What does church canon mean?
This word translated from Greek means “rule” and defines two concepts.
The first of them is associated with the totality of norms and laws established in Orthodoxy, which are not subject to revision or amendment.
The word canon also means singing in church to glorify a holiday or saint. It is a musical form based on the repetition of the same melody by different voices of the choir, entering sequentially one after the other.
This is interesting: the calendar for Orthodox Christians defines 220 canons.
The genre has a complex structure; the voice includes nine songs. Each of them begins with the singing of the first stanza, called irmos. The remaining 4-6 stanzas are troparia (short songs of praise that are read). In addition, the canon uses two more types of stanzas: ikos and kontakia. The difference between them is that the ikos includes a special chorus.
The stanzas are laudatory and prayerful - mournful, they are compiled according to the rules of hymnography. The first were the canons created by St. John of Damascus and St. Andrew of Crete.
Summary of prayers
The first hymn of the canon contains evidence of a repentant feeling for what was done. This allows the reader to tune in to a repentant mood, to realize himself not as a pompous master of this life, full of pride and lack of love for his neighbor, but as unworthy of God’s mercy. The troparia indicate forgiveness, so that the Lord would give the person praying repentant feelings and tears for sins to mourn his atrocities.
At the same time, the repentant dares to rush to God in his spiritual trouble. And also this part of the canon calls not to spend time aimlessly in laziness, and also asks for the help of the Most Holy Theotokos, her intercession before God for those who have fallen in sin.
The second hymn , as mentioned, is omitted because it is included only in liturgical texts, and only in the canons of special events.
The third contains memories of the Last Judgment and hellish torment. The soul is called to repentance before the hour of death in order to avoid eternal torment. Sedalen concludes with reflections on how difficult it will be to stand before the throne of God with such a restless heart.
The fourth song praises the Creator and the Holy Church gathered by him. They talk about everyday joys and pleasures, but the authors of the canon warn that a person should protect himself from these pleasures if he strives to be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a call not to accumulate worldly goods and not to get hung up on their accumulation, because they are all finite and will turn to dust. But the glory of God and His Kingdom will never end.
The fifth song invokes the grace of God. A person realizes that with every sense organ and every member he constantly sins and asks his soul, is this what she wanted?
The sixth contains a request to tear your soul out of a sinful situation, so that atrocities cease, the soul is resurrected, remembering its deeds, and bows with contrition before the Creator in anticipation of transformation and sanctification.
In the kontakion, the soul of the person praying is called to account for why it does what the devil desires, and is called to turn to God.
Ikos encourages repentance before the soul is sent to hell.
In the seventh there is a call for a person so that he does not count on earthly riches, on the health of the body, beauty and strength. No one can know for sure who he is actually collecting his wealth, because the hour of death may come tomorrow. And it will not go to the one who spent his whole life accumulating it. And these works will not really help the one praying at the Judgment, because man did not grow rich in God, but in vanity. In addition, health, strength and beauty leave the human body over time.
The eighth describes the fossilization of the heart, which does not allow a person to repent and experience the necessary feelings. Also mentioned is the fact that every person is equal before the Court of the Creator, and before Him, neither spiritual rank, nor title, nor age counts in weight - nothing, only deeds, thoughts and actions.
In the ninth song, the prayer calls for help to the Most Holy Theotokos, all the saints of God and His angels, so that they pray for the salvation of his soul.
The canon ends with a prayerful appeal to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In prayer, a person realizes his sinful actions, therefore he asks the Lord for forgiveness and healing for his wounds. Despite the fact that a person once abandoned God, he asks the Heavenly Father not to do the same, but, on the contrary, to enter into his life and help, to save him from the abyss of sin, so that he can bring the Creator a worthy fruit of repentance. Man longs to renounce evil and become an heir to the Father's Kingdom.
When to read
Songs of praise (repentance and prayer), being approved in the church charter, are pronounced daily in the morning and evening.
A believer can pray at home at different times.
A Christian preparing for Communion should read with special diligence:
- Canon of repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Reading continues in the evening before communion, then in the morning on the day of communion. Its task is to tune a person to the wave of repentance as an internal state of the soul, soften it and help open it before the Creator. Immediately before performing the sacrament, a three-day fast should be observed.
- The canons to the Queen of Heaven are read every day before Holy Communion. A prayerful appeal to the Mother of God will be the first support in times of sorrow and despondency, when the soul “cries.”
- A hymn to the Guardian Angel, the meaning of which is repentance and an appeal to God's angel with a request to guide one on the right path in life, to help get rid of laziness, hard-heartedness and lack of understanding.
The canon, a masterpiece created by Andrei Kritsky, refers to the prayers of repentance that have been proclaimed during Lent every evening during divine services for twelve centuries. It is divided into four parts, which are read alternately during the first four days of fasting. This chant is a call to repent and, having accepted God’s blessing, to change.
In case of illness of relatives or loved ones, they turn to God with a request to send recovery, reading the canon for the sick person.
Works of this church genre help a Christian think about whether he is living correctly, understand his shortcomings, and decide to change something in himself with the help of the Savior.
Read the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ - can be downloaded for free
The main meaning of the songs is repentance. Turn to the Lord. Christ is all-forgiving, may he hear the prayers of those who sincerely cry out to him. Part of the sacred text is a hymn addressed to the Virgin Mary (Theotokos).
Listen to the canon of repentance to the Lord, online audio version
Song 1
Irmos: As Israel walked on dry land, with footsteps in the abyss, seeing the persecutor of Pharaoh drowned, we sing a song of victory to God, crying out.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.*
Now I, a sinner and burdened, have come to You, my Master and God; I don’t dare look at the sky, I just pray with the verb: give me, Lord, my mind, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Oh, woe to me, a sinner! I am more damned than all men; there is no repentance in me; Give me, Lord, tears, let me cry bitterly for my deeds.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Foolishly, wretched man, you waste time in laziness; think about your life, and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly for your deeds.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Most Pure Mother of God, look at me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snare of the devil, and guide me on the path of repentance, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
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Song 3
Irmos: There is nothing holy like You, O Lord my God, Who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Sometimes thrones will be set for a more terrible judgment, then the deeds of all men will be exposed; woe will be the sinner who is sent to torment; And then you know, my soul, repent from your evil deeds.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Woe to me, a great sinner, who have been defiled by deeds and thoughts, and have not a drop of tears from hard-heartedness; now arise from the earth, my soul, and repent from your evil deeds.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Behold, O Lady, Your Son calls, and teaches us to do good, but the sinner always flees from good; but You, O Merciful One, have mercy on me, so that I may repent of my evil deeds.
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Sedalen, voice 6th
I think about the terrible day and weep for my evil deeds: how will I answer the Immortal King, or with what boldness will I look at the Judge, you prodigal one? Gracious Father, Only Begotten Son and Holy Soul, have mercy on me.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and now, and ever, and unto ages of ages, amen.
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Theotokos
Bound now by many captives of sins and held by fierce passions and troubles, I resort to You, my salvation, and cry out: help me, O Virgin, Mother of God.
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Song 4
Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out from a pure meaning, celebrating in the Lord.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The path here is wide and pleasing to create sweets, but it will be bitter on the last day, when the soul will be separated from the body: beware of this, O man, of the Kingdom for the sake of God.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why did you offend the poor, withhold bribes from a mercenary, dislike your brother, persecute fornication and pride? Forsake this, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. O foolish man, how long will you scrabble like a bee, collecting your wealth? Soon he will perish like dust and ashes: but seek more the Kingdom of God.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner, and strengthen me in virtue, and keep me, so that insolent death does not snatch me away, unprepared, and bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.
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Song 5
Irmos: With Your divine light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of You in the morning with love, I pray, Lead You, the Word of God, the true God, crying out from the darkness of sin.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Remember, O accursed man, how you were enslaved by lies, slander, robbery, infirmity, by a fierce beast, for the sake of sins; My sinful soul, is this what you desired?
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
They tremble, for I have brought guilt to all: with eyes behold, ears heard, with an evil tongue spoken, betraying all to hell; My sinful soul, is this what you desire?
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thou hast received the fornicator and the repentant thief, O Saviour, but I am the only one burdened with sinful laziness and enslaved to evil deeds, my sinful soul, is this what you desire?
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Wonderful and quick helper to all people, Mother of God, help me, unworthy, for my sinful soul desires it.
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Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life, raised in vain by the misfortunes of the storm, has flowed into Your quiet refuge, I cry to You: lift up my life from aphids, O Many-Merciful One.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Having lived on earth fornication and given my soul into darkness, now I pray to Thee, Merciful Master: free me from the work of sowing hostility, and let my mind do the will Yours.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Who creates things like I do? Just as a pig lies in a dung, so I serve sin. But You, Lord, pluck me from this vileness and give my heart to do Your commandments.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Arise, damned man, to God, remembering your sins, falling to the Creator, crying and groaning; The same, like a merciful one, will give you the mind to know His will.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Mother of God Virgin, save me from visible and invisible evil, Most Pure One, and accept my prayers, and convey them to Your Son, that He may give me the mind to do His will.
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Kontakion
My soul, why are you rich in sins, why do you do the will of the devil, why do you place hope in? Stop from these things and turn to God weeping, calling: Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
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Ikos
Thoughts, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the terrible judgment of your Creator and God: For the angels of menace will understand you, my soul, and will lead you into eternal fire: for before you die, repent, cry cabbage soup: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
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Song 7
Irmos: The dew-bearing furnace was made by the Angel like a venerable youth, and the Chaldeans, the scorching command of God, exhorted the tormentor to cry out: Blessed are you, God our father.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in corruptible wealth and in unrighteous gatherings, for you will not leave all this to anyone, but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, who is unworthy.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in bodily health and fleeting beauty, for you see how the strong and the young die; but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, who is unworthy.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Remember, my soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven, prepared for the saints, and the pitch darkness and the wrath of God, and cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Come, my soul, to the Mother of God and pray to her, for she is a quick helper to those who repent, she will pray to the Son of Christ God, and she will have mercy on me, the unworthy.
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Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out the dew and you burned the righteous sacrifice with water: do everything, O Christ, only as you will. We exalt you to all ages.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why should I not cry when I always think about death, when I see my brother lying in the grave, inglorious and ugly? What am I drinking and what am I hoping for? Just grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance. (Twice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that you will come to judge the living and the dead, and all will stand in their rank, old and young, rulers and princes, virgins and priests; where will I find myself? For this reason I cry: grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Most Pure Mother of God, accept my unworthy prayer and save me from impudent death, and grant me repentance before the end.
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Song 9
It is impossible for man to see God; the officials of the Angels do not dare to look at God; By You, O All-Pure One, the Word Incarnate, Who magnifies Him as a man, we please You with the heavenly howls.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I come running to you, Angels, Archangels and all the heavenly powers standing at the Throne of God, pray to your Creator that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I cry to you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and saints and all the chosen ones of Christ: help me in judgment, that He may save my soul from the power of the enemy.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now I will lift up my hand to you, holy martyrs, desert women, virgins, righteous women and all the saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world, that He may have mercy on me at the hour of my death.
And now, and forever, and forever and ever, amen. Mother of God, help me, who trusts most strongly in You, beg Your Son to place me, unworthy, at His right hand, when the judge of the living and the dead sits, amen.
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Prayer
Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much against You, tears of compunction;
dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, from which the enemy gave me a drink;
lift up my mind to You, which has fallen to the ground, and lift me up from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of compunction, I am not the imam of consoling tears that lead children to their inheritance.
My mind has been darkened by worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You.
But, Lord Jesus Christ, treasury of good things, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Yours, grant me Your grace and renew the eyes of Yours in me image.
Leave you, don’t leave me; come to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother Tere and all Your saints.
Amen.
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The main differences between the canon and akathist
Prayers are communication between the soul and God, occurring at the highest spiritual level.
Tenderness and sadness, need and gratitude of a person - everything is known to the Lord through prayer.
One of the ways to address the Heavenly King, the Mother of God and the saints are canons and akathists.
Those uninitiated in the subtleties of church terminology often confuse these two types of chants.
There are both similarities and differences between them, consisting of:
- the essence (meaning) of the works: akathist - thanksgiving to the Lord and the saints, while the canon is a genre of repentance and request;
- compositions of prayers, different numbers of stanzas, ways of alternating and repeating them;
- level of perception: thanks to the simple construction of sentences and simple vocabulary, the akathist is perceived more easily than the canon;
- authorship, songs of praise were created by upper-class priests, akathists were written by laymen;
- the presence of a litany (exclamation, call to prayer) during the reading of the canon, which is not in the akathist;
- number of readings: several canons can be read simultaneously, which is not typical for the performance of akathists;
- possibilities for choosing chants: canons are mandatory, as they are included in the prayer services according to the church charter; Akathists are not played during services; parishioners can choose and order them themselves;
- the inclusion of chants in the services of the period of Great Lent, since akathists are not allowed to be read during this period (with the exception of two - the Mother of God and the Passion of Christ).
Preliminary prayers recited before the Canon
They are pronounced out loud and must be accompanied by bows. Considering that the canon is often the introductory part of the Divine Services, the question arises as to why additional prayers should be read.
The purpose of the initial sacred text is
in providing the opportunity to renounce before the start of the service and the reading of the canon.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
They praise the King of Heaven. This definition refers to the Holy Spirit. They pray that he would descend upon the believers, inhabit them, and cleanse them of filth. The prayer text is not read during the period starting from Easter and ending with the celebration of Trinity.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, souls ours.
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Trisagion
The prayer is short. It is addressed to the Most Holy Trinity and is pronounced three times. At the same time, the sign of the cross must be raised and a bow made from the waist (also 3 times).
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Believers ask for forgiveness of sins because they repent. They turn to the Most Holy Trinity to be cleansed from the consequences of the lawlessness that they commit. At the same time, they ask for healing of the soul and body of the weak.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
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Lord's Prayer
The text “Our Father” is pronounced, its interpretation covers many aspects of the life of a believer. For this reason, prayer is considered universal and can be said for different purposes. When it is read before the canon is pronounced, at the end they call to worship the Savior Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as it is in Heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Come, let us worship the King our God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)
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