The Great Canon of ST Andrew of Crete

The Great Canon
Thursday
of the
Fifth Week of Great
Lent
The Great Canon – On Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Page 1 of 59

This service is on Wednesday evening.
Matins begins as usual in Lent, till the 8th Kathisma (55-

63) and the Sedalion with its Theotokion.
The first half of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt is now

read.
Then, after Psalm 50 we at once begin to sing the

Canon, leisurely and with compunction.
Before each Troparion, we make the sign of the cross

and bow three times, saying: Have mercy on me, O God,
have mercy on me.

Song 1.
He is my Helper and Protector, and has become

Eirmos
my salvation. This is my God and I will glorify Him. My

father's God and I will exalt Him. For gloriously has
He been glorified. (Exodus 15:2, 1; Psalm 117:14)
Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia:
1. Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched

life? What first-fruit shall I offer, O Christ, for my present
lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me release from
my falls.
2.Come, wretched soul, with your flesh, confess to the

Creator of all. In future refrain from your former brutishness,
and offer to God tears in repentance.
Having rivaled the first-created Adam by my transgression,

3.
I realize that I am stripped naked of God and of the

everlasting kingdom and bliss through my sins. (Genesis 3)
Alas, wretched soul! Why are you like the first Eve? For you
4.
have wickedly looked and been bitterly wounded, and you

have touched the tree and rashly tasted the forbidden food.
The place of bodily Eve has been taken for me by the Eve
5.
of my mind in the shape of a passionate thought in the flesh,

showing me sweet things, yet ever making me taste and
swallow bitter things.
Adam was rightly exiled from Eden for not keeping Thy one
6.
commandment, O Savior. But what shall I suffer who am

always rejecting Thy living words? (Hebrews 12:25; Genesis 3:23)

7.I have willfully incurred the guilt of Cain's murder, since by
invigorating my flesh I am the murderer of my soul's
awareness, and have warred against it by my evil deeds.
(Genesis 4:8)
I have not resembled Abel's righteousness, O Jesus. I have

8.
never offered Thee acceptable gifts, nor divine actions, nor a

pure sacrifice, nor an unblemished life. (Genesis 4:4)
9.Like Cain, we too, O wretched soul, have likewise offered

to the Creator of all foul deeds, defective sacrifice and a
useless life. Therefore we too are condemned. (Genesis 4:5; Hebrews
11:4)
10.In molding my clay into life, O Potter, Thou didst put in me

flesh and bones, breath and vitality. But, O my Creator, my
Redeemer and Judge, accept me who repent. (Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah
18:1-10; Romans 9:21)
I confess to Thee, O Savior, the sins I have committed,

11.
and the wounds of my body and soul which murderous

thoughts like robbers within have inflicted upon me. (Luke 10:30)
I have sinned, O Savior, yet I know that Thou art the Lover
12.
of men. Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly.

Thou seest me weeping and runnest towards me as the
Father recalling the Prodigal. (Luke 15:20)
In old age even, O Savior, do not cast me out empty to

13. .
hell as I lie prostrate before Thy gates. But before my end, in

Thy love for men, grant me release from my falls.
I am the one by my thoughts who fell among robbers; and

14.
now I am all wounded by them, full of sores. But stand by

me, O Christ my Savior, and heal me. (Luke 10:30)
The priest saw me first and passed by on the other side.

15.
Then the Levite took a look at my sufferings and disdained

my nakedness. But stand by me, O Jesus Who didst dawn
out of Mary, and have compassion on me. (Luke 10:31-33)
O Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of all, take from
16.
me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me

tears of compunction (John 1:29)
It is time for repentance. I draw near to Thee, my Creator.

17.
Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion

grant me tears of compunction.*
Abhor me not, O Savior, cast me not away from Thy face.

18.
Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion

grant me release from my falls.*
All my sins, voluntary and involuntary, obvious and secret,

19.
known and unknown, forgive, O Savior, for Thou art God; be

merciful and save me.
20. From my youth, O Christ, I have rejected Thy

commandments. I have passed my whole life without caring
or thinking as a slave of my passions. Therefore, O Savior, I
cry to Thee: At least in the end save me.
I have squandered in profligacy my substance, O Savior,

21.
and I am barren of virtues and piety; but famished I cry: O

Father of mercies, forestall and have compassion on me. (Luke
15:13. ,17)
I fall prostrate before Thee, O Jesus. I have sinned against

22.
Thee, be merciful to me. Take from me the heavy yoke of

sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Enter not into judgment with me, by recording my deeds,

23.
demanding an account of my words, and examining my

motives and desires. But in Thy compassion disregard my
terrible past and save me, O God All-Powerful.
ANOTHER CANON, OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT
To the same Tone and Eirmos

Refrain: Holy mother Mary, pray for us.
Grant me that illuminating grace from on high

To St. Mary of Egypt:
given thee by Divine Providence that I may escape the
darkening of the passions and fervently sing of the thrilling
achievements of thy life, O Mary.
To St. Mary of Egypt: By

submitting to Christ's divine laws Thou didst
draw near to Him, having left the unbridled craving for
pleasure, and with all discretion thou didst achieve every
virtue as one.
Refrain: Holy father Andrew, pray for us.
By thy prayers, O Andrew, deliver us from

To St. Andrew of Crete:
degrading passions, and make us who with faith and love
sing of thee partakers now of the Kingdom of Christ, O
renowned father, we pray.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy

Spirit:
Superessential Trinity, adored in Unity, take from

To The Trinity:
me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me
tears of compunction.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Mother of God, hope and intercessor of those who

Theotokion:
sing of thee, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and as
thou art our pure Lady, accept me who repent.

Song 2.
Attend, O heaven, and I will speak, and will sing

Eirmos
of Christ who came to dwell among us in flesh which

He took from the Virgin.

Troparia:
Attend, O heaven, and I will speak; O earth, give ear to a

1.
voice repenting to God and singing praises to Him.
Attend to me, O God my Savior, with Thy merciful eye, and

2.
accept my fervent confession. (Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 33:15)
I have sinned above all men, I alone have sinned against

3.
Thee. But as God have compassion, O Savior, on Thy

creature. (I Timothy 1:15)
A storm of passions besets me, O compassionate Lord. But

4.
stretch out Thy hand to me too, as to Peter. (Matthew 14:31)
The tears of the harlot, O merciful Lord, I too offer to Thee.

5.
Be merciful to me, O Savior, in Thy compassion. (Luke 7:38; 18:13. )
6.I have darkened the beauty of my soul with passionate

pleasures, and my whole mind I have reduced wholly to
mud.
7.I have torn my first garment which the Creator wove for me
in the beginning, and therefore I am lying naked. (Genesis 3:21)
I have put on a torn coat, which the serpent wove for me by

8.
argument, and I am ashamed. (Genesis 3:4-5)
9.I looked at the beauty of the tree, and my mind was

seduced; and now I lie naked, and I am ashamed. (Genesis 3:7)
All the demon-chiefs of the passions have plowed on my
10.
back, and long has their tyranny over me lasted. (Psalm 128:3)
I have lost my first-created beauty and comeliness; and

11.
now I lie naked, and I am ashamed.
Sin which stripped me of my former God-woven clothing

12.
has also sewn on me coats of skin. (Genesis 3:21)
I am wrapped in a garment of shame as with fig leaves, in

13. .
reproof of my selfish passions.
14.I am clad in a coat that is spotted and shamefully

bloodstained by the flow of my passionate and pleasure-
loving life.
I have stained the coat of my flesh, and soiled what is in

15.
Thy image and likeness, O Savior.
I fell under the burden of passions and corruption of

16.
matter, and from then until now I am oppressed by the

enemy.
Having preferred a possessive and pleasure-loving life to

17.
spiritual poverty, O Savior, I am now harnessed with a heavy

yoke. (Matthew 5:3)
I have adorned the idol of my flesh with the many-colored

18.
clothing of shameful thoughts, and I am condemned. (I John 5:21)
19.I have been anxiously concerned only about outward

adornment, and have neglected the inner temple made in
the image of God. (I Peter 3:3-4)
Having formed by my pleasure-loving desires the deformity

20.
of my passions, I have marred the beauty of my mind.

I have buried with passions the beauty of the original
21.
image, O Savior. But seek and find it, like the lost coin. (Luke 15:8)
Like the harlot I cry to Thee: I have sinned, I alone have

22.
sinned against Thee. Accept my tears also, O Savior, as

perfume. (Luke 7:37-50)
23.I have slipped and fallen like David through lack of

discipline, and I am covered with filth; but wash me too, O
Savior, with my tears. (II Kings 11:1-4)
Like the publican I cry to Thee: Be merciful, O Savior, be

24.
merciful to me; for no child of Adam has sinned as I against

Thee. (Luke 18:13. )
No tears, no repentance have I, no compunction. But as

25.
God, O Savior, grant me these.
Close not Thy door to me then, Lord, Lord; but open it to

26.
me who repent to Thee. (Matthew 25:11)
O Lover of men, Who wishest all to be saved, in Thy

27.
goodness recall me and receive me who repent. (I Timothy 2:4)
Give ear to the sighs and groans of my soul, and accept

28.
the drops of my eyes, O Savior, and save me.
Refrain: Most holy Mother of God, save us.
Spotless Mother of God, only all-hymned Virgin, pray

Theotokion:
intensely that we may be saved.
See, see that I am God, Who rained manna

Another Eirmos
and made water spout from the rock of old for my

people in the wilderness, by My right hand, and by My
strength alone.

See, see that I am God: give ear, my soul, to the Lord Who
29.
is appealing to you, and tear yourself from your former sin,

and fear Him as the Avenger, and as your Judge and God.
(Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30)
30. Whom do you resemble, O most sinful soul? Surely the

first Cain and that wicked Lamech. For you have stoned your
body with evil deeds, and you have murdered your mind with
irrational appetites. (Genesis 4; 4:23)
31. Running through all who lived before the Law, my soul,
you have not been like Seth, nor imitated Enos, nor Enoch
by translation, nor Noah. But you are seen to be bereft of the
life of the righteous. (Genesis 5)
You alone have opened the cataracts of the wrath of God,

32.
my soul, and have flooded as the earth all your flesh and
actions and life, and have remained outside the Ark of
Salvation. (Genesis 6-8)
33."I have killed a man to the wounding of myself," said

Lamech, "and a young man to my own hurt," he cried out
wailing. But you, my soul, do not tremble, while polluting the
flesh and defiling the mind. (Genesis 4:23)
O how I have emulated that old murderer Lamech! By my

34.
pleasure-loving cravings I have killed my soul as the man,

my mind as the young man, and my body as my brother, like
Cain the murderer. (Genesis 4:23)
You would have contrived to build a tower, my soul, and
35.
erect a stronghold for your lusts, had not the Creator

confounded your plans and brought your schemes crashing
to earth. (Genesis 11:3-4)
I am struck and wounded! See the arrows of the enemy

36.
with which my soul and body are pierced all over! See the
wounds, the sores and the mutilations that cry out and
betray the blows of my self-chosen passions!
The Lord rained fire from the Lord of old, and burnt up the
37.
wanton wickedness of Sodom. But you, my soul, have

kindled the fire of hell, in which you are about to be bitterly
burnt. (Genesis 19:24)
38.Know and see that I am God, Who searches hearts,

punishes thoughts, reproves actions, and burns sins, and
judges the orphan, the humble and the poor. (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm
67:5)
To St. Mary of Egypt: Thou

didst stretch out thy hands to the merciful
God, O Mary, when sunk in the lowest vices. And He Who
by every means was seeking thy conversion, lovingly
stretched out a helping hand as to Peter.
With all eagerness and love thou didst run to

Christ, abandoning thy former way of sin. And being
nourished in the untrodden wilderness, thou didst chastely
fulfil His divine commandments.
Let us see, let us see, O soul, our Lord and

God's love for men. So before the end let us fall down before
Him with tears and cry: By the prayers of Andrew, O Savior,
have mercy on us.

Spirit:

Unoriginate, uncreated Trinity, indivisible Unity,
To The Trinity:
accept me who repent, save me who have sinned. I am Thy
creation, despise me not, but spare me and deliver me from
the fire of condemnation.
Spotless lady, Mother of God, hope of those who run

Theotokion:
to thee, and haven of those in distress, obtain grace for me
from the merciful One, Thy Son and Creator, by thy prayers.

Song 3.
Establish Thy Church on the unshakable rock of

Eirmos
Thy commandments, O Christ,

Troparia:
1.The Lord rained fire from the Lord, my soul, and burnt up
the former land of Sodom. (Genesis 19:24)
Escape to the mountain like Lot, my soul, and make Zoar

2.
your refuge in time. (Genesis 19:22)
Run from the burning, my soul! Run from the heat of

3.
Sodom! Run from the destruction of the divine flame. (Deuteronomy

4:24; Hebrews 12:29)
I confess to Thee, O Savior, I have sinned, I have sinned

4.
against Thee, but absolve and forgive me in Thy

compassion.
I alone have sinned against Thee, sinned above all men. O

5.
Christ my Savior, spurn me not.
Thou art the good Shepherd; seek me, Thy lamb, and
6.
neglect not me who have gone astray. (John 10:11-14)
Thou art my sweet Jesus, Thou art my Creator; in Thee, O

7.
Savior, I shall be justified.

Spirit:
O Trinity, Unity, God, save us from delusion and

To The Trinity:
temptations and distressing circumstances.

Rejoice, God-receiving womb! Rejoice, throne of the

Theotokion:
Lord! Rejoice, Mother of our Life!
Establish, O Lord, my unstable heart on the rock

Another Eirmos
of Thy commandments, for Thou only art Holy and Lord.
In Thee, the Conqueror of death, I have found the Source

8.
of Life, and from my heart I cry to Thee before my end: I

have sinned, be merciful, save me.
9.I have imitated those who were licentious in Noah's time,

and I have earned a share in their condemnation of drowning
in the flood. (Genesis 6)
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against Thee. Be

10.
merciful to me. For there is no one who has sinned among

men whom I have not surpassed by my sins.
You have imitated Ham, that spurner of his father, my soul.

11.
You have not concealed your neighbor’s shame by returning

to him looking backwards. (Genesis 9:20-27)
You have not inherited Shem's blessing, wretched soul,

12.
nor have you received that vast possession like Japheth in

the land of forgiveness. (Genesis 9:26-27)
Come out, my soul, from sin, from the land of Haran!

13. .
Come into the land of eternal life flowing with incorruption

which Abraham inherited. (Genesis 12:4)
You have heard, my soul, how Abraham of old left the land
14.
of his fathers and became a nomad. Imitate his resolution.

(Genesis 12:1)
At the Oak of Mamre the Patriarch entertained Angels, and

15.
inherited in his old age the spoil of the promise. (Genesis 18:1)
16.Knowing, my wretched soul, how Isaac was mystically
offered to the Lord as a new sacrifice and holocaust, imitate
his resolution. (Genesis 22:2)
You have heard of Ishmael (be watchful, my soul!) who

17.
was driven out as the son of a slave-girl. Beware lest you

suffer something similar by your lusting. (Genesis 21:10)
You, my soul, have become like Hagar the Egyptian of old.

18.
You have become enslaved by your own choice and have a

new Ishmael - stubborn self-will. (Genesis 16:15)
19.You know, my soul, of the Ladder shown to Jacob

reaching from earth to Heaven. Why have you not clung to
the sure step of piety? (Genesis 28:12)
Imitate that Priest of God and solitary King who was an

20.
image of the life of Christ in the world among men. (cf. Melchizedek:
Hebrews 7:1-4; Genesis 14:18)
Do not be a pillar of salt, my soul, by turning back; but let

21.
the example of the Sodomites frighten you, and take refuge

up in Zoar. (Genesis 19:26)
Run, my soul, like Lot from the fire of sin; run from Sodom
22.
and Gomorrah; run from the flame of every irrational desire.

(Genesis 19)
Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on me, I implore Thee,

23.
when Thou comest with Thy Angels to requite us all as our

actions deserve.
Reject not the prayer of those who praise Thee, O Lord;

24.
but have compassion on us, O Lover of men, and to those

who ask with faith grant forgiveness.

I am hard pressed by the waves and billows of
my sins, mother. But now bring me safely through, and lead
me to the haven of divine repentance.
In offering a fervent prayer at this time to the

compassionate Mother of God, O Saint, by thy intercession
open to me the divine right of entry.
By thy prayers grant me release from my

debts, O Andrew, prelate of Crete, for thou art an
unsurpassed guide to the mysteries of repentance.

Spirit:
To The Simple, uncreated Unity, unoriginate Nature

Trinity:
praised in a Trinity of Persons, save us who with faith
worship Thy power.
O Mother of God, unwedded thou gavest birth in

Theotokion:
time to the timeless Son of the Father, And - O strange
wonder! - thou remainest a Virgin while suckling Him.
And again the Eirmos
Establish, O Lord, my unstable heart on The rock of

Thy commandments, for Thou only art Holy and Lord.

Little Litany:
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the

Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy
Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us,
O God, by Thy grace.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most
pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-
Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves
and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.
Exclamation:
Priest:For Thou art our God and unto Thee do we send

up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Sedalion, tone 8, the work of Joseph:
O divinely shining lights, Apostles and eyewitnesses

of the Savior, enlighten us in the darkness of life, that
we may walk honestly as in the day, routing the
passions of the night with the lamp of temperance and
continence, and may see the glorious Passion of
Christ rejoicing.

Spirit:
Another, the work of Theodore:
O God-chosen band of the Twelve Apostles, offer

now especially prayer to Christ, that we may all finish
the course of the Fast, completing the prayers with
compunction, and zealously practicing the virtues,
that we may attain to see the glorious Resurrect ion of
Christ our God, offering Him glory and praise.
Pray with the Apostles, O Mother of God, to

Theotokion:
the incomprehensible Son and Word of God, Who

beyond understanding was ineffably born of thee, that
He may bestow true peace on the world, and before
our end grant us forgiveness of sins, and in thy
extreme goodness make thy servants fit for the
Kingdom of Heaven.
The Second half of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt is

read here.

TRIODION or THREE SONGS (without bows)
The work of Joseph.
Song 4. Tone 8.
I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy plan, I

Eirmos
contemplate Thy works and glorify Thy divine nature.
Refrain: Holy Apostles, pray for us.

Troparia:
1.Having lived in continence, the enlightened Apostles of

Christ make easy for us the time of continence by their
divine intercessions.
2.Like a twelve-stringed instrument, the divine choir of the

Disciples sings the song of salvation, and confounds the
racket of the evil one.
3.With showers of the Spirit, O all-blessed Apostles, you

have watered everything under the sun and banished the
drought of polytheism.
Humble and save me who have lived high-mindedly,

Theotokion:
O all-pure Virgin, who gavest birth to Him Who exalted our
humbled nature.
ANOTHER TRIODION, the work of Theodore.
I have heard, O Lord, the report of Thee, and am

Eirmos
afraid. I contemplate Thy works and glorify Thy

power, O Lord.

Troparia:
Most holy choir of Apostles, pray to the Creator of all and

4.
ask Him to have mercy on us who sing your praises.
5.As workers who cultivated the whole world with the word of
God, O Apostles of Christ, you always offered Him your
fruits.
You were a vineyard for the truly beloved Christ, for from
6.
you the wine of the Spirit gushed into the world, O Apostles.

Spirit:
Eternal, co-equal, all-powerful Holy Trinity; Father,

To The Trinity:
Word and Holy Spirit; God, Light and Life, guard Thy flock.
Rejoice, fiery throne! Rejoice, luminous lamp!

Theotokion:
Rejoice, mountain of sanctification, ark of life, tabernacle,
holy of holies.

CONTINUATION OF THE GREAT CANON.
Song 4.
The Prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and

Eirmos
was afraid that Thou wast to be born of a Virgin and

appear to men, and he said "I have heard the report
of Thee and am afraid." Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
(Habbakuk 3:2)

Troparia:
Despise not Thy works and forsake not Thy creation, O just
1.
Judge and Lover of men, though I alone have sinned as a

man more than any man. But being Lord of all, Thou hast
power to pardon sins. (Mark 2:10)
2.The end is drawing near, my soul, is drawing near! But you

neither care nor prepare. The time is growing short. Rise!
The Judge is near at the very doors. Like a dream, like a
flower, the time of this life passes. Why do we bustle about
in vain? (Matthew 24:33; Psalm 38:7)
3.Come to your senses, my soul! Consider the deeds you

have done, and bring them before your eyes, and pour out
the drops of your tears. Boldly tell your thoughts and deeds
to Christ, and be acquitted.
There has never been a sin or act or vice in life that I have
4.
not committed, O Savior. I have sinned in mind, word and

choice, in purpose, will and action, as no one else has ever
done.

Therefore I am condemned, wretch that I am, therefore I
5.
am doomed by my own conscience, than which there is

nothing in the world more rigorous. O my Judge and
Redeemer Who knowest my heart, spare and deliver and
save me, Thy servant.
6.The ladder of old which the great Patriarch saw, my soul, is

a model of mounting by action and ascent by knowledge. So,
if you wish to live in activity, knowledge and contemplation,
be renewed. (Genesis 28:12; Romans 12:2; Titus 3:5)
7.Because of his crying need the Patriarch endured the

scorching heat of the day, and he bore the frost of the night,
daily making gains, shepherding, struggling, slaving, in order
to win two wives. (Genesis 29:16-30; 31-40)
8.By the two wives understand action and direct knowledge

in contemplation: Leah as action, for she had many children,
and Rachel as knowledge, which is obtained by much labor.
For without labors, my soul, neither action nor contemplation
will achieve success.
9.Watch, my soul! Be courageous like the great Patriarchs,

that you may acquire activity and awareness, and be a mind
that sees God, and may reach in contemplation the
innermost darkness, and be a great trader. (Genesis 32:28; Luke 19:13. -15)
The great Patriarch, by begetting the twelve Patriarchs,

10.
mystically set up for you, my soul, a ladder of active ascent,

having wisely offered his children as rungs, and his steps as
ascents.
11.You have emulated the hated Esau, my soul, and have

given up your birthright of pristine beauty to your supplanter,
and you have lost your father's blessing, and have been
tripped up twice in action and knowledge. Therefore, O
wretch, repent now. ( Genesis 25:31; 27:37)

12.Esau was called Edom for his extreme passion of
madness for women. For ever burning with incontinence and
stained with pleasures, he was named Edom, which means
a red-hot sin-loving soul. (Genesis 25:30)
Have you heard of Job who was made holy on a dunghill,

13. .
O my soul? You have not emulated his courage, nor had his
firmness of purpose in all you have learned or known, or in
your temptations, but you have proved unpersevering. (Job 1)
He who was formerly on a throne is now naked on a

14.
dunghill and covered with sores. He who had many children

and was much admired is suddenly childless and homeless.
Yet he regarded the dunghill as a palace and his sores as
pearls. (Job 2:7-8)
The opulent and righteous man, arrayed in royal dignity,

15.
crown and purple, abounding in wealth and cattle, was

suddenly shorn of his riches, glory and kingdom and became
a beggar.
If he who was righteous and blameless beyond all did not

16.
escape the snares and nets of the deceiver, what will you
do, my soul, who are sin-loving and wretched, if something
unexpected happens to you?
My body is defiled, my spirit is sullied, and I am all covered

17.
with sores. But as the Physician, O Christ, heal, wash and

cleanse both body and spirit with repentance, and make me,
my Savior, purer than snow.
Thou didst lay down Thy body and blood for ail, O crucified
18.
Word: Thy body in order to renew me, Thy blood in order to

wash me, and Thou didst surrender Thy spirit, O Christ, in
order to bring me to the Father.

Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O
19.
merciful Creator, that we may be saved. Thou wast

voluntarily crucified on the Tree: Eden that was closed is
open; things on high and below, creation and all peoples are
saved and worship Thee. (Psalm 73:12)
May the blood and water that wells from Thy side be a font
20.
for me and a draught of forgiveness, that I may be cleansed,

anointed and refreshed by both as with drink and unction by
Thy living words, O Word. (John 19:34; Acts 7:38)
21.I am bereft of the bridal hall, I am bereft of the marriage

and supper. My lamp has gone out for want of oil, the door
has been locked while I was asleep; the supper is eaten; and
I, bound hand and foot, am cast outside. (Matthew 25; Luke 14:7-35; Matthew
22:1-14)
The Church has acquired Thy life-giving side as a chalice,

22.
from which gushes forth for us a twofold torrent of

forgiveness and knowledge as a type of the two covenants,
Old and New, O our Savior.
Brief is my lifetime and full of pain and wickedness, but

23.
accept me in penitence and recall me to awareness of Thee.

May I never be the possession or food of the enemy. O
Savior, have compassion on me. (Genesis 47:9)
Boastful I am, and hard-hearted, all in vain and for nothing.

24.
Condemn me not with the Pharisee, but rather grant me the

humility of the Publican, O only merciful and just Judge, and
number me with him. (Luke 18:9-14)
I have sinned, I know, O merciful Lord, and outraged the

25.
vessel of my flesh, but accept me in penitence and recall me

to awareness of Thee. May I never be the possession or
food of the enemy. O Savior, have compassion on me.

I am become my own idol, and have injured my soul with
26.
passions, O merciful Lord, but accept me in penitence and

recall me to awareness of Thee. May I never be the
possession or food of the enemy. O Savior, have
compassion on me.
I have not listened to Thy voice, I have disobeyed Thy

27.
Scripture, O Lawgiver, but accept me in penitence and recall

me to awareness of Thee. May I never be the possession or
food of the enemy. O Savior, have compassion on me.
To St. Mary of Egypt: By

living a bodiless life in a body, O Saint, thou
hast truly received great grace from God to intercede for
those who faithfully honor thee. Therefore we implore thee:
deliver us by thy prayers from trials of all kinds.
Though dragged down to the depth of great

offences, thou wast not held there. But with better thought
thou didst return by action to consummate virtue beyond all
expectation, to the amazement of angel kind, O Mary.
O Andrew, glory of the Fathers, standing

before the transcendingly divine Trinity, by thy prayers cease
not to intercede that we who invoke thee with love may be
delivered from torment, O divine intercessor, adornment of
Crete.

Spirit:

I confess Thee to be undivided in essence,
To The Trinity:
unconfused in persons, One Triune Divinity, co-enthroned
and co-reigning. I sing Thee the great song thrice sung on
high.
Thou givest birth and livest a virgin life, and in both

Theotokion:
remainest a virgin by nature. He Who is born of thee renews
the laws of nature, and a womb gives birth without travail.
Where God wills, the order of nature is overruled; for He
does whatever He wishes.

Song 5.
EirmosOut of the night watching early for Thee,

enlighten me, I pray, O Lover of men, and guide even
me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Savior,
to do Thy will.

Troparia:
I have passed my life ever in night, for the night of sin has
1.
been to me thick fog and darkness; but make me, O Savior,

a Son of the day. (Ephesians 5:8)
2.Like Reuben, wretch that I am, I have planned an

unprincipled and lawless act against God Most High, having
defiled my bed as he defiled that of his father. (Genesis 35:21; 49:3-4)
I confess to Thee, O Christ my King: I have sinned, I have

3.
sinned, like Joseph's brothers of old, who sold the fruit of

purity and chastity. (Genesis 37)
Righteous Joseph was given up by his brothers, that sweet

4.
soul was sold into slavery, as a type of the Lord; and you,
my soul, have sold yourself completely to your vices. (Genesis
37:27-28)
Imitate, wretched and worthless soul, righteous Joseph and

5.
his pure mind, and do not be wanton with irrational desires,

ever transgressing. (Genesis 39:7-23)
If Joseph of old also occupied a pit, O Sovereign Lord, yet it

6.
was as a type of Thy Burial and Rising. But will I ever offer
Thee anything like it? (Genesis 37)

You have heard, my soul, of Moses' ark of old, borne on the
7.
waters and waves of the river as in a shrine, which escaped

the bitter tragedy of Pharaoh's edict. (Exodus 1:22 - 2:3)
8.If you have heard of the midwives, wretched soul, who of

old killed in infancy the manly issue and practice of chastity,
then like the great Moses, suck wisdom. (Exodus 1:16; 2-9; Acts 7:22)
9.You, wretched soul, have not struck and killed your

Egyptian mind, like great Moses. Say, then, how will you
dwell in that desert solitude where the passions desert you
through repentance? (Exodus 2:12)
Great Moses dwelt in the wilds, my soul. So go and imitate

10.
his life, that you too may attain by contemplation to the vision
of God in the bush. (Exodus 3:1)
Imagine Moses' staff striking the sea and fixing the deep
11.
as a type of the divine Cross, by which you too, my soul, can

accomplish great things. (Exodus 14:16)
Aaron offered to God the fire pure and undefiled; but

12.
Hophni and Phinehas, like you, my soul, offered to God a

foul and rebellious life. (Leviticus 9:21-24; I Kings 2:12-34)
How heavy in character I have become, in soul and body,

13. .
like Jannes and Jambres in Pharaoh's bitter service, and my

mind has sunk low. But help me, O Lord. (Exodus 7:11; II Timothy 3:8)
I, wretch that I am, have rolled my mind in mud. But wash

14.
me, O Lord, in the bath of my tears, I pray Thee, and make

the robe of my flesh as white as snow.
When I examine my actions, O Savior, I see that I have

15.
gone beyond all men in sins; for I have sinned with

knowledge consciously, and not in ignorance.

Spare, spare, O Lord, Thy works. I have sinned; forgive
16.
me, for Thou alone art pure by nature, and apart from Thee
there is none without defilement. (I Peter 3:21)
Being God, for my sake Thou didst take my form, and didst
17.
work miracles, healing lepers and bracing paralytics; and

Thou didst stop the flow of blood of the woman with
hemorrhage, O Savior, through the touch of Thy hem. (Philemon
2:6; Matthew 4:24; Luke 8:43-48)
Imitate, wretched soul, the woman with hemorrhage. Run

18.
to Christ and hold His hem, that you may be healed of your
maladies and hear from Him, "Your faith has saved you."
(Matthew 9:22)
Imitate, my soul, the woman bent earthward; come and fall

19.
down at the feet of Jesus, that He may straighten you to

walk upright in the footsteps of the Lord. (Luke 13. :11)
20.Though Thou art a deep well, O Lord, pour on me streams

from Thy immaculate wounds, that like the Samaritan
woman I may drink and thirst no more; for from Thee gush
rivers of life. (John 4:13. -15)
May my tears be for me a Siloam, O Sovereign Lord, that I

21.
may wash the eyes of my soul and mentally see Thee Who
art that light which was before creation. (John 9:7; Genesis 1:2-19)
Thou, all-blessed one, didst yearn with

matchless love and longing to worship the Tree of Life, and
thy desire was granted; make us also worthy to attain to the
glory on high.

Having crossed Jordan's stream, thou didst
find rest by giving a wide berth to the deadening pleasure of
the flesh, from which deliver us also by thy prayers, O saint.
Eminent as the best of pastors, O wise

Andrew, I pray thee with great love and veneration that by
thy intercessions I may obtain salvation and eternal life.

Spirit:
Thee, O Trinity, we glorify, the one God: Holy,

To The Trinity:
Holy, Holy art Thou, Father, Son and Spirit, simple Being,
Unity ever adored.
From thee, O pure maiden Mother and Virgin, God

Theotokion:
Who created the worlds and ages was clad in my clay and
united to Himself human nature.

Song 6.
EirmosI cried with my whole heart to the merciful God,

and He heard me from the lowest hell and raised my
life out of corruption.

Troparia:
1.I sincerely offer Thee with a pure intention, O Savior, the

tears of my eyes and groans from the depths of my heart,
crying: O God, I have sinned against Thee; be merciful to
me. (Luke 18:13. )
You, my soul, have revolted from the Lord like Dathan and
2.
Abiram. But with all your heart cry, "Spare!" that a yawning
gulf of the earth may not swallow you. (Numbers 16)
Like a stampeding heifer stung to madness, my soul, you

3.
have resembled Ephraim. Winged with action, resolve and

contemplation, save your life like a gazelle from the noose.
(Hosea 4:16)
Let Moses' hand assure us, my soul, how God can whiten
4.
and cleanse a leprous life. So do not despair of yourself,

even though you are leprous. (Exodus 4:6-8)
The waves of my sins, O Savior, as in the Red Sea recoiled

5.
and covered me unawares, like the Egyptians of old and

their charioteers. (Exodus 14:7-31)
Like Israel of old, my soul, you have had a foolish affection.

6.
For like a brute you have preferred to divine manna the

pleasure-loving gluttony of the passions. (Numbers 21:5; I Corinthians 10:9)

7.The wells of Canaanite thoughts, my soul, you have prized
above the Rock with the cleft from which the river of wisdom
like a chalice pours forth streams of theology. (Genesis 21:23; Exodus 17:6)
Swine's flesh and hotpots and Egyptian food you, my soul,

8.
have preferred to heavenly manna, as of old the senseless

people in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:3; Numbers 11:4-7)
When Thy servant Moses struck the rock with his staff, he
9.
mystically typified Thy life-giving side, O Savior, from which

we all draw the water of life. (Numbers 20:11; I Corinthians 10:4)
Explore and spy out the Land of Promise like Joshua the
10.
Son of Nun, my soul, and see what it is like, and settle in it

by observing the laws. (Joshua 2)
Rise and make war against the passions of the flesh, as

11.
Joshua did against Amalek, and ever conquer the

Gibeonites - illusive thoughts. (Exodus 17:8; Joshua 8:21)
Pass through the flowing nature of time, like the Ark of old,
12.
and take possession of the Land of Promise, my soul: It is

God's command. (Joshua 3:17; Deuteronomy 1:8)
13. As Thou savedst Peter when he cried, "Save me!"

.
forestall and deliver me from the beast, O Savior; stretch out

Thy hand and raise me from the depths of sin. (Matthew 14:25-31)
I know Thee as a calm haven, O Lord, Lord Christ; but

14.
forestall and deliver me from the innermost depths of sin and

despair.
I am the coin with the royal image which was lost of old, O
15.
Savior. But light the lamp, Thy Forerunner, O Word; seek

and find Thy image. (Luke 15:8)

To extinguish the flame of the passions, O
Mary, thou didst ever shed rivers of tears and fire thy soul
with divine love. Grant also to me, thy servant, the grace of
tears.
Thou didst acquire heavenly dispassion by thy

sublime life on earth, O mother. Therefore pray that those
who sing of thee my be delivered from the grip of passions.
Knowing thee to be the shepherd and prelate

of Crete and intercessor for the world, O Andrew, I run to
thee and cry: Deliver me, father, from the depths of sin.

Spirit:
I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, divided

To The Trinity:
Personally, and I am the Unity, united in nature, says the
Father, the Son, and the Divine Spirit.
Thy womb bore God for us Who took our form.

Theotokion:
Implore Him as the Creator of all, O Mother of God, that
through thy intercessions we may be justified.
I cried with my whole heart to the merciful God, and He

heard me from the lowest hell and raised my life out of
corruption.

Little Litany:

Lord.
Exclamation:
Priest:For Thou art the King of Peace and Savior of our

souls, and to Thee we send up the glory, to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever,
and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Kontakion, tone 6:
My soul, my soul, arise! Why are you sleeping? The

end is drawing near, and you will be confounded.
Awake, then, and be watchful, that Christ our God
may spare you, Who is everywhere present and fills
all things.
Eikos:
Seeing Christ's healing temple opened, and how health

Streams from Him to Adam, the devil suffered and was
stricken. Then he wailed as if in mortal danger and to his
friends raised a bitter howl: what shall I do to the Son of
Mary? The Bethlehemite is killing me, Who is everywhere
present and fills all things.
Then we sing the Beatitudes:
In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord, when Thou

comest in Thy Kingdom.
Thou didst make the Robber a citizen of Paradise on the

1.
Cross when he cried to Thee, O Christ, "Remember me!"

Make me, unworthy as I am, also worthy of his repentance.
(Luke 23:42,43)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the

Kingdom of Heaven.
2.Have you heard, my soul, of Manoah of old who saw God

in a waking vision and received from his barren wife the fruit
of God's promise? Let us imitate his piety. (Judges 13. )
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be

comforted.

You, my soul, have emulated Samson's easy-going laxity;
3.
you have shorn the glory of your deeds, and by love of

pleasure have surrendered to the Philistines a chaste and
blessed life. (Judges 14)
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
He who conquered the Philistines with an ass's jawbone is

4.
now found to be a dissolute slave of passionate intercourse.

But avoid, my soul, his example, his action, his laxity.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Barak and Jephthah, military leaders, with manly-minded

5.
Deborah, were promoted to be Judges of Israel. Learn

courage from their heroic deeds, my soul, and master
yourself. (Judges 4:11)
Blessed are the merciful, for the shall obtain mercy.
You know, my soul, of Jael's bravery, who impaled Sisera

6.
of old and wrought salvation with a tent-peg, by which (are

you listening?) the Cross is typified to you. (Judges 5)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Offer the sacrifice of praise, my soul, offer action as a

7.
daughter purer than Jephthah's, and slay your carnal

passions as a sacrifice to your Lord. (Judges 11)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called

children of God.
8.Think, my soul, of Gideon's fleece. Receive the dew from

Heaven; stoop down like a dog and drink the water that flows
from the Law by the pressure of study. (Judges 6-8)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven.
You, my soul, for lack of understanding have drawn upon

9.
yourself the priest Eli's condemnation, by allowing the

passions to act sinfully in you, as he allowed his children. (I
Kings 2-4)
Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute

you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely and
on My account.
The Levite among the Judges, by negligence, divided his

10.
wife among the twelve tribes, my soul, in order to blazon the

lawless outrage of Benjamin. (Judges 19-20)
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your

reward in Heaven.
Chaste Hannah when praying moved her lips in praise,

11.
while her voice was not yet heard; but yet, though barren,
she bears a son her prayer deserved. (I Kings 1)
Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy

Kingdom.
Hannah's child, the great Samuel, was reckoned among

12.
the Judges, and he was brought up in Arimathea and in the

House of the Lord. Imitate him, my soul, and before judging
others, judge your own actions. (I Kings 16:13. )
Remember us, O Master, when Thou comest in Thy

Kingdom.

David was chosen to be king, and he was royally anointed
13. .
with the horn of divine oil. So if you, my soul, desire the

Kingdom on high, be anointed with the oil of tears.
Remember us, O Holy One, when Thou comest in

Thy Kingdom.
Have mercy on Thy creation, O merciful Lord; have

14.
compassion on the work of Thy hands, and spare all who

have sinned, and even me who above all have ignored Thy
commands.

Spirit:
Unoriginate both by generation and procession, the

To The Trinity:
Father Who begot I worship, I glorify the Son Who is
begotten, and I hymn the Holy Spirit, co-effulgent with the
Father and the Son.
We worship thy supernatural childbirth, without

Theotokion:
dividing the natural glory of thy Child, O Mother of God. For
He is confessed to be one in Person and twofold in Nature.

Song 7.
We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong

Eirmos
before Thee, we have not watched or done as Thou

hast commanded us. But do not give us up utterly, O
God of our Fathers.

Troparia:
1.I have sinned, offended and rejected Thy commandment,

for I have advanced in sins and added wounds to my sores.
But in Thy compassion have mercy on me, O God of our
Fathers.
I have confessed to Thee, my Judge, the secrets of my

2.
heart. See my humility, see also my distress, and attend to

my judgment now. And in Thy compassion have mercy on
me, O God of our Fathers.
3.When Saul of old lost his father's asses, besides getting

news of them he incidentally found a kingdom. But watch,
my soul, lest without noticing it, you prefer your animal
cravings to the Kingdom of Christ. (I Kings 10:2)
If David, the father of our Divine Lord, doubly sinned of old,

4.
my soul, when he was pierced with the arrow of adultery and

struck with the spear of remorse for murder, yet you have a
sickness graver than deeds in your will and appetites. (II Kings 11;
12:1-23)
5.David once joined sin to sin, for he mixed adultery with

murder, yet he immediately offered double repentance. But
you, my soul, have done things more wicked without
repenting to God.

David of old composed a song, painting it as in a picture by
6.
which he exposes the deed he had done, crying: Have

mercy on me, for against Thee only have I sinned, Who art
God of all. Cleanse me. (Psalm 50)
When the Ark was being carried on a wagon, and when

7.
one of the oxen slipped, Uzzah only touched it and

experienced the wrath of God. But avoid, my soul, his
presumption and truly reverence divine things. (II Kings 6:6)
You have heard of Absalom, how he rose against nature.

8.
You know his accursed deeds and how he insulted the bed
of his father David. But you have imitated his passionate and
pleasure-loving cravings. (II Kings 15; 16:21)
9.You have enslaved your free dignity to your body, my soul,

for you have found in satan another Ahitophel and have
consented to his counsels. But Christ Himself scattered
them, that you may at all events be saved. (II Kings 16:20)
Wonderful Solomon, who was full of the grace of wisdom,

10.
at one time did evil in God's sight and fell away from Him.
And you, my soul, have resembled him by your accursed life.
(III Kings 11; Ecclus 47:12-20)
Carried away by the pleasure of his passions, he defiled

11.
himself. Alas, the lover of wisdom is a lover of loose women

and estranged from God! And you, my soul, have in mind
imitated him by your shameful pleasures. (III Kings 3:12; 11:4-12)
12. You, my soul, have rivaled Rehoboam who would not

listen to his father's advisors, and that vicious slave
Jeroboam the apostate of old. But shun such mimicry and
cry to God: I have sinned, have compassion on me.(III Kings 12:13. -
20)

You have rivaled Ahab in defilements, my soul. Alas, you
13. .
have been a lodging-place of fleshly pollutions and a

shameful vessel of passions. But groan from your depths
and tell God your sins. (III Kings 16:30)
Elijah once burned a hundred of Jezebel's flunkeys when

14.
he had destroyed her shameful prophets as a proof and

rebuke for Ahab. But avoid imitating these two, my soul, and
master yourself. (IV Kings 1:10-15; III Kings 18:40)
Heaven is closed to you, my soul, and the famine of God

15.
has reached you, for you have been disobedient as was

Ahab of old to the words of Elijah the Tishbite. But be like the
woman of Sarepta, and feed the Prophet's soul. (III Kings 17)
16.You have piled up sins like Manasseh by deliberate

choice, my soul, setting up your passions as idols and
multiplying abominations. But now fervently emulate his
repentance and acquire compunction. (IV Kings 21; II Chronicles 33)
I fall down before Thee and bring Thee as tears my words:

17.
I have sinned like the harlot, and transgressed as no other

on earth. But have compassion, O Lord, on Thy work, and
recall me.
I have buried Thy image and broken Thy commandment.

18.
All my beauty is darkened and my lamp is extinguished by

my passions, O Savior. But have compassion and restore to
me, as David sings, joy. (Psalm 50:14)
Return, repent, uncover what is hidden. Say to God Who

19.
knows everything: Thou knowest my secrets, O only Savior;

but have mercy on me, as David sings, according to Thy
mercy. (Psalm 50)

My days have vanished like a dream on waking. Therefore
20.
I weep on my bed like Hezekiah that years may be added to

my life. But what Isaiah will come to you, my soul, except the
God of all? (IV Kings 20:3; Isaiah 38:2)
By crying to the immaculate Mother of God,

thou didst repel the rage of passions which once violently
harassed thee, and didst put to shame the enemy tempter.
But now grant me, thy servant, also help out of trouble.
To St. Mary of Egypt: He

Whom thou lovest, He Whom thou desirest,
He on Whose track thou camest, mother, found thee and
granted thee repentance, for He is God Who alone is
compassionate. Implore Him unceasingly to deliver us from
passions and adversities.
Strengthen me on the rock of faith by thy

intercessions, O father, and wall and fortify me with an awed
sense of the divine indwelling, and grant me repentance, O
Andrew, now. And I implore thee to deliver me from the
snares of foes actively seeking my life.

Spirit:
O Trinity simple and undivided, of one essence

To The Trinity:
and one nature, Lights and Light, three Holies and one Holy,
God the Trinity is hymned. But sing, my soul, and glorify the
Life and Lives, the God of all.

We sing of thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, O
Theotokion:
Mother of God, for thou gavest birth to one of the
inseparable Trinity, the one Son and God, and to us on earth
thou hast opened the heavenly realms.

THE TRIODION
Song 8. Tone 8.
EirmosThe Eternal King of Glory, before Whom the

Hosts of Heaven are thrilled with awe and the Orders
of the Angels tremble, praise Him, O priests, and exalt
Him, you people, throughout all ages.

Troparia:
Like coals of immaterial fire, burn my material passions,

1.
and kindle in me now, O Apostles, a longing for divine love.
2.Let us honor the tuneful trumpets of the Word, through

whom the rickety walls of the enemy fell and the battlements
of the knowledge of God were built.
3.Smash the passionate idols of my soul, as you smashed

the temples and pillars of the enemy, O Apostles of the Lord,
consecrated temples.
Thou didst contain Him Who is uncontainable by

Theotokion:
nature, thou didst carry Him Who carries all things, O pure
Virgin, thou didst suckle Him Who feeds creation, Christ the
Lifegiver.
The Eternal King of Glory, before Whom

The Eirmos is repeated:
the Hosts of Heaven are thrilled with awe and the

Orders of the Angels tremble, praise Him, O priests,
and exalt Him, you people, throughout all ages.

Having built the whole Church with the Spirit as architect, O
4.
Apostles of Christ, bless Christ in it throughout the ages.
By blowing the trumpet of the dogmas, the Apostles have

5.
overthrown all the delusion and error of idolatry, and exalted

Christ throughout all ages.
6.O Apostles, noble company, guardians of the world, and

citizens of heaven, deliver from dangers those who ever
praise you.

Spirit:
Triune, all-radiant God, co-glorified and co-

To The Trinity:
enthroned Nature, Father Almighty, Son and Divine Spirit, I
sing of Thee for ever.
Let us, O you peoples, unceasingly sing of the

Theotokion:
Mother of God, as an honored and sublime throne, who
alone after childbirth is Mother and Virgin.
THE GREAT CANON

Song 8. Tone 6.
Him Whom the heavenly hosts glorify and before

Eirmos
Whom Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, let every

breath and all creation praise, bless and exalt
throughout all ages.

Troparia:
1.I have sinned, O Savior, have mercy! Awaken my mind to

conversion, accept me who repent, have compassion on me
as I cry: Against Thee only have I sinned and acted
lawlessly; have mercy on me.
2.Elijah the charioteer once ascended by the chariot of the

virtues as to heaven and was carried above earthly things.
Consider then, my soul, this ascent. (IV Kings 2:11)
3.Jordan's stream of old was made to stand still on either

side by Elisha by Elijah's sheepskin. But you, my soul, have
not shared this grace owing to incontinence. (IV Kings 2:14)
Elisha received double grace from the Lord when he took

4.
up Elijah's sheepskin. But you, my soul, have not shared this

grace owing to incontinence. (IV Kings 2:9)
5. The Shunammite woman of old with right good will

entertained the righteous man. But you, my soul, have taken
into your house neither stranger nor traveler. Therefore you
will be cast out of the bridal hall wailing. (IV Kings 4:8)
6.You have always imitated the vile mind of Gehazi, O

wretched soul. Rid yourself of his love of money, at least in
old age; escape from the fire of Gehenna by leaving your evil
ways. (IV Kings 5:20-27)

7.Having emulated Uzziah, my soul, you have his leprosy in
you doubled. For you think disgusting thoughts and do
outrageous things. Let go of what you are holding and run to
repentance. (IV Kings 15:5; II Chronicles 26:19)
8.Have you heard, my soul, of the Ninevites, who repented

before God in sackcloth and ashes? You have not imitated
them, but appear to be more crooked than all who have
sinned before and after the law. (Jonah 3:5)
You have heard of Jeremiah in the mud pit, my soul, how

9.
he cried out with lamentations against the City of Zion, and

was seeking tears. Imitate his life of lamentation and you will
be saved. (Jeremiah 38:6)
Jonah fled to Tarshish, foreseeing the conversion of the

10.
Ninevites; for, being a Prophet, he was aware of God's

compassion, and was anxious that his prophesy should not
prove false. (Jonah 1:3)
You have heard, my soul, of Daniel in the lion's den, and

11.
how he shut the beasts' mouths. You know how the Children
who were with Azariah extinguished the flames of the
burning furnace by faith. (Daniel 6:16-22; 3:23)
I have reviewed all the people of the Old Testament as

12.
examples for you, my soul. Imitate the God-loving deeds of

the righteous and shun the sins of the wicked.
Just Judge and Savior, have mercy on me and deliver me

13. .
from the fire and the threat which I shall justly incur at the
judgment. Forgive me before my end by virtue and
repentance.
14.Like the robber I cry, "Remember me!" Like Peter I weep

bitterly, "Release me, O Savior!" I croak like the publican; I
weep like the harlot. Accept my lamentation as once the
Canaanite woman. (Luke 23:42; Matthew 26:75; Luke 18:13. ; Luke 7:37-38; Matthew 15:22-28)
Heal, O Savior, the corruption of my debased soul, O only
15.
Physician. Apply the compress to me, and the oil and wine -
works of repentance, compunction and tears. (Luke 10:34)
Imitating the woman of Canaan, I also cry, "Have mercy on

16.
me, O Son of David!" I touch Thy hem like the woman with
hemorrhage. I weep like Martha and Mary over Lazarus.
(Matthew 15:22; Mark 5:27; John 11:33)
The alabaster jar of my tears, O Savior, I pour out on Thy

17.
head as the perfume, and like the harlot I cry to Thee,

seeking Thy mercy. I offer prayer and ask to receive
forgiveness. (Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:38)
Though no one has sinned against Thee as I, yet accept

18.
even me, O compassionate Savior, repenting with fear and

crying with love: Against Thee only have I sinned. I have
done wrong, have mercy on me.
Spare, O Savior, Thy own creation., and seek as Shepherd

19.
Thy lost sheep; snatch the stray from the wolf, and make me
a pet lamb in Thy sheep pasture. (Psalm 118:176; John 10:11-16)
20.When Thou sittest as Judge and in Thy compassion

showest Thy dread glory, O Christ, O what fear there will be
then, when the furnace is burning and all shrink from Thy
inexorable Tribunal! (Matthew 25:31-46)
The Mother of the unwaning Light enlightened

thee, and freed thee from the darkness of the passions. So
now thou art admitted to the grace of the Spirit, enlighten, O
Mary, those who faithfully praise Thee.

Beholding in thee a new wonder, O mother,
divine Zosimas was truly amazed. For he saw an angel in a
body and, filled with utter astonishment, he praises Christ for
ever.
As thou hast boldness with the Lord, O

Andrew, venerable credit of Crete, intercede, I implore thee,
that by thy prayers I may now find release from the chain of
my sins, O teacher of repentance, glory of Saints.
Let us bless the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Lord:
To The Eternal Father, co-eternal Son, gracious

Trinity:
Comforter, Spirit of Truth; Father of the Divine Word, Word
of the Eternal Father, living and creative Spirit, Trinity Unity,
have mercy on us.
As from scarlet silk, O spotless Virgin, within thy

Theotokion:
womb the spiritual purple was woven, the flesh of
Emmanuel. Therefore we honor thee as in truth Mother of
God.
Let us praise, bless and worship the Lord, sing and

exalt Him throughout all ages.
Him Whom the heavenly hosts glorify and before

Whom Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, let every
breath and all creation praise, bless and exalt
throughout all ages.
Then the Magnificat, and More honourable...

THEN THE TRIODION

Song 9. Tone 8.
Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to

Eirmos
be truly Mother of God, and with Bodiless Choirs we

magnify thee.

Troparia:
Having been shown the springs of the water of salvation, O

1.
Apostles, bedew my soul that is racked with thirst by sin.
Swimming in the sea of destruction as I am and already

2.
under water, save me like Peter with Thy right hand, O Lord.
Since you are the salt of the teachings of health, dry the
3.
decay of my mind and dispel the darkness of ignorance.
As the one of whom Joy was born, grant me

Theotokion:
mourning, O Lady, through which I shall be able to find
divine consolation in the coming day.
Another EirmosAs the Mediatress of Heaven and earth, all

generations magnify thee. For there dwelt in thee bodily, O
Virgin, the fullness of the Godhead.

O glorious company of the Apostles, we magnify you with
4.
songs; for you are the bright lights of the world that banish
delusion and error.
Ever catching rational fish with the net of your Gospel, you
5.
continually bring them as food to Christ, O blessed Apostles.
6.Remember us in your prayer to God, O Apostles, we pray,

that we who sing your praises with love may be delivered
from all temptation.

Spirit:
Of Thee, the Tri-Personal Unity, I sing; Father and

To The Trinity:
Son with the Spirit, One God of one essence, Trinity one in
power and without beginning.
All generations bless thee as the Child-bearer and

Theotokion:
Virgin, since through thee we have been redeemed from the
curse, for thou didst bear for us the Lord, our Joy.

AND THE REST OF THE GREAT CANON
Song 9. Tone 6.
Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless

Eirmos
conception, unsullied the pregnancy of a Virgin

Mother, for the birth of God renews natures. So in all
generations we magnify thee in orthodox fashion as
the Mother and Bride of God. (2)

Troparia:
1.The mind is wounded, the body is feeble, the spirit is sick,

the word has lost its power, life is ebbing, the end is at the
doors. What then will you do, wretched soul, when the Judge
comes to try your case?
2.I have reviewed Moses' account of the creation of the

world, my soul, and then all canonical Scripture which tells
you the story of the righteous and the unrighteous. But you,
my soul, have copied the latter and not the former, and have
sinned against God.
The Law has grown weak, the Gospel is unpracticed, the

3.
whole of the Scripture is ignored by you; the Prophets and

every word of the Just have lost their power. Your wounds,
my soul, have multiplied, and there is no physician to heal
you.
4.I am bringing before you examples from the New Scripture,

my soul, to lead you to compunction. So emulate the
righteous and avoid following the sinners, and regain Christ's
grace by prayers, fasts, purity and reverence.

Christ became man and called to repentance robbers and
5.
harlots. Repent, my soul! The door of the Kingdom is already

open, and the transformed pharisees, publicans and
adulterers are seizing it ahead of you. (Matthew 21:31; 11:12)
Christ became a babe and conversed in the flesh with me,

6.
and he voluntarily experienced all that pertains to our nature,

apart from sin; and He showed you, my soul, an example
and image of His own condescension. (Matthew 1:25)
7.Christ saved wise men, called shepherds, made crowds of

infants martyrs, glorified old men and aged widows, whose
deeds and life, my soul, you have not emulated. But woe
unto you when you are judged! (Matthew 2:12; Luke 2:9-12; Matthew 2:16; Luke 2:2 5-38)
When the Lord had fasted for forty days in the wilderness,
8.
He at last became hungry, showing His human nature. Do

not be despondent, my soul, if the enemy attacks you, but let
him be beaten off by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 4:1-11; 17:21; Mark 9:29)
Christ was tempted, the devil was tempting Him, showing

9.
Him stones to be turned into bread; and he led Him up a

mountain to see all the kingdoms of the world in a flash.
Dread, my soul, the scene; watch and pray at every hour to
God. (Matthew 4:3-9; 26:41)
10.The desert-loving dove, the lamp of Christ, the Voice

crying in the wilderness sounded, preaching repentance;
while Herod sinned with Herodias. See, my soul, that you
are not caught in the toils of sin, but embrace repentance.
(Mark 1:3; Matthew 14: 3)
The Forerunner of grace dwelt in the desert and all Judea

11.
and Samaria ran to hear him; and they confessed their sins,
and eagerly received baptism. But you, my soul, have not
imitated them. (Matthew 3:5-6)

Marriage is honourable and the bed undefiled, for Christ
12.
earlier blessed both, eating in His flesh at the marriage in

Cana and changing water into wine, and showing His first
miracle so that you, my soul, might be changed. (Hebrews 13. :4; John
2:1-11)
Christ braced the paralytic and he carried his bed; He

13. .
raised up the dead young man, the son of the widow, and
the Centurion's servant; and by revealing Himself to the
Samaritan woman, He traced in advance for you, my soul,
how to worship in spirit. (Matthew 9: 2-7; Luke 7:14; Matthew 8:6-13. ; John 4:26; Joshua 4:24)
The Lord healed the woman with hemorrhage by the touch

14.
of His hem, cleansed lepers, gave sight to the blind, and

cured cripples; the deaf and the dumb and the woman bent
earthward he healed with His word, that you, wretched soul,
might be saved. (Matthew 9:20-22; 10:8; 11:5; Luke 13. :11-13. )
Christ the Word healed diseases, preached the Gospel to

15.
the poor, cured cripples, ate with publicans, conversed with

sinners, and He brought back the departed soul of Jairus'
daughter by the touch of His hand. (Matthew 9:11; Mark 5:41-42)
The publican was saved, the harlot was made chaste, but
16.
the pharisee through boasting was condemned. For the first

said, "Be merciful," the second, "Have mercy on me," but the
last boasted and cried, "O God, I thank Thee," and then
some foolish word s. (Luke 7:36-50; 18:9-14)
Zacchaeus was a publican, but yet was healed, and Simon

17.
the Pharisee was disappointed, but the harlot received the

release of full forgiveness from Him Who has power to
forgive sins. Obtain His forgiveness yourself, my soul. (Luke 19:1-
10; 7:36-50)
You, my wretched soul, have not emulated the harlot who

18.
took the alabaster jar of perfumed oil and anointed with tears
and wiped with her hair the feet of the Savior, Who tore up
for her the handwriting of her old accusation. (Luke 7:37-38; Colossians 2:14)
19.You know how the towns to which Christ offered the
Gospel were cursed. Fear this example, my soul, do not be
like them; for the Lord compared them to the Sodomites and
condemned them to hell. (Luke 10:13. -15)
Do not let despair make you worse than the Canaanite

20.
woman, my soul, for you have heard of her faith through

which her daughter was healed by the Word of God. Call to
Christ like her from the depth of your heart, "Son of David,
save me." (Matthew 15:22)
21.Have compassion and save me, have mercy on me, O Son

of David, Who didst heal with a word the demoniac. And let
Thy voice of tender compassion speak to me as to the
robber, "Truly I tell you, you will be with Me in Paradise when
I rise in My glory." (Luke 9:38-42; 23:43)
A robber accused Thee, and a robber confessed Thee to

22.
be God, for both were hanging on a cross with Thee. But

open even to me, O most compassionate Savior, the door of
Thy glorious Kingdom as to Thy faithful robber who
acknowledged Thee to be God. (Luke 23:32-42)
Creation was in anguish, seeing Thee crucified; mountains

23.
and rocks were split with fear, the earth quaked, hell was
emptied, and the light grew dark in the daytime, beholding
Thee, Jesus, nailed to the Cross in Thy flesh. (Matthew 27:51-53; Luke
23:44-45)
24.Do not require of me fruits worthy of repentance, for my

strength is spent in me. Grant me ever a contrite heart and
spiritual poverty, that I may offer these gifts to Thee as an
acceptable sacrifice, O only Savior. (Matthew 3:8; 5:3; Psalm 50:17)

O my Judge and my Light Who alone knowest me and art
25.
coming again with Thine Angels to judge the whole world,

regard me then with Thy merciful Eye and spare me, O
Jesus. And have compassion on me who have sinned more
than all mankind. (Matthew 25:31-32)
Thou didst astonish all by thy strange life, both

the Orders of Angels and the councils of men, by living
immaterially and surpassing nature. Then treading firmly the
waves like an immaterial being, O Mary, thou didst cross the
Jordan an.
Intercede with the Creator on behalf of those

who praise thee, holy mother, that we may be delivered from
the sufferings and afflictions which beset us on all sides, that
being delivered from our temptations, we may unceasingly
magnify the Lord Who glorified thee.
Venerable Andrew, thrice-blessed father,

shepherd of Crete, cease not to pray to God for those who
sing of thee, that He may deliver from anger, oppression,
corruption and our countless sins, all of us who faithfully
honor thy memory .

Spirit:
Trinity of one essence, Tri-Personal Unity, we sing

To The Trinity:
Thy praise, glorifying the Father, magnifying the Son, and
adoring the Spirit, Who art truly one God by nature, Life and
Lives, Kingdom unending.
Protect thy city, spotless Mother of God, for in thee it

Theotokion:
faithfully reigns, and in thee is made strong, and through
thee it conquers and routs every trial and temptation, and
spoils its foes and rules its subjects.
Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception,

unsullied the pregnancy of a Virgin Mother, for the
birth of God renews natures. So in all generations we
magnify thee in orthodox fashion as Mother and Bride
of God.

Little Litany:

Lord.
Exclamation:
For all the Powers of Heaven praise Thee, and to
Priest:
Thee we send up the glory, to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the
ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Then the Photogogikon or Lucern of the Trinity, tone 8:
O Thou Who art the Light, enlighten... (For Thursday)

The Praises and Doxology are read, not sung.

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What is the Great Canon and what is its purpose?

What is the Great Canon and what is its purpose?

What are some of the themes explored in the Great Canon?

What are some of the themes explored in the Great Canon?

The Great Canon

The Great Canon – On Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Page 1 of 59

Matins begins as usual in Lent, till the 8th Kathisma (55-

The first half of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt is now

Then, after Psalm 50 we at once begin to sing the

Before each Troparion, we make the sign of the cross

The Great Canon – On Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Page 2 of 59

He is my Helper and Protector, and has become

my salvation. This is my God and I will glorify Him. My

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

1. Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched

2.Come, wretched soul, with your flesh, confess to the

Having rivaled the first-created Adam by my transgression,

I realize that I am stripped naked of God and of the

have wickedly looked and been bitterly wounded, and you

of my mind in the shape of a passionate thought in the flesh,

commandment, O Savior. But what shall I suffer who am

The Great Canon – On Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Page 3 of 59

I have not resembled Abel's righteousness, O Jesus. I have

never offered Thee acceptable gifts, nor divine actions, nor a

9.Like Cain, we too, O wretched soul, have likewise offered

10.In molding my clay into life, O Potter, Thou didst put in me

I confess to Thee, O Savior, the sins I have committed,

and the wounds of my body and soul which murderous

of men. Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly.

In old age even, O Savior, do not cast me out empty to

hell as I lie prostrate before Thy gates. But before my end, in

I am the one by my thoughts who fell among robbers; and

now I am all wounded by them, full of sores. But stand by

The priest saw me first and passed by on the other side.

Then the Levite took a look at my sufferings and disdained

me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me

It is time for repentance. I draw near to Thee, my Creator.

Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion

Abhor me not, O Savior, cast me not away from Thy face.

Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion

All my sins, voluntary and involuntary, obvious and secret,

known and unknown, forgive, O Savior, for Thou art God; be

20. From my youth, O Christ, I have rejected Thy

I have squandered in profligacy my substance, O Savior,

and I am barren of virtues and piety; but famished I cry: O

I fall prostrate before Thee, O Jesus. I have sinned against

Thee, be merciful to me. Take from me the heavy yoke of

Enter not into judgment with me, by recording my deeds,

demanding an account of my words, and examining my

The Great Canon – On Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Page 5 of 59

Grant me that illuminating grace from on high

Refrain: Holy mother Mary, pray for us.

To St. Mary of Egypt: By

Refrain: Holy father Andrew, pray for us.

By thy prayers, O Andrew, deliver us from

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy

Superessential Trinity, adored in Unity, take from

Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.