by Thy prayers.

Lord, have mercy (Three times). Glory, and now:

Kontakion, tone 6:

My soul, my soul, get up, why are you sleeping? The end is approaching, and imashi be confused: wake up, then, may Christ God have mercy on you, who is everywhere and fills everything.

Song7

Irmos: We have sinned, lawless, unrighteous before You, lower observant, lower co-creator, as thou hast commanded us; but do not betray us to the end, O God of the fathers.

The kivot, as if carrying on a chariot, Zany, when I turn into a calf, I touch it, I’m tempted by God’s wrath; but having escaped that boldness, soul, honor the Divine more honestly.

(2 Sam. 6:6-7)

You heard Absalom, how you rose to nature, you knew that filthy deed, defiling the bed of David your father; but you imitated that passionate and gracious aspiration.

(2 Sam. 15:1-37; 16:21)

You subdued your unworkable dignity to your body, other than Ahithophel, having found an enemy, soul, you lowered this advice; but this is Christ Himself scattered, so that you may be saved in every way.

(2 Sam. 16:20-21)

Solomon, wondrous and filled with the grace of wisdom, sometimes having done this evil thing before God, depart from Him; to him you have become like your cursed life, soul.

(1 Kings 3:12; 11:4-6)

Sweeten the attraction of our passions, defiled, alas to me, guardian of wisdom, guardian of prodigal wives, and strange from God; you imitated him with your mind, about the soul, with filthy voluptuousness.

(1 Kings 11:6-8)

You were jealous of Rehoboam, who did not listen to the advice of the father, but also of the worst servant Jeroboam, the former apostate, soul, but run away from imitation and call on God: you have sinned, have mercy on me.

(Kings 12:13-14, 20)

Glory, Trinity: Trinity Simple, Inseparable, Consubstantial and One Essence, Svetove and Light, and Holy Three, and One Holy Trinity is sung; but sing, glorify the Belly and Belly, soul, God of all.

And now, the Theotokos: We sing to Thee, bless Thee, we bow to Thee, the Mother of God, as if the Inseparable Trinity gave birth to the One Christ God and You yourself opened thee to us, who exist on earth, heavenly.

Canto 8

Irmos: His heavenly armies praise, and Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, every breath and creature, sing, bless and exalt forever.

You Oziah, soul, jealous, this leprosy in yourself acquired this purely: you think without a place, but you act lawlessly; leave, even imashi, and the sons to repentance.

(2 Kings 15:5. 2 Chronicles 26:19)

Ninevites, soul, thou didst hear the repentance of God, with sackcloth and ashes, thou didst not imitate these, but thou didst appear the worst of all, before the law and by the law of those who sinned.

In the ditch of blat you heard Jeremiah, soul, the city of Zion crying out with sobs and looking for tears: imitate this deplorable life and be saved.

Jonah fleeing to Tarshish, having understood the conversion of the Ninevites, understand more, like a prophet, God's mercy: the same is jealous of the prophecy, do not lie.

Thou hast heard Daniel in the ditch, how shut up the mouth, about the soul, of the beasts; Thou didst take away, like the youths, like Azariah, extinguishing the burning flame by the faith of the cave.

(Dan. 14:31; 3:24)

Bring the whole of the Old Testament to you, soul, to likeness; imitate righteous God-loving deeds, avoid packs of crafty sins.

Glory, Trinity: Father without beginning, Son without beginning, Good Comforter, Right Soul, Word of God to the Parent, Father without beginning Word, Living Soul and Builder, Trinity Unity, have mercy on me.

And now, the Theotokos: As if from the conversion of the scarlet, the Most Pure, intelligent scarlet of Emmanuel, the flesh has been drained inside in Your womb. We truly revere thee the Mother of God.

Canto 9

Irmos: Unspeakable Christmas of the seedless conception, Mother of the unmarried, imperishable Fruit, God's Birth renews the nature. Temzhe give birth to Thee, like the Blessed Mother, Orthodox magnify.

Christ is tempted, the devil is tempted, showing stone, so that there will be bread, erected on a mountain to see the whole kingdom of the world in an instant; be afraid, O soul, of catching, be sober, pray to God every hour.

(Matthew 4:1-9. Mark 1; 12-13. Luke 4:1-12)

Desert-loving dove, cry out the voice of a crying one, Christ's lamp, preach repentance, Herod is lawless with Herodias. Look, my soul, do not get caught up in lawless nets, but kiss repentance.

(Song 2:12. Is. 40:3. Matt. 3:8; Matt. 14:3. Mark 6:17. Luke 3:19-20)

The grace of the Forerunner settled in the desert, and all Judea and Samaria, having heard, flow and confess their sins, baptizing zealously: you did not imitate them, soul.

(Matthew 3:1-6. Mark 1:3-6)

Marriage is, therefore, honest and the bed is not filthy, both for Christ first bless, the flesh of the poison, and in Cana, on the brother, making water into wine, and showing the first miracle, but you will change, about the soul.

(Heb. 13:4. John 2:1-11)

Christ, who is relaxed, will be pulled together, and raised up a young man who died, a widow's birth, and a centurion's youth, and a Samaritan now appeared, serving you in the soul, soul, pre-painter.

(Matt. 9:6; 8:13. Luke 7:14. John 4:7-24)

Heal the bleeding one by touching the edge of the vestment, Lord, cleanse the lepers, correct the blind and the lame, heal the deaf and dumb, and those who are poor from below with the word: save you, cursed soul.

(Matt. 9:20; 11:5. Luke 13:11-13)

Glory, Trinity: We will glorify the Father, we will exalt the Son, we will faithfully bow to the Divine Spirit, the Inseparable Trinity, the Unit in essence, like Light and Light, and Life and Life, life-giving and enlightening the ends.

And now, the Theotokos: Preserve Thy City, Most Pure Theotokos, in Thee reign this faithfully, in Thee it is affirmed, and by Thee conquering, conquers every temptation, and captivates warriors, and obedience passes.

The text of the canon, read on Wednesday of the First Week of Great Lent, is given with a parallel translation into Russian. The translation is in italics.

Canto 1

Irmos: Helper and Patron be to my salvation, This is my God, and I will glorify Him, the God of my father, and I will exalt Him, gloriously be glorified.

(Ex. 15:1-2)

Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.

From youth, O Christ, I transgressed Thy commandments, passionately negligent, passed away life in despondency. The same call to Thee, Savior: save me at the end.

I was defeated, Savior, before Your gates, do not reject me in old age in hell, but before the end, like a lover of mankind, give me forgiveness of sins.

My wealth, Savior, exhausted in fornication, I am empty of the fruits of the pious, greedy I call: Father bounty, before you have mercy on me.

Fallen into robbers, I am my thoughts, all of them are wounded now and filled with wounds, but, presenting yourself, Christ the Savior, heal.

The priest, having foreseen me past the ide, and the Levite, seeing in the fierce nagas, despised, but from Mary Jesus, who appeared, have mercy on me.

(Luke 10:31-32)

Give me the radiant grace from Divine Providence from above to avoid the passions of obscuration and sing diligently to Yours, Mary, red correction of life.

Glory, the Trinity: The Presence of the Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take the heavy sinful burden from me and, as if merciful, give me tears of tenderness.

And now, the Theotokos: Mother of God, Hope and Intercession of You who sing, take the heavy sinful burden from me and, like the Lady of the Pure, repentant, accept me.

Canto 2

Irmos: Take a look at the sky, and I will speak, and I will sing of Christ, who came from the Virgin in the flesh.

He crawled, like David, fornicated and defiled, but washed by me, Savior, with tears.

(2 Sam. 11:4)

No tears, below the repentance of the imam, below tenderness. This mission itself, Savior, like God, grant.

Destroyed my primordial kindness and splendor, and now I lie naked and ashamed.

Then do not close Your door to me, Lord, Lord, but open this door to me who repents to You.

(Matthew 7:21-23; 25:11)

Inspire the sighing of my soul and take drops with my eyes, Savior, and save me.

Lover of mankind, if everyone wants to be saved, call me and accept me as a good repentant.

Chorus: Holy Mother of God, save us.

Most Pure Mother of God Virgin, One All-Perfect, pray diligently in a hedgehog to save us.

Other. Irmos: You see, you see, as I am God, raining manna and water from a stone in ancient times in the wilderness by My people, by My right hand and My strength.

(Ex. 16:14; 17:6)

You see, you see, as if I am God, inspire, my soul, crying out to the Lord, and get away from the former sin, and be afraid of the unwashed and like the Judge and God.

To whom have you become like, O sinful soul? Only to the first Cain and Lamech onom, who stoned the body of villainy and killed the mind with wordless aspirations.

(Gen. 4:1-26)

All before the law, O soul, you did not become like Seth, nor did you imitate Enos, nor did you imitate Enoch, nor Noah, but you appeared to be a miserable righteous life.

(Gen. 5:1-32)

You alone opened the abyss of the wrath of your God, my soul, and drowned you all, like the earth, flesh, and deeds, and life, and you remained outside the saving ark.

(Gen. 7:1-24)

Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

With all zeal and love, thou hast flowed to Christ, having turned away the first path of sin, and eating in impenetrable deserts, and fulfilling the Divine commandments purely.

Glory, Trinity: Beginningless, Uncreated Trinity, Inseparable Unity, repenting of me, save me, having sinned, Thy creation, do not despise, but spare and deliver me from the fiery condemnation.

And now, the Theotokos: Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, Hopeful to You flowing and a haven in the storm, Merciful and Creator and Your Son, propitiate me with Your prayers.

Canto 3

Irmos: Establish, Lord, my heart that has moved on the stone of Your commandments, for One is Holy and the Lord.

You did not inherit the blessing of Simov, damned soul, nor did you have a vast possession, like Japheth, on the land of abandonment.

From the land of Haran, depart from sin, my soul, come to the land that wears away the ever-living incorruption, which Abraham inherited.

(Gen. 12:1-7)

Thou hast heard Abraham, my soul, having left the land of the fatherland of old and being a stranger, imitate this will.

(Gen. 12:1-7)

At the oak of Mamre, having established the patriarch Angels, inheriting the promises of fishing in old age.

Isaac, my cursed soul, understanding a new sacrifice, secretly burned to the Lord, imitate his will.

You heard Ismail, sober, my soul, expelled, like a slave offspring, see, but not like what you suffer, kindheartedly.

(Gen. 21:10-11)

Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Contain me with the storm and anxiety of sins, but now save me, mother, and raise me to the haven of Divine repentance.

Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Slave prayer and now, reverend, bringing to the philanthropic prayers of your Mother of God, open the Divine entrances.

Glory, Trinity: Trinity Simple, Uncreated, Beginningless Essence, Hypostases sung in the Trinity, save us, worshiping Your power by faith.

And now, the Theotokos: From the Father, the Son is flightless in the summer, Mother of God, unskillfully gave birth to thou, a strange miracle, having been the Virgin to milk.

Irmos: Hearing the prophet your coming, Lord, and being afraid, as if you wanted to be born from the Virgin and appear as a man, and saying: I heard Your hearing and feared, glory to Your power, Lord.

The body is defiled, the spirit is scorched, all sharpened, but like a doctor, Christ, heal both with my repentance, wash, cleanse, show, my Savior, purer than snow.

Thou hast laid Thy body and blood, Crucified for all, O Word: wretched body, renew me, blood, wash me. The Spirit betrayed you, so that you bring me, Christ, to Your Parent.

Thou hast made salvation in the midst of the earth, Generous, let us be saved. By will, thou hast been crucified on a tree, We go shut up, open, mountain and valley creatures, all tongues, salvation, worship You.

Let there be a pool of blood from Your ribs, together with a drink that has exuded the water of abandonment, but I am cleansed by both, being anointed and drinking, like anointing and drinking, to the Word, Your life-giving words.

The cup of the Church is acquired, Your ribs are life-giving

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My soul, my soul, rise, that you sleep!

^ Origin and significance. Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

P accursed or Great Canon of St. Andrew is a wonderful work by the Greek writer of the late 7th century, St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete. At divine services, this canon is read in parts at Compline (from Monday to Thursday inclusive) of the first week of Great Lent, and in full on Wednesday evening during the 5th week of Great Lent. ( Note: At worship services canons” are called prayer sequences, consisting of 9 “songs”). Prayers most often hear the canons at Vespers after reading the Gospel. Each song of the canon begins with an irmos and has a certain number of troparia. Irmoses are sung, troparia are read. Usually, a verse corresponding to a given event is read before the troparia. The irmos of the canons are modeled on the nine hymns of Holy Scripture. So, for example, the irmos of the first song of the canon are modeled on the song of Mariamne, sung after the Jews crossed the Red (Red) Sea, “Let us sing to the Lord, be gloriously glorified” (Ex. 15: 1-19); the irmos of the second song are modeled on the prayer of Moses written in the wilderness, “Take the heavens out and speak,” (Deuteronomy 32:1-44). The second ode of the canon, as penitential, is performed only in Great Lent. Irmoses of the third song - according to the model thanksgiving prayer Anna, mother of the prophet Samuel “Be firm in my heart in the Lord,” (1 Sam. 2:1); the irmos of the fourth song are modeled on the prayer of the prophet Habakkuk, who saw God coming from the heavenly mountain, “Lord, I have heard Your ears and feared” (Hab. 3:2-20); the irmos of the fifth song are modeled on the prayer of the prophet Isaiah, who announced the birth of the Virgin Emmanuel: “From the night my spirit wakes up (watches) to Thee, O God,” (Isaiah 26:9-20); irmos of the sixth song - on the model of the prayer of the prophet Jonah, who was three days in the belly of a whale and then thrown out onto dry land “Cry out in my sorrow to the Lord God,” (Jon.2:1-7); irmos of the seventh and eighth songs - modeled on the hymn of the three youths in the Babylonian oven “Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers ... Bless all the works of the Lord, praise the Lord and exalt him forever,” (Dan.3: 26-72); finally, the irmos of the ninth song - in imitation of the hymn of the prophet Zechariah on the occasion of the birth of the prophet John the Baptist: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, that you visit and work deliverance for your people,” (Luke 1:46-55).

P pierced by a deep sense of repentance, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete is perfectly in line with the spirit of Great Lent. The canon contains many events from the Old Testament and New Testament history, from the fall of the forefather Adam to the ascension of the Lord. St. Andrew, with extraordinary skill, applies each of the events of sacred history to the state of a sinful soul, extracts from the treasury of Scripture strong promptings for repentance and moral correction.

W serving in its content, height of thought, brightness and figurativeness of expressions the name of a great work, the canon of St. Andrew is great in scope as well. Later, to the troparia of St. Andrew, were added troparia addressed to St. Mary of Egypt. During the reading of the Great Canon on the 5th week of Lent, the life of St. Mary of Egypt is also read in the temple, which, with her great repentance, serves as a vivid example of the moral renewal of a sinful person.

H the shadow of the Great Canon has always attracted a large number of praying. The canon is long, the choir sings slowly, the troparia of the canon are read slowly by the priests. But the worshipers, as it were, do not notice the time, focusing their attention on those spiritual problems that the canon touches on.

AT The whole canon of Andrew of Crete is a conversation with one’s own soul, a call to rise from the mud of life, to wake up, to start living pure and holy: “My soul, my soul, wake up, that you are sleeping!” The Lord came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. But, the power and sincerity of repentance are not connected with the depth of spiritual fall. On the contrary, the power of repentance, the ability to see impurity at the bottom of the soul and courageously bring it into the light is a sign of the height of the spirit, and this ability increases with the spiritual growth of a person. Many great saints left us the most powerful prayers of repentance, as we are convinced by listening to the prayers before the communion of Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostom.

To anon st. Andrew is given here in a Russian translation for home reading with the aim of helping Russian people to repentantly tune in during Great Lent and renew their souls with sincere confession and reverent communion of the Holy Mysteries.

^ Great Canon

(in Russian translation)

^ Canto 1st

Irmos: Helper and patron appeared to me to salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; the God of my father, and I will exalt Him: for He is solemnly glorified (Ex. 15:1-2)

Note: Before each troparion, the choir sings: “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me!”

I. Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my miserable life? What beginning shall I lay, O Christ, for true mourning? But, as a merciful one, grant me forgiveness of sins.

Come, unfortunate soul with your flesh, confess to the Creator of everything, refrain, finally, from your former speechlessness and bring tears of repentance to God.

Imitating the original Adam in crime, I recognize myself deprived of God, deprived of God's grace of the eternal kingdom and blessedness, for my sins (Gen. 3:6-7).

Woe to me, my unfortunate soul, why have you become like the primordial Eve? You looked badly, you were cruelly wounded, you touched a tree and boldly tasted foolish food (Gen. 3:6).

Instead of a sensual Eve, a mental Eve arose in me - a carnal passionate thought, representing something pleasant, but always making me bitter when tasting.

Worthy Adam was expelled from Eden, as not keeping one of Your commandments, Savior; What will I have to endure, constantly violating Your life-giving commands? (Gen. 3:23).

II. I have surpassed the slaying of Cain; consciously, through the revival of (sinful) flesh, I became a murderer of the soul, arming myself against it with my evil deeds (Gen. 4:8).

I did not imitate, Jesus, the righteousness of Abel: I never brought you gifts of pleasure, nor deeds pleasing to God, nor a pure sacrifice, nor a life without blemish (Gen. 4:4).

Like Cain, so you and I, unfortunate soul, offered the Creator of everything a vicious sacrifice - unclean deeds and an indecent life; therefore we are condemned (Gen. 4:3).

You, the Creator, having revived the clay, gave me flesh and bones, breath and life; but, my Creator, Redeemer and Judge, accept me as a penitent (Gen. 2:7).

Before you, Savior, I open the sins committed by me, and the wounds of my soul and body, which evil-mindedly inflicted internal murderous thoughts on me (Luke 10:30).

Although I am a sinner, Savior, I know that You are philanthropic: You punish with compassion and have mercy with love, look at the weeping and, like the Father, hasten to call the prodigal son (Luke 15:20).

III. Cast down before Your gates, Savior, even in old age do not cast me indecent into hell; but, as a philanthropist, grant me forgiveness before the end.

According to my thoughts, I am the person who was caught by the robbers, now I am all wounded by them, covered with ulcers; but You Yourself, Christ the Savior, come and heal me (Luke 10:30).

The priest, noticing me, passed by; and Leviticus, seeing me in trouble, naked, despised; but You, Jesus, who shone forth from Mary, come and have mercy on me (Luke 10:31-32).

IV. Lamb of God, who took away the sins of all, take from me the heavy burden of sins, and, as merciful, grant me tears of compunction (John 1:29).

The time for repentance has come. I come to You, my Creator; take from me the heavy burden of sins, and, as a merciful one, grant me tears of tenderness.

Savior, do not disdain me, do not reject me from Your presence, remove from me the heavy burden of sins, and, as a good one, grant me the forgiveness of sins.

My voluntary and involuntary sins, obvious and secret, known and unknown - forgive everything, Savior, as God cleanse and save me!

From my youth, Savior, I have broken Your commandments; I spent my whole life in passions, carelessness and negligence, therefore I appeal to You: at least at the end, save me!

Having squandered my wealth in debauchery, I, the Savior, am deprived of the fruits of piety; but, feeling hungry, I cry: merciful Father, make haste and have mercy on me.

Having squandered spiritual wealth in sin, I am a stranger to the holy virtues, but, suffering from hunger, I cry out: Lord, source of mercy, save me!

I fall down to You, Jesus; I have sinned before You, have mercy on me, take the heavy burden of sins from me, and, as a merciful one, grant me tears of tenderness.

Do not enter into judgment with me, weighing my deeds, examining my words, and denouncing my aspirations; but, according to Thy compassion, despising my evil deeds, save me, O Almighty.

Rev. Mary of Egypt: Grant me, Mary, sent down to you from above by Divine Providence, radiant grace - to avoid the darkness of passions and diligently sing the wonderful feats of your life.

Having submitted to the Divine commandments of Christ, you devoted yourself to Him, leaving unbridled desire for pleasure, and fulfilled all the virtues as one with great reverence.

Rev. Trinity: Preessential (above all things) Trinity, worshiped in unity! Take from me the heavy burden of sins, and, as a merciful one, grant me tears of tenderness.

Mother of God: Mother of God, hope and protection of those who sing to You! Take from me the heavy burden of sins, and, as a pure Lady, accept me, the penitent.

^ Song 2

Irmos: Hear the sky; and I will proclaim and sing of Christ, who came in the flesh from the Virgin.

I.Hear the sky, and I will broadcast; earth, hear the voice that repents to God and sings of Him.

Look at me, O God, my Savior, with Your merciful eye, and accept my fiery confession.

I have sinned more than all men, I alone have sinned against Thee; but, Savior, as God, have mercy on Your creature (Tim. 1:15).

A storm of evil surrounds me, merciful Lord, but you, like Peter, stretch out your hand to me too (Matthew 14:31).

And I, like a harlot, shed tears: have mercy on me, merciful Savior, according to Your condescension (Luke 7:38)

I darkened the beauty of the soul with passionate pleasures, and turned my whole mind to dust.

I have torn my first garment, which the Creator wove for me at the beginning, and therefore I lie naked.

I put on the torn robe, which the serpent wove for me by deceit, and I am ashamed (Gen. 3:21).

I looked at the beauty of the tree, and was seduced by the mind; therefore I lie naked and am ashamed.

All the leaders of passions yelled (plowed) on my backbone, carrying out their iniquity along me (Ps. 129: 3).

I have destroyed my original beauty and goodness, and now I lie naked and ashamed.

II. Sin sewed leather robes for me, stripping me of my former God-woven garment.

I put on, like fig leaves, a garment of shame, as a token of my self-willed passions (Gen. 3:7).

I dressed myself in a robe, shamefully stained and bloody with the impurity of a passionate and voluptuous life.

I defiled the robe of my flesh and blackened in myself, Savior, what was created in Your image and likeness.

I was subjected to torment by passions and bodily corruption, and therefore the enemy now oppresses me.

Preferring to unselfishness a life tied to earthly goods, I am now, Savior, under a heavy burden.

I have adorned the idol of the flesh with a colorful robe of vile thoughts, and I am condemned.

Diligently caring about one external splendor, I neglected the internal, in the image of God arranged by the tabernacle.

Having reflected in myself the ugliness of passions, I distorted the beauty of the mind with voluptuous aspirations.

I buried the beauty of the primitive image in sins, Savior, as once a drachma, You seek and find it (Luke 15: 8).

I have sinned, I cry to You like a harlot, I alone have sinned against You; accept from me, Savior, instead of peace, tears (Luke 7:37).

III. I fell from intemperance, like David, and became defiled; but, Savior, wash me also with tears (2 Sam. 11:4).

As a publican I appeal to You: have mercy on me, Savior; for I have sinned against you, like none of Adam's children (Luke 18:13).

I have no tears, no repentance, no tenderness: You Yourself, the Savior, like God, grant them to me. At that time (of my exodus), Lord, do not shut Your door before me; but open it for me who repents to Thee (Mt. 25:11).

Lover of mankind, wishing salvation to all! You call me penitent and accept as good.

Listen, Savior, to the groaning of my soul, accept the tears of my eyes and save me.

Mother of God: Most Pure Mother of God Virgin, one, praised by all, pray fervently that we be saved.

Irmos: You see, you see that I am God, who in ancient times sent manna and poured out water from a stone to my people in the wilderness with my right hand and power (Ex. 16:17:6).

See, see that I am God; so, my soul, heed the crying Lord, leave your former sin and be afraid, as a righteous Judge and God.

To whom have you likened yourself, sinful soul, if not to the first Cain and that Lamech, having severely struck the body with evil deeds and killed the mind with reckless aspirations? (Gen. 4th chapter).

Remembering all those who lived before the law, you, soul, did not become like Seth, did not imitate Enos, nor Enoch through resettlement to God, nor Noah, but turned out to be a stranger to the life of the righteous (Gen. 5 ch.).

You alone, my soul, opened the abyss of your God's wrath and drowned, like the earth, all flesh, deeds and life, and remained outside the saving ark (Genesis 7th chapter).

IV.“I killed a man,” Lamech lamented, “in my own wound, and a young man in my scab;” But you, my soul, do not tremble, defiling your body and darkening your mind (Gen. 4:23).

Oh, how I became like the ancient murderer - Lamech, killing my soul - like a husband, my mind, like a youth, and like the murderer Cain - my body, like a brother, with voluptuous aspirations.

You have planned, soul, to build a tower and raise a stronghold with your lusts; but the Creator has restrained your thoughts and cast your buildings to the ground (Gen. 11:3).

I am wounded, ulcerated; here are the arrows of the enemy that pierced my soul and body; here wounds, ulcers and scabs cry out for the blows of my unbridled passions.

The Lord once sent fire to incinerate the violent iniquity of the Sodomites; but you, soul, kindled the fire of Gehenna, in which you will burn (Gen. 19:24).

Understand and see that I am God, testing the hearts and delving into the thoughts of people, convicting deeds, incinerating sins and protecting the orphan, the humble and the poor.

Rev. Mary of Egypt: Drowning in the abyss of evil, you stretched out your hands, Mary, to the merciful God, and He, in every possible way seeking your conversion, like Peter, philanthropicly gave you the Divine hand (Matt. 14:31).

With all diligence and love, you ran to Christ, leaving the former path of sin, living in impenetrable deserts and fulfilling His divine commandments in purity.

Rev. Trinity: Beginningless, uncreated Trinity, inseparable Unity! Accept me penitent, save the sinner; I am Your creation; do not despise me, but spare me and deliver me from condemnation into the fire.

Mother of God: Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, the hope of those who resort to You and the refuge of the overwhelmed! By your prayers, incline the merciful Creator and Son to have mercy on me.

^ Canto 3rd

Irmos: On the immovable stone of Your commandments, Christ, establish my thoughts.

I. The Lord once, having sent fire, incinerated the land of the Sodomites (Gen. 19:24).

Soul, flee to the mountain like Lot, and hasten to take refuge in Sigor (Gen. 19:23).

Run, soul, from the flame; flee from the burning Sodom; flee from destruction by divine fire.

I confess to You, Savior; I have sinned, I have sinned against You, but, as a merciful one, forgive my sins and forgive me.

I alone have sinned against You, I have sinned more than all, Christ the Savior; don't neglect me.

You are the Good Shepherd, look for me - the lamb, and do not despise me lost.

You are the longed Jesus, You are my Creator; By you, Savior, I will be justified.

Rev. Trinity: Oh God, One Trinity! Save us from deception, from temptations and dangers.

Mother of God: Rejoice, Womb, containing God; rejoice, throne of the Lord; Rejoice, Mother of our Life.

Irmos: Establish, Lord, on the stone of Your commandments my wavering heart, for You alone are Holy and Lord.

II.In You, the Destroyer of death, I found the source of life, and before death I cry out to You from my heart: I have sinned, have mercy, save me.

I, the Savior, imitated the depraved contemporaries of Noah, and inherited their condemnation to perish in the flood (Gen. 6:4-23).

I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned against You; have mercy on me; for there is no sinner among men whom I have not surpassed in sins.

Imitating Ham the parricide, you soul, with your face turned back, did not cover the shame of your neighbor (Gen. 9:22-23).

III. You did not inherit Sim's blessing, unhappy soul, and like Japheth, you did not receive the forgiveness of sins on earth (Gen. 9:26-27).

Depart, my soul, from the land of Harran - from sin; go into the land that oozes ever-living incorruption, which Abraham inherited (Gen. 12:4).

You heard, my soul, how in ancient times Abraham left his fatherland and became a wanderer; imitate his determination (Gen. 12:4).

Having treated the Angels under the oak of Mamre, the patriarch in his old age received the promise as a prey (Gen. 18:1).

Knowing, my poor soul, how Isaac was mysteriously brought as a new burnt offering to the Lord, imitate his determination (Gen. 22:2).

You heard, my soul, that Ishmael was cast out as the child of a slave; be vigilant, see that for voluptuousness you do not suffer anything like this (Gen. 21:10).

IV. You, soul, became like the ancient Egyptian Hagar, becoming a slave to your desires and giving birth to a new Ishmael - insolence (Gen.16:16).

You know, my soul, about the ladder shown to Jacob from earth to heaven: why did you not choose a safe ascent - piety? (Gen. 28:12).

Imitate God's Priest and the lonely King (Melchizedek) - this image of Christ among people (Gen.14:18, Heb.7:1-3).

Do not become a pillar of salt, soul, turning back (like Lot's wife); let the example of the Sodomites frighten you; save yourself woe - to Segor (Gen. 19:26).

Flee, my soul, from the flames of sin, like Lot, flee from Sodom and Gomorrah, flee from the fire of every foolish desire (Gen. 19:16).

Have mercy, Lord, I cry to Thee, have mercy on me when You come with Your Angels to reward everyone according to the merit of their deeds.

Do not reject, Lord, the prayers of those who sing to You; but have mercy, O philanthropist, and grant forgiveness to those who ask in faith.

Rev. Mary of Egypt: I am surrounded, mother, by a storm and agitation of sins; but you yourself now save me and lead me to the haven of divine repentance.

Fervent prayer and now bring, reverend, to the merciful Mother of God, and with your prayers open the entrance to God for me.

Rev. Trinity: Simple Trinity, (there is no duality in God), uncreated complexity, Beginningless Essence, (having no beginning) glorified in the trinity of persons! Save us, who by faith worship Your power.

Mother of God: Out of time from the Father of the Son born, You, Mother of God, gave birth in time without a husband, and - a wondrous miracle! - feeding milk remained the Virgin.

^ Canto 4th

Irmos: The prophet heard about Your coming, Lord, and was afraid that You want to be born of the Virgin and appear to people, and said: I heard the news about You and was afraid; glory to your power, Lord.

I. Do not despise Your creations, do not leave Your creation, righteous Judge; for although I have sinned as a man, more than any man, yet you, more humane, as the Lord of all, have the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10).

The end is approaching, soul, and you are not happy, you are not preparing; time is shortening, get up, the Judge is already near - at the door; life time passes like a dream, like a color (on a plant); why do we fuss in vain? (Matthew 24:33).

Wake up, my soul, think about your deeds that you have done, present them before your eyes and shed tears; tell Christ without fear about your deeds and thoughts and receive justification.

Savior, there is no sin, no deed, no evil in life, in which I would not be guilty of mind, word and desire, having sinned both in intention and thought and deed like no one else has ever done.

That is why I, the unfortunate one, am condemned, and therefore sentenced by my own conscience, which is nothing more severe in the world; Judge, Redeemer and Tester of mine, have mercy, deliver and save me Thy servant.

The ladder, which in ancient times was seen by the great of the patriarchs, serves as an indication of the ascent by deeds and thoughts; Therefore, my soul, if you want to live in activity, and in understanding and contemplation, be renewed (Gen. 28:12).

Out of necessity, the patriarch endured the heat of the day, endured the cold of the night, receiving daily income, shepherding the flock, working and serving in order to get himself two wives (Gen. 31: 7-40).

Under the two women, understand activity and understanding in contemplation: under Leah, as having many children, activity, and under Rachel, as received through many labors, understanding; for without work, soul, neither activity nor contemplation will reach perfection.

II Watch, my soul, be courageous, like the great of the patriarchs, in order to begin your activity with understanding, in order to become a mind that sees God, to penetrate impregnable darkness in contemplation and receive great treasures (Gen. 32:28).

The great of the patriarchs, having given birth to the twelve patriarchs, mysteriously presented to you, my soul, the ladder of active ascent, wisely arranging the children as steps, and his steps (along these steps) as an upward ascent.

You, soul, imitating the hated Esau, gave your oppressor the birthright of the original beauty and lost your paternal blessing, and, unhappy, fell twice - by action and thought; therefore repent now (Mal. 1:3, Gen. 25:32, 27:37).

Esau is called Edom for his extreme love of women; he, incessantly inflamed with intemperance and defiled by voluptuousness, is called Edom, which means: the inflaming of the sin-loving soul (Gen. 25:30).

You, my soul, when you heard about Job sitting on the fester and justified, did not imitate him in courage, did not have a firm will in everything that you learned, that you saw, that you experienced, but you turned out to be impatient (Job 1:22).

A righteous man, clothed with royal dignity, with a crown and scarlet, known for wealth and flocks, suddenly lost wealth, glory and kingdom, becoming a beggar (Job 1:22).

Job, who was once famous on the throne and had many children, then suddenly fell on a pus, naked and ulcerated, became childless and homeless. That pus he considered his palace and ulcers - precious stones.

If he, being more righteous and blameless than others, did not escape the slander and snares of the deceiver, then what will you do, sin-loving, accursed soul, when something unexpected befalls you?

III. I defiled my body, polluted my spirit, I am all ulcerated, but You, my Savior Christ, as a doctor, heal both with repentance, wash, cleanse, reveal whiter than snow.

At the crucifixion, You, the Word, (God the Word - the Son of God) sacrificed Your body and blood for everyone; the body to recreate me, the blood to wash me, and the spirit You gave, O Christ, to bring me to Your Father.

In the midst of the earth You have arranged salvation, O Merciful One, so that we may be saved; You crucified yourself on a tree voluntarily; and the imprisoned Eden was opened; heaven and hell, creation and all saved nations worship You (Ps. 73:12).

Word, (Christ the blood and water, from Your ribs, which exuded the remission of sins, may they be washing and drinking for me, so that I can be cleansed by them, being anointed, getting drunk, like balm and drink, with Your life-giving words (John 19:34).

I am outside the bridal chamber, deprived of both marriage and supper; the lamp went out, left without oil; the chamber is locked while I slept; the supper is over; but I, bound hand and foot, are cast out (Mt. 25, Lk. 14).

Our Savior, the Church received the cup in Your life-giving ribs (John 19:34), from which double streams flowed for us - remission (sins) and understanding - in the image of both covenants, the old and the new.

IV. The time of my life is short and filled with sorrows and vices; but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so that I do not become the prey and food of the enemy; You Yourself, Savior, have mercy on me (Gen. 47:9).

Righteous Judge, I am now arrogant in words and bold in heart, in vain and vain; do not condemn me along with the Pharisee, but grant me the humility of the publican and number me among him, O only merciful one.

I know, Merciful, I have sinned by defiling the vessel of my flesh, but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge (of the truth), so that I do not become the prey and food of the enemy; You yourself, Savior, have mercy on me.

Merciful, I have made myself an idol, distorting my soul with passions, but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so that I do not become the prey and food of the enemy; You Yourself, Savior, have mercy on me.

Rev. Mary of Egypt: Having, Reverend, in your flesh the way of life of the incorporeal, you truly received the greatest grace from God; therefore we beseech you: intercede for those who faithfully honor you; deliver us from great temptations with your prayers.

Mary, you, having plunged into the abyss of great vices, did not perish in it, but by your highest thought and activity you rose to perfect virtue, amazing the Angels.

Rev. Trinity: Inseparable in essence, unmerged in persons, theologically I confess You, the Trinity one Deity, co-regal and co-throne; I proclaim to you a great song, sung three times in the mountain villages (Is. 6:3).

Mother of God: You give birth and virginity, and in both cases you remain by nature a Virgin; The one born of Thee renews the laws of nature: a virgin womb gives birth; God, when He wants, overcomes the order of nature, for He creates whatever He wants.

^ Canto 5th

Irmos: I pray, Lover of mankind, enlighten me from the waking night, guiding me with Your commands, and teach me, Savior, to do Your will.

I. I spent my life constantly in the night; for darkness and deep mist was for me the night of sin; but, Savior, make me the son of the day (Eph. 5:8).

Like Reuben, I, the unfortunate one, committed a criminal and lawless deed before the Most High God, defiling my bed, like that of my father (Gen. 35:22, 49:4).

I confess to you, Christ the King: I have sinned, I have sinned, as once the brothers who sold Joseph - this fruit of purity and chastity (Gen. 37:28).

The righteous soul was betrayed by relatives, the beloved (Joseph) was sold into slavery, as a prototype of the Lord; and you, soul, sold yourself entirely to your vices.

Unfortunate and indecent soul, imitate the righteous Joseph and his chaste way of thinking, do not be defiled and do not transgress with reckless aspirations.

Master Lord, Joseph was once in a ditch, in the image of Your burial and resurrection; Am I ever going to show you something like this?

II. You, soul, heard in ancient times about the basket with Moses carried in the waves of the river, where, as in a chamber, he escaped death from the evil intent of Pharaoh (Ex. 2:3).

You, unfortunate soul, hearing about grandmothers who once killed newborn male babies - this image of chaste activity - become a baby sucking wisdom, like the great Moses (Ex. 1:10).

You, unfortunate soul, did not kill the Egyptian way of thinking, as the great Moses struck the Egyptian; Tell me, how will you move to the wilderness by repentance from the passions? (Ex. 2:12).

The great Moses settled in the desert; go and you, soul, imitate his way of life, so that you too in the bush will see the manifestation of God (Ex. 3: 2).

Imagine, soul, the rod of Moses, striking the sea and thickening the abyss, as a sign of the divine Cross, with which you can do great things (Ex. 14:21).

Aaron brought pure, without admixture, fire to God; but Hophni and Phinehas brought to God, like you, soul, a strange and unclean life (1 Sam. 2:12).

III. I became cruel in temper like a Pharaoh; in soul and in body I am like John and Jambres, and my mind has become lost; but help me, Master (Ex. 7:11).

I, unhappy, have polluted my mind; but I beseech Thee, Lord, wash me in the font of my tears and make the clothes of my flesh white as snow.

When I look back at my deeds, Savior, I see that I have surpassed all people in sins; for I sinned consciously, and not out of ignorance.

Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on Your creation; I have sinned, forgive me; for You alone are pure in nature, and no one else but You is free from impurity.

Being God, You, the Savior, took on my image for my sake and performed miracles, healed lepers, strengthened the paralyzed, and by touching Your clothes stopped the bleeding of a bleeding woman.

Imitate, wretched soul, a bleeding woman, run, grab hold of Christ's clothes in order to get rid of the ulcers and you will hear from Him: your faith has saved you!

IV. Imitate, soul, a bent woman, come, fall at the feet of Jesus, so that He corrects you, and you can walk straight in the paths of the Lord (Luke 13:11-13).

If You, Lord, are a deep well of bounties, then give me streams from Your pure ribs, so that I, like a Samaritan woman, after drinking, no longer thirst; for You give forth streams of life (John 4:1).

Like Siloam, let my tears be for me, Lord Lord, in order to wash the pupils of my heart and mentally see You, the eternal light (John 9: 7).

Rev. Mary of Egypt: With pure love, wishing to bow to the Tree of Life, you, all-blessed, were granted the Desired; make me worthy to receive heavenly glory.

You crossed the Jordanian stream and found painless peace, leaving carnal pleasure, from which, Reverend, deliver us with your prayers.

Rev. Trinity: We glorify you, the only Creator God: holy, holy, holy You are the Father, the Son and the Spirit, the Simple Essence and Unity, eternally worshiped.

Mother of God: In You, imperishable, unmarried Mother-Virgo, God, who created the eyelids, clothed in my composition and united human nature with Himself.

^ Song 6

Irmos: With all my heart I called out to the merciful God, and He heard me out of the hell of the underworld and brought up my life from corruption (Jonah 2:3-7).

I I sincerely offer you, Savior, the tears of my eyes and sighs from the depths of my heart, crying out: God, I have sinned against you, have mercy on me.

You, soul, have moved away from your Lord, like Dathan and Aviron; but cry out from the hell of the underworld: God have mercy! - so that the earth does not swallow you (Num.16:32)

Raging like a heifer, you, soul, became like Ephraim; save your life like a chamois from nets, having inspired your mind with activity and contemplation (Hosea 10:11, Jer. 31:18).

May the hand of Moses assure us, soul, that God can whiten and cleanse a leper life; and do not give way to despair, although you are afflicted with leprosy (Ex. 4:6-7).

II. The waves of my sins, Savior, having turned, suddenly covered me, like once the Egyptian horsemen in the Red Sea (Ex. 14:26, 15:4).

Your desires are unreasonable, soul, as in ancient Israel, for you recklessly preferred the lustful satiety of passions to divine manna (Numbers 21:5).

You, soul, preferred the wells of Canaanite thoughts to a stone with a source, from which, like from a cup, the river of wisdom pours out streams of theology (Gen. 21:25, Ex. 17:6).

You, my soul, like an ancient foolish people in the wilderness, preferred pork meat, cauldrons and Egyptian dishes to heavenly food (Exodus 29:3).

Savior, Your servant Moses, striking a stone with a rod, figuratively revealed Your perforated ribs, from which we all draw the drink of life.

You, soul, like Joshua, explore and survey the promised land, what it is, and settle in it with a virtuous life.

III. Arise and cast down carnal passions, like Jesus - Amalek, also defeating these Gibeonites - seductive thoughts (Ex. 17: 8, Jos. 8: 21).

Pass, soul, time, flowing in its essence, as once a bow across the Jordan, and become the owner of the promised land - so God commands (Josh. 3:17).

Savior, as You saved Peter who called, hasten to save me too, deliver me, stretch out Your hand, and lead me out of the depths of sin (Matt. 14:31.

I see a quiet haven in you, Lord Christ: hasten to deliver me from the impenetrable depths of sin and despair.

IV. I, the Savior, am a drachma with a royal image, which in ancient times was lost to You; but, Word, having lighted the lamp - Your Forerunner, seek and find Your image (Luke 15:8).

Rev. Mary of Egypt: In order to extinguish the flame of passions, you, Mary, burning with your soul, incessantly shed streams of tears, which grace give to me, your slave.

By the most exalted way of life on earth, you, mother, acquired heavenly dispassion: therefore, intercede so that with your prayers those who glorify you will be freed from passions.

Rev. Trinity: I am the Trinity Simple and Unity inseparable; United by nature, but separated in Persons - the Father, the Son and the Divine Spirit speak.

Mother of God: Your womb gave birth to us God, who took our image; Him, as the creator of everything, pray, Mother of God, that we may be justified by Your prayers.

^ Kondak

My soul, my soul, rise, why are you sleeping? The end draws near and you will revolt; wake up, so that Christ God, who is everywhere and fills everything, has mercy on you.

^ Canto 7th

Irmos: We have sinned, we have lived in iniquity, we have done wrong before You, we have not kept or fulfilled what You commanded us, but, God of the fathers, do not leave us to the end (Dan. 9:5).

I. I have sinned, lived in iniquity, and transgressed Thy commandment; for I was born in sins, and I added more wounds to my sores, but Thou, God of the fathers, have mercy on me as merciful.

I have revealed the secrets of my heart before You, my Judge; look, O God of the fathers, at my humility, look at my sorrow, now pay attention to my repentance and have mercy on me yourself, as merciful.

Saul once, having lost his father's donkeys, unexpectedly received the kingdom with the news (of them); Look, soul, do not forget, preferring your bestial desires to the kingdom of Christ (1 Sam. 9:10-1).

If once the forefather David sinned twice, being wounded by the arrow of adultery and striking Uriah with the spear of murder, then you, my soul, suffer even more from self-willed aspirations (2 Kings 11:4-15).

David once added iniquity to iniquity, for he combined adultery with murder, but soon he brought pure repentance; but you, soul, having committed great sins, did not repent before God.

David once, painting as if in a picture, drew a song in which he denounces the work he had done, crying out: “Have mercy on me, for I have sinned against Thee alone, the God of all; cleanse me yourself” (Ps. 50:1).

II. When the ark was carried on a chariot and the calf turned away from the road, then at one touch (to the Ark) Uzza experienced God's wrath; but you, soul, avoiding his insolence, in due reverence for the Divine (2 Sam. 6:6).

You heard, soul, about Absalom, how he rose up against nature itself; you know his vile deeds, how he dishonored the bed of David - the father; but you yourself imitated his passions and voluptuous strivings (2 Sam. 15 and 16:21).

You, soul, have subordinated your free dignity to your body; for, having found another enemy of Ahithophel, you bowed to his advice; but Christ himself overthrew them, that it might be more convenient for you to be saved (2 Sam. 16:20-21).

The once great Solomon, being full of the grace of wisdom, and having done evil before God, departed from Him; you yourself, soul, have become like him with your life worthy of a curse (1 Kings 3:12, 11:4).

Carried away by his voluptuous passions, alas, the lover of wisdom has become defiled, having loved impious women and alienated himself from God; you yourself, soul, imitated him in your mind with shameful voluptuousness.

III. You, soul, became like at the same time Rehoboam, who did not listen to the advice of the father, and the worst servant Jeroboam, this ancient rebel; but avoid imitating them and cry out to God: I have sinned, have mercy on me (1 Kings 12:13).

You, my soul, imitated Ahaab in abominations; alas, it has become a habitation of carnal impurities and a shameful vessel of passions; but breathe from your depths and tell God your sins (1 Kings 16:30).

Elijah once, when he exterminated the vile prophets of Jezebel in the denunciation of Ahaab, twice burned fifty of her servants; but you, my soul, avoid imitating them both and be temperate (2 Kings 1:10-15).

The sky was closed and famine was sent from God to you, soul, as once to Ahaab, who did not listen to the words of Elijah the Thysbite, but you imitate the Sarepta widow, having fed the Prophet (1 Kings 17: 7-9).

You, soul, voluntarily adopted the crimes of Manasseh, putting passions in place of idols and multiplying abominations, but diligently imitate his repentance and compunction (2 Kings 21:2).

IV. I fall down before You, Lord, and bring my words with tears: I have sinned, as a harlot has not sinned, and I lived in iniquity, like no one else on earth; but have mercy on your creation and regenerate me.

I have eclipsed Your image and violated Your commandment; all beauty was darkened in me and the lamp went out from passions; but have mercy, Savior, and give me, according to the word of David, joy (Ps. 50:14).

Turn, repent, open the hidden, say to God the omniscient: You, the only Savior, know my secrets, but, according to the word of David, have mercy on me according to Your mercy (Ps.51:3).

My days have passed like the dream of an awakened one; therefore I weep on my bed like Hezekiah, that the years of my life may be lengthened; but what Isaiah will help you, soul, if not the God of all? (2 Kings 20:3, Is. 38:2).

Rev. Mary of Egypt: Calling on the most pure Mother of God, you curbed the fury of passions that had previously cruelly raged, and shamed the enemy of the seducer; Grant help now in sorrow to me, your servant.

Whom you, Reverend, have loved, whom you have chosen and for whose sake the flesh has tormented, now pray to that Christ, that He, by His mercy, would grant us, who honor Him, a peaceful life.

Rev. Trinity: Sung in songs Trinity Simple, inseparable and consubstantial; light and light; three saints and one holy, God is the Trinity! Sing also you, soul, glorify life and lives, the God of all.

Mother of God: We sing to You, we bless You, we worship You, Mother of God; for You gave birth to the One of the inseparable Trinity, Christ God, and You Yourself opened for us, living on earth, the heavenly villages.

^ Canto 8

Irmos: Whom the armies of heaven glorify and the Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, sing of Him all beings and creatures, bless and exalt for all ages.

I. Have mercy on me, a sinner, Savior, excite my mind to conversion, accept the penitent, have mercy on the one who calls; I have sinned against You, save me; I lived in iniquity, have mercy on me.

The charioteer Elijah, having mounted the chariot of virtues, ascended above all earthly things, as if into heaven; think, my soul, of his rising (2 Kings 2:11).

Once Elisha divided the stream of the Jordan into two parts with the cloak of Elijah, but you, my soul, did not receive this grace for your intemperance (2 Kings 2:14).

Once Elisha, having accepted the cloak of Elijah, received double grace from the Lord, but you, my soul, did not receive this grace for your intemperance (2 Kings 2:9).

The Somanite woman once treated the Righteous with good diligence, but you, soul, did not receive either a stranger or a stranger into your house; for this you will be cast out of the bridal chamber with weeping (2 Kings 4:8).

You, wretched soul, have ceaselessly imitated the impure disposition of Gehazi; reject his love of money, even in old age, avoid the fire of Gehenna, leaving your atrocities (2 Kings 5:20).

II. Being like Uzzias, you, soul, have received twice his leprosy: for you think wrong and do lawless; leave what you have and come to repentance (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).

You heard, soul, about the Ninevites, in rags and ashes, who repented to God; you did not imitate them, but proved to be the most stubborn of all those who sinned before and after the law (Jonah 3:5).

You heard, soul, how Jeremiah in an unclean ditch with sobs cried out to the city of Zion and asked for tears; imitate his deplorable life and you will be saved (Jer. 38:6).

Jonah withdrew to Tarshish, foreseeing the conversion of the Ninevites, for he, as a prophet, knew the mercy of God, and at the same time was jealous that the prophecy would not appear false (Jonah 1:3).

You heard, O soul, how Daniel shut up the mouth of the beasts in the pit; you learned how the youths who were with Azariah quenched by faith the kindled flame of the furnace (Dan. 14:31, 3:24).

From the Old Testament, I presented you all as an example, soul; imitate the charitable deeds of the righteous, and, on the contrary, avoid the sins (of people) of the vicious.

III. Righteous Judge, Savior, have mercy and deliver me from the fire and punishment to which I must rightly undergo in court; forgive me before death, giving me virtue and repentance.

I call on You like a robber: remember me; like Peter, I weep bitterly, forgive me, Savior; like a publican, I utter a cry; I shed tears like a harlot; accept my sobbing, as once from a Canaanite woman.

Heal the decay of my humble soul, the only physician, Savior; give me a plaster, oil and wine - the fruit of repentance, tenderness and tears.

Imitating the wife of Canaanite, I also cry out to the son of David: have mercy on me; I touch His garment as if I were bleeding; like Martha and Mary, I weep over Lazarus (John 11:33).

IV. Like a harlot seeking mercy, I cry out to You, Savior, pouring out a vessel of tears, like myrrh on my head, I offer prayer and ask for forgiveness (Matt. 26:7, 14:3, Luke 7:38).

Although no one has sinned against You as I have, but, merciful Savior, accept me, who repents and cry out with fear and love: I have sinned against You alone; have mercy on me, Merciful One.

Spare, Savior, Your creation, and, like a Shepherd, find the lost, protect the lost, deliver from the wolf and make me a lamb in the flock of Your sheep (Ps. 119:176).

When You, merciful Savior, sit down as a judge and reveal Your terrible glory; Oh, what a horror then: the furnace will burn and everything will tremble before the greatness of Your judgment! (Matthew 25:31).

Rev. Mary of Egypt: The Mother of the Necessary Light, having enlightened you, Mary, freed you from the darkness of passions, therefore, having accepted the grace of the Spirit, enlighten those who faithfully glorify you.

Seeing in you, mother, a truly new miracle, the divine Zosima was surprised, for he saw an Angel in the flesh, and he was all filled with amazement, singing Christ forever.

Rev. Trinity: Father without beginning, Son without beginning, Good Comforter, Right Spirit, Parent of God the Word, Word of the Father without beginning, Living and creative Spirit, One Trinity, have mercy on me.

Mother of God: As if from a purple composition, Most Pure One, a mental purple was woven inside Your womb - the flesh of Emmanuel, therefore we truly revere You as the Mother of God.

^ Canto 9

Irmos: Inexplicable is the birth of seedless conception; imperishable is the Fruit of the motherless mother, for the birth of God renews the nature; Therefore, we of all generations Orthodoxally magnify You as the Mother of God.

I. The mind is in scabs, the body is in disease, the spirit is in ailments, the word is exhausted, life is mortified, at the last threshold: what will you do, my unfortunate soul, when the Judge comes to judge your affairs?

I presented to you, soul, Moses' legend about the existence of the world, and then all the cherished scripture, which tells about the righteous and the unrighteous, you, soul, imitated the latter, and not the first, sinning against God.

The law has become powerless, the Gospel has become invalid, all the Scriptures have become useless for you, the prophets and every word about the righteous are in vain; your wounds, my soul, have multiplied, and there is no doctor who can heal you.

From the New Testament Scriptures, I give you examples, soul, that excite you to compunction; imitate the righteous, turn away from the example of sinners, and propitiate Christ with prayers, fasting, purity and fasting.

Christ, incarnated, called thieves and harlots to repentance; Repent, O soul, the door of the Kingdom is already open, and before you enter the penitent Pharisees, tax collectors and adulterers (Mt. 21:22).

Christ became man, partaking of me in the flesh, and voluntarily experienced everything that is inherent in nature, except for sin, showing you, soul, an example and model of His condescension.

Christ saved the wise men, called pastors to himself, honored many infants with martyrdom, glorified the old man and the aged widow; you, soul, did not imitate their deeds and lives; but woe to you when you are judged.

The Lord, having fasted in the desert for forty days, became hungry at last, revealing His human nature: therefore, do not be discouraged, soul, if the enemy rushes at you too, but with prayers and fasting, may he be reflected from your feet (Matt. 4: 2).

II. Christ was tempted when the devil tempted, showing stones to turn into bread; brought Him up to the mountain, so that in an instant He could see all the kingdoms of the world; be afraid, soul, of seduction, watch and pray to God hourly (Matthew 4:3-9).

The desert-loving dove, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Christ's lamp (the prophet John) cried out, preaching repentance, and Herod transgressed with Herodias; See, my soul, lest you fall into the snares of the lawless, but love repentance.

The forerunner of grace dwelt in the wilderness, and all the Jews and Samaritans flocked to listen to him, and confessed their sins, being baptized with zeal; but you, soul, did not imitate them.

Marriage is honorable and the bed is blameless: for Christ blessed them at the marriage in Cana, eating food and turning water into wine, showing His first miracle, so that you, soul, would change (John 2:2).

Christ strengthened the paralytic who took his bed, raised the widow's young son from death, healed the centurion's servant, and revealing Himself to the Samaritan woman, showing you, soul, spiritual service to God.

The Lord, by touching the clothes, healed the bleeding, cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, corrected the lame, deaf, dumb, and with a word healed the bent one, so that you would be saved, unfortunate soul.

III. Healing illnesses, Christ the Word proclaimed the gospel to the poor, healed the crippled, ate with tax collectors, talked with sinners, and with a touch of his hand restored the soul of the daughter of Jairus, who had already left the body.

The publican was saved, and the harlot became chaste, and the proud Pharisee was condemned; for the first one cried out: be merciful to me; another: - have mercy on me; and the latter vainly proclaimed: God, thank you! - and other foolish words (Luke 18:14).

Zacchaeus was a publican, but he escaped; Simon the Pharisee was tempted, and the harlot received decisive forgiveness from Him who had the power to forgive sins; and you, soul, hasten to imitate her (Luke 19:2, 7:39, Matt. 8:6).

My poor soul, you are not like that harlot who, having taken a vessel with myrrh, with tears smeared and wiped with her hair the legs of the Savior, who destroyed the list of her previous sins (Luke 7:37).

You know, my soul, how cursed were the cities to which Christ proclaimed the gospel; fear this example, lest you also be like them, for the Lord, likening them to the Sodomites, condemned them even to hell (Luke 10:13-15).

Do not turn out, my soul, from despair worse than the Canaanite woman, whose daughter was healed by the word of God for her faith; cry out to Christ, as she did, from the depths of your heart: Son of David, save me (Matthew 15:22).

IV. Have mercy, save me, have mercy, son of David, who healed the demoniac with a word, and tell me, as a thief, merciful words: I tell you truly, you will be with me in paradise when I come in my glory (Luke 23:43).

Both thieves hung on the cross, one reviled You, and the other confessed You as God; but, O Many-merciful One, open the door of Your glorious kingdom to me, as to a believing thief who has come to know God in You.

The creature trembled, seeing You crucified, mountains and stones fell apart in horror, the earth shook, hell was overthrown and the light darkened in the middle of the day, looking at You, Jesus, nailed to the cross by the flesh (Matt. 27:51, Lk. 23:45).

Do not demand from me fruits worthy of repentance, for my strength has become impoverished in me; Grant me, O only Savior, an ever contrite heart and spiritual poverty, so that I may offer them to You as a favorable sacrifice.

My Judge, who guides me! When You come again with the Angels to judge the whole world, then, Jesus, looking at me with Your merciful eye, have mercy and have mercy on me, who has sinned more than any man.

Rev. Mary of Egypt: Living sublimely and conquering nature with your extraordinary life, You surprised everyone - both the ranks of angels and hosts of people, therefore you, Mary, as if incorporeal, crossed the Jordan with your feet.

Bend the Creator to the mercy of those who praise you, reverend mother, so that we can get rid of sorrows and sorrows that attack us from everywhere, so that, having got rid of temptations, we will unceasingly magnify the Lord who glorified you.

Rev. Andrew of Crete: Venerable Andrew, Most Blessed Father, Pastor of Crete! Do not stop praying for those who sing of you, in order to get rid of anger, sorrow, corruption and countless sins to all of us who faithfully honor your memory.

Rev. Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, exalt the Son, with faith honor the worship of the Divine Spirit, the Trinity indivisible, One in essence, like light a and light, life and life, life-giving and enlightening the ends of the universe.

Mother of God: Preserve Your city, most pure Mother of God, for by Your power it reigns faithfully, it was strengthened by You, and by You it overcomes every temptation, triumphs over enemies and keeps them in subjection.

^ Appendix. St. Mary of Egypt

M Aria, at the age of twelve, left her parental home in Alexandria, and, being free from parental supervision, young and inexperienced, she was carried away by a vicious life. There was no one to stop her on the way to death, and there were many seducers and temptations. After 17 years of such a life, Mary realized her fall when, being held in Jerusalem by an invisible force, she could not enter the temple. Realizing why she was unworthy to enter the temple, she immediately repented before God and decided to completely change her way of life. From Jerusalem, Mary retired to the harsh and deserted Jordanian desert and spent 48 years there in complete solitude, fasting, prayer and tears. Thus, by severe deeds, she completely eradicated all sinful desires from herself, and cleansed her heart so that it became, as it were, a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Elder Zosima, who lived in the Jordanian monastery of St. John the Baptist, by the providence of God he was honored to meet with the Monk Mary, when she was already a deep old woman. He was struck by her great holiness and gift of insight. Once he saw her floating in the air while praying, and another time he saw the Jordan River crossing the water, as if on land. The venerable one asked the elder to appear again in the desert with the Holy Mysteries in a year. The elder at the appointed time came to her and communed the Monk Mary with the Holy Mysteries. Arriving in the desert a year later, hoping to see the saint, he no longer found her alive. Then he buried her there in the desert, in which the lion helped him, who dug a hole with his claws to bury the body of the righteous. This was around 521.

So Reverend Mary, from a great sinner, with God's help she became the greatest saint and left an example of repentance to all people. Her memory is celebrated on April 1st and on the 5th Sunday of Great Lent.

^ St. Andrew, Bishop of Crete

FROM Saint Andrew was a native of Damascus. Being mute until the age of seven, he received the gift of speech after communion with the Holy Mysteries. In the 14th year, wishing to serve God, he retired for an ascetic life to the Jerusalem monastery of St. Savva the Sanctified. Having become famous here for his intelligence and strict life, he was taken to the Jerusalem Patriarchate as a clerk. In 679, he traveled as locum tenens of the patriarchal throne to Constantinople for the 6th Ecumenical Council. Shortly after the council, he was ordained a deacon of the great Sophia church and performed the duty of “orphan feeder.” Under Emperor Justinian II, St. Andrew was ordained Archbishop of Crete. Died St. Andrew in 712.

St. Andrew is known as a preacher and church poet. Having composed many inspired prayers and hymns, he also wrote the Great Canon of Penitence, which is read in the church during Great Lent. He also wrote a canon for the Nativity of Christ and others, triplets (canons consisting of three odes) for Compline of the week of Vaii and for the first days of Passion Week, stichera for the Presentation of the Lord, and others.

The canon of St. Andrew of Crete is one of the greatest liturgical texts - a penitential canon that combines the interweaving of images of Holy Scripture, high poetry and an accurate portrait of a person.

In the first four days Great Lent at the evening service, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Grand canon Andrew of Crete- this is the miracle of all church hymnography, these are texts of amazing power and beauty. It begins with a text addressed to Christ: “Where shall I begin to weep for my accursed life of deeds? How shall I begin, O Christ, the present weeping?” - where should I start to repent, because it is so difficult.

“Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh. Confess to the builder of all ... ”- amazing words, here both Christian anthropology and asceticism: the flesh must also participate in repentance, as an integral part of human nature.

Text of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete, translation, AUDIO

Full text of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

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• Canon of Andrew of Crete Monday
• Canon of Andrew of Crete Tuesday the first week of Great Lent (text + audio)
• Canon of Andrew of Crete Wednesday the first week of Great Lent (text + audio)
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• Canon of Andrew of Crete. Mariino standing (+ Audio + Video)

Recordings of the reading of the canon of St. Andrew of Crete

• Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete - Reading at Sretensky Monastery (AUDIO)
• The Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete - read by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk (AUDIO)
• Great Canon of Andrew of Crete - read by Patriarch Pimen (AUDIO)

Translating to Russian language

• Canon of St. Andrew of Crete translated by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov)
• Download Metropolitan Nikodim's translation PDF format

Parsing the text of the canon - interpretation of difficult passages

• Through the pages of the canon of St. Andrei of Crete - an article by philologist L. Makarova

Reflections on the pages of the canon

• Bishop Benjamin (Milov) Edification according to the "Great Canon" of St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete
• Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann Lenten wandering - Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
• Nun Ignatia (Petrovskaya) Place of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the song-writing heritage of the Church
• Hieromonk Dimitry Pershin On the canon of Andrei of Crete, aliens and brands of refrigerators (conversation + video)
• Archpriest Nikolai Pogrebnyak The Great Canon: History and Iconographic Parallels (Reading the Canon through Icons)
• Olivier Clement Canon of St. Andrew of Crete - the awakening of the soul
• Archpriest Sergius Pravdolyubov On St. Andrew of Crete and his Great Canon
• M.S. Krasovitskaya According to the pages of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete. great post

Canon of Andrew of Crete in art

• Canon of Andrew of Crete - song by Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin) !Recommended (AUDIO)
• Canon of repentance of St. Andrew of Crete in verse transcription by Priest Gabriel of Pakat
• Anna Akhmatova I listened to the canon of Andrew of Crete in this church…

Sermons after the canon of St. Andrew of Crete

• Archpriest Valentin (Amphitheatrov) Sermons during the First Week of Great Lent
• Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky), Archbishop of Vereya On Wisdom. Meditation on two troparia of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete
• Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov)
  • Sermon on Tuesday of the 1st Week of Great Lent at Great Compline About fasting and its benefits
  • Sermon on Wednesday of the 1st Week of Great Lent at Great Compline On fasting and repentance
  • Sermon on Thursday of the 1st Week of Great Lent at Great Compline About fasting and its meaning

About the author of the canon. About Andrew of Crete

The Great Canon of Andrew of Crete deals with the repentance of the soul and the difficult path of the soul towards the Heavenly Father, towards God. The author of the canon wrote it in his declining years, having lived a long and difficult life. Andrew of Crete was born in Syria, in Damascus. He lived and worked in Syria, in Constantinople, in Crete. This poem is dedicated to the repentance of his own soul, but personal history is passed through the prism of the history of the Old and New Testaments. A great Christian theologian and author of many hymns, St. Andrew of Crete is best known for his penitential canon, which is read during Great Lent. At birth, Andrei of Crete could not speak, having communed the Holy Mysteries at the age of seven, he found his voice. As a teenager, he led the ascetic life of a monk in the monastery of St. Savva the Sanctified. Later he became archdeacon at the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. His relics were transferred to Constantinople, but he died on the island of Lesbos, serving the Church and the Lord to the end.

Why is the canon called Great?

The canon of Andrew of Crete contains about 250 verses, it is quite large in form and complex in content. In the original, the canon of Andrew of Crete was written in Greek, later it was translated into Church Slavonic, it is in this form that we hear it in the temple. Since many prostrations are made during the reading of the great canon, it may seem that reading the canon is physically difficult in the first place. But the essence of the canon of St. Andrew of Crete, of course, is not in physical, but in spiritual labor. There are many translations of the canon of Andrew of Crete. To understand not only the content of the canon, but also its meaning, it is best to read the Holy Scriptures. It is believed that he most fully reveals the horror of sin and the suffering of the soul affected by it.

The canon of Andrew of Crete is divided into four parts. This is a great poetic and theological work that prepares the faithful for the field of Great Lent. After all, the essence of fasting is not in limiting food, but in spiritual exercise, in learning to repent and pray. After each small verse, according to the established tradition, believers bow to the ground. The canon of Andrew of Crete consists of more than 250 stanzas. Its text is in the Lenten Triodion. The Great Canon of Andrew of Crete has been set to music and performed in polyphony.

When the canon of Andrew of Crete is read

On the first week of Great Lent, the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read in the church for four days. At the center of Great Lent is the change of a person, change through repentance. Without repentance, spiritual life and the growth of the human spirit are impossible. Repentance for sin involves judging oneself, and judging oneself is difficult but necessary when it comes to spiritual growth.

Many Christians, who are called "neophytes", who have recently come to believe, come to the services of Great Lent. It seems difficult for them to endure a long penitential service, which speaks of the penitent and difficult path of the sinful human soul to the Perfect Creator. The practice of reading the canon was different in different ancient manuscripts. The Church decided to divide the canon into four parts in order to gradually prepare a person for great repentance. If you read the entire canon at once, the feeling will be heavy. The Charter of the Church proposes to read the canon of Andrew of Crete in parts. But on Thursday (or Wednesday evening) of the fifth week of Great Lent, the canon of Andrew of Crete is read again, this time in its entirety. By this time, a person is already prepared for a long worship service, usually spiritually. As an example of great repentance, the life of Mary of Egypt is read. After all, it was Mary of Egypt who achieved holiness, having endured the great feat of repentance. The canon of Andrew of Crete reminds us of the power of God's grace, which purifies any heart. Even the one that, it would seem, is completely mired in sin.

The canon of Andrew of Crete can be read at home. A prayer book as a book appeared only in the 8th century. In ancient times, the canon of Andrew of Crete was read at home, especially, due to the huge number of translations, it is possible to clarify the essence of phrases that are incomprehensible in Church Slavonic. If it is not possible to come to the temple, it is better to read the canon of St. Andrew of Crete at home than not to read at all. It will be quite appropriate. Reading the canon in cell prayer at other times, not only during Great Lent, is also allowed. A feeling of repentance before the Lord, a desire to be cleansed from sin should accompany a Christian not only at certain times of the year.

6 amazing facts about the canon of Andrew of Crete

The Great Penitential Canon is an endless reason for wonder. Do you know that before it was read not at all in those days of fasting, what is it now? Moreover, that its creation has nothing to do with Great Lent at all? And one more thing - can you imagine how long the church service lasted in the 7th century?

1. The Great Canon of Penitence is not the only work of St. Andrew of Crete, he also owns the canons for the main Byzantine church holidays. In total, there are more than seventy canons attributed to the pen of St. Andrew of Crete.

2. Saint Andrew of Crete was not only a preacher(he owns a number of "words" - sermons) and a hymnographer, but also a melody. That is, the chants to which the words of the canon were sung were also originally invented by him.

3. Saint Andrew of Crete is considered inventor of the very form of the nine-part canon- a genre of church poetry, a kind of hymn-poem. As a genre, the canon replaced the kontakion, which in ancient times was also a multi-stanza poem.

In general, the services of that time were much longer. Thus, the Great Penitential Canon is by no means the most extensive in the work of Andrew of Crete. And, for example, only in the same 7th century, when the saint began to preach, did the form of the Six Psalms presumably take shape. Prior to that, during the service, the Psalter was read in full.

4. Until the 14th century, in Russia they adhered to the Studite Rule, which prescribed to sing the Great Canon of Penitence on the Fifth Week of Great Lent. Sometimes the canon was divided into parts, sometimes it was entirely part of the Sunday church service. The tradition of singing the canon in parts during the first four days of Great Lent is provided for in the Jerusalem Rule.

When, in the 14th century, the Russian Church switched to the Jerusalem Rule, it appropriately adopted this tradition as well. The tradition of reading the canon on Thursday of the fifth week is of late origin.

5. Initially the Great Penitential Canon in general not connected with the time and services of the Fortecost. Some researchers believe that this work of St. Andrew arose as his dying autobiography, as a repentance for participating in the false council of 712. Then, under pressure from the heresiarch emperor, among other participants, the saint signed the condemnation of the decisions of the Sixth Ecumenical Council.

A year later, the emperor was replaced, and all participants in the meeting repented, especially putting their signatures under the documents of the Ecumenical Council. But, apparently, the past act did not give the saint peace. And then he creates his extensive poem about human repentance and the path of man to God.

6. Parts into which the Great Penitential Canon is divided when performed on the first week of Great Lent, in Greek they are called "mephimons". However, in Russian everyday life this word was often pronounced as "efimons". The hero's trip to the "efimons" is described in the novel by I.S. Shmelev "Summer of the Lord"