During the days of Great Lent, one of the longest canons is read in Orthodox churches - the canon of St. Andrew of Crete. It is called to set the believer up for repentance and cleansing from all sins.
The penitential canon of Andrew of Crete is an Orthodox church hymn that is performed during Lent. It is part of the services of the first and fifth weeks.
about the author
Figure 1. Author
This canon was written by Andrei Kritsky. After his death he was canonized as a saint.
This is what Orthodoxy calls bishops who were known for their holy lives and works for the glory of the Lord and led many to the Christian faith. The author of the canon was precisely such a shepherd.
Priest Andrei Kritsky was distinguished by great humility and modesty. And therefore, many theologians believe that while working on his work, he did not think of creating a series of prayers for worship. These researchers believe that the righteous man created the canon only in order to read it himself, praying privately, alone with himself. Proponents of this hypothesis cite as evidence the fact that this work was one of the first in its genre.
It is no coincidence that Andrei Kritsky is called the founder of the liturgical canon. However, there is another opinion, according to which Saint Andrew purposefully wrote texts specifically for church prayer.
Song 1
Irmos: Helper and Protector be my salvation, this is my God, and I will glorify Him, God of my father, and exalt Him: gloriously be glorified.
[The Helper and Protector has appeared to me for salvation, He is my God, and I will glorify Him, the God of my father, and will exalt Him, for He has been solemnly glorified. – Translation by N.I. Cedar] (Exodus 15:1–2)
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, take away the sins of all, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are gracious, give me tears of compunction.
[Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of all, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.] (John 1:29)
I bow down to you, Jesus, for those who have sinned, cleanse me, take away the heavy burden of sin from me, and as you are compassionate, give me tears of compunction.
[I fall down to You, Jesus, I have sinned before You, have mercy on me, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
Do not go into court with me, bearing my deeds, seeking words, and correcting aspirations, but in Your bounty, despising my fierce one, save me, O All-Powerful One.
[Do not enter into court with me, weighing my deeds, examining my words and denouncing my aspirations, but through Your bounty, despising my atrocities, save me, O All Mighty.]
The time of repentance has come to You, my Creator, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are kind, give me tears of compunction.
[Time of repentance: I come to You, my Creator, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
Dependent on spiritual wealth through sin, I am empty of pious virtues, but with joy I cry: mercy to the giver, Lord, save me.
[Having squandered spiritual wealth in sin, I am alien to holy virtues, but, experiencing hunger, I cry out: Source of mercy, Lord, save me.]
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having bowed to Christ’s Divine Law, you approached this, abandoning uncontrollable desires for sweets, and all virtue with all reverence, as if you alone had corrected it.
[Having submitted to the Divine commandments of Christ, you surrendered to Him, leaving unbridled desires for pleasure, and fulfilled all the virtues as one with all reverence.]
Glory, Trinity: Pre-Essential Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take away from me the heavy sinful burden, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
[Most-essential Trinity, Whom we worship as One Being, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
And now, Mother of God: Mother of God, Hope and Representation of those who sing to You, take away from me the heavy sinful burden, and as the Pure Lady, repentantly accept me.
[Mother of God, Hope and Help to all who sing Your praises, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, like the Immaculate Lady, accept me repentant.]
Repentance
Figure 2. Prayer
Fasting in Christianity is a time when a person should distract himself from the bustle of the world and turn his gaze inward, to his soul, and remember its immortal nature. And this is impossible without prayer and repentance.
In patristic literature one can find words that confession is not only an understanding of one’s sinfulness. True repentance is impossible without emotional experience. The Canon of Andrei Kritsky helps to tune in to it.
At its very beginning there is a prayer in which the believer, turning to the Almighty, repents of his spiritual weakness. He regrets that his faith is insignificant compared to that possessed by the ancient righteous.
Canon St. Andrew of Crete on Thursday of the first week of Great Lent
Song 1, tone 6
Irmos: Helper and Protector be my salvation, This is my God, and I will glorify Him, God of my father, and I will exalt Him, gloriously I will be glorified.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, take away the sins of all, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
I fall before you, Jesus, those who have sinned, cleanse me, take away the heavy burden of sin from me, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
Do not go into court with me, bearing my deeds, seeking words, and correcting aspirations; but my fierce one despises Your bounty, save me Omnipotently.
The time of repentance, I come to You, my Creator, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
Having spent spiritual wealth through sin, I am empty of pious virtues, but gladly I cry: Lord, giver of mercy, save me.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having bowed to the Divine Law of Christ, you approached this, abandoning uncontrollable desires for sweets, and all virtue with all reverence, as if you alone corrected it.
Glory,
Trinity: Transubstantial Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
And now,
Theotokos: Mother of God, Hope and Intercession of those who sing to You, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as the Pure Lady, repentant, accept me.
Song 2
Irmos: You see, you see, for I am God, who rained down manna and poured out water from stones of old in the desert by My people, by My one right hand and by My strength.
He killed a husband, he says, as a wound to me, and a young man as a scab, Lamech cried out in tears; You do not tremble for my soul, having hardened my flesh and defiled my mind.
You were wise to create a pillar about your soul, and to establish a stronghold by your lusts, if the Creator had not withheld your advice and cast down your tricks to the earth.
About the jealousy of Lamech, the first murderer, the soul like a husband, the mind like a youth, but killing my body like Cain the murderer, with lustful desires.
The Lord sometimes caused fire from the Lord to burn the people of Sodom in response to their wrathful iniquity; You have kindled the fire of Gehenna, in it imash, about the soul, burning.
Vulnerable, wounded, behold the arrows of the enemy have wounded my soul and body, behold the scabs, the festerings, the darkenings, the wounds of my self-willed passions cry out.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Thou hast stretched out Thy hand to the generous God, Mary, plunging into the abyss of evil; and just as Peter was philanthropic, the Divine hand is extended, seeking your conversion in every possible way.
Glory,
Trinity: Beginningless, Uncreated Trinity, Indivisible Unity, receive me repentant, save me when I have sinned, I am your creation, do not despise, but have mercy, and deliver me from fiery condemnation.
And now,
Theotokos: Most Pure Lady Theotokos, the hope of those who flow to You, and the refuge of those in the storm, the merciful Creator and Your Son, propitiate me with Your prayers.
Song 3
Irmos: Lord, establish on the rock of Your commandments my heart, as if You alone are Holy and Lord.
Hagar, the ancient soul of the Egyptians, became like you, enslaved by will, and giving birth to the new Ismail, contempt.
Thou didst mean Jacob's ladder to my soul, manifested from earth to heaven, because thou didst not have the rise of firmness and piety.
The priest of God and the king alone, the likeness of Christ, in the world of life, imitate in men.
Turn, the lamenting soul of the damned, before the end of life will not even accept the triumph, before even the door of the palace will not be closed by the Lord.
Do not wake up the pillar sent to the soul, returning back, let the image of Sodom frighten you; woe to Zoar, save yourself.
Prayers, Master, do not turn away those who sing to You, but be gracious to You, O Lover of Mankind, and grant forgiveness to those who ask by faith.
Glory,
Trinity: Trinity Simple, Uncreated, Beginningless Nature in the Trinity sung by the Hypostasis, save us who worship Thy power by faith.
And now,
Theotokos: From the timeless Father, in the year of the Mother of God, you gave birth to a son without art; a strange miracle, the Virgin remained milking.
Song 4
Irmos: The prophet heard Your coming, Lord, and feared, because you wanted to be born of a virgin and appear as a man, and said: I heard Your hearing, and I was afraid, glory to Your power, Lord.
The time of my belly is short and full of illness and deceit; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
With royal dignity, a crown and scarlet robes, a man of many names and a righteous man with riches and flocks; suddenly lost the wealth and glory of the kingdom and became impoverished.
Even if he were righteous, and more blameless than all others, and did not escape the snare of the flatterer and the snare, you are a sin-loving, damned soul, what would you do if something happened to you from the unknown?
Nowadays I am high-voiced, but cruel in heart, in vain and in vain; Yes, do not condemn me with the Pharisee, but rather grant me the publican’s humility to the One Generous Justice, and therefore count me.
Those who have sinned, having offended the vessel of my flesh, are generous to us; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
I would have been self-immolated by passions, harming my soul generously, but in repentance accept me, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor cruel to a stranger, O Savior, show me generously.
I did not listen to Your voice, I disobeyed the writing of Your Lawgiver; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having descended into the depths of great misery, you were unobsessed, but you rose with a better thought, to the extreme manifestation of virtue, gloriously, the angelic nature of Mary, surprising.
Glory,
Trinitarian: Inseparable in being, unfused in Persons, the theologian The Trinity is One Divinity, as One-King and Co-Throne; I cry out to You a great song, hymned in the highest.
And now,
Theotokos: And you bear fruit, and you remain virgins, and you remain both by the nature of a Virgin; Being born renews the laws of nature, but the womb that does not give birth gives birth. God, wherever he wants, overcomes the order of nature, creates whatever he wants.
Song 5
Irmos: From the morning night, Lover of mankind, I pray, enlighten me, and guide me in Your commandments, and teach me, O Savior, to do Your will.
Imitate the lower soul for your soul, come, fall at the feet of Jesus, that He may correct you, and may you walk in the right paths of the Lord.
Even if you are a deep well, Master, let us pour out water from your most pure veins, and like the Samaritan woman, drink the thirst of no one; You exude streams of life.
Siloam may my tears be mine, Lord Lord, may I wash the apple of my heart and see You intelligently, Eternal Light.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Rich in incomparable desire, having desired to worship the animal tree, you have been granted this desire; grant me, too, the highest glory.
Glory,
Trinity: We glorify You Trinity, One God, Holy, Holy, Holy, Father, Son and Soul, Simple Being, Ever worshiped Unity.
And now,
Theotokos: From You, clothe yourself in my mixture, imperishable, husbandless Mother of the Virgin, God who created the eyelids, and unite to Yourself human nature.
Song 6
Irmos: I cried out with all my heart to the generous God, and heard me from the underworld, and raised my belly from aphids.
I am, O Savior, who destroyed the royal drachma of old; but the lamp was lit by the Forerunner of Your Word, seek and find Your image.
Arise and overcome, like Jesus Amalek, carnal passions, and the Gibeonites, flattering thoughts, ever victorious.
Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
May you extinguish the flame of passions, may you ever shed drops of tears, Mary, whose soul is inflamed, grant their grace to me, your servant.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You have acquired heavenly dispassion, by the extreme life of Mother on earth, who also sings to you, to get rid of passions through your prayers, pray.
Glory,
Trinity: The Trinity is Simple, Indivisible, Separate and Personal, and the Unit is united by nature, the Father speaks, and the Son, and the Divine Spirit.
And now,
Theotokos: Thy womb of God give birth to us, imagined for us, Him, as the Creator of all, pray, Mother of God, that through Thy prayers we may be justified.
Lord, have mercy (three times).
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, tone 6:
My soul, my soul, arise, what are you writing off? The end is approaching, and if you are embarrassed, rise up, so that Christ God, who is everywhere and fulfills everything, will have mercy on you.
Song 7
Irmos: We have sinned, we have sinned, we have acted untruthfully before You, we are inferior to observance, inferior to those who have done what You commanded us; but do not betray us to the end, Fathers God.
My days are gone, like the sleep of one who rises; In the same way, as Hezekiah climbed down on my bed, kiss me in the summer of my belly; but which Isaiah will appear to your soul, if not the God of all.
I fall down to Thee and bring You, like my tears, these words: those who have sinned, as the harlot has not sinned, and those who are lawless, like no one else on earth; but, O Lord, have mercy on Thy creation, and call upon me.
I buried Your image, and corrupted Your commandment, all kindness was darkened, and passions were extinguished, O Savior, the light; but reward me generously, as David sings, joy.
Turn, repent, open your secret, say to God who knows everything: You weigh my secret, You alone are the Savior, but have mercy on me, as David sings, according to Your mercy.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having cried out to the Most Pure Mother of God, you first rejected the fury of the passions that must be chilling, and you put to shame your enemy; but now give help from sorrow, and to me, your servant.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
For whose sake you have loved, for whose sake you have lusted, for whose sake you have exhausted the flesh, venerable one, now pray to Christ for His servants, so that He, having been merciful to all of us, will grant a peaceful state to those who worship Him.
Glory,
Trinity: The Trinity is Simple, Indivisible, Consubstantial, and the Nature is One, Light and Light, and the Holy Three, and the One Holy, God the Trinity is sung, but sing, glorify, the Belly and the Bellys, the soul, of all God.
And now,
Theotokos: We sing to Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Theotokos, for Thou hast given birth to the Inseparable Trinity of the One Christ God, and Thou hast Herself opened it to us who exist on heavenly earth.
Song 8
Irmos: Whom the armies of heaven praise, and the Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, every breath and creature, sing, bless, and exalt to all ages.
The glass of tears of the Savior, as if I were draining myrrh on my head, I call Thee, as if I were a harlot seeking mercy, I bring a prayer, and I ask you to accept your abandonment.
Even if no one, like I, has sinned against You, yet accept me also, O most gracious Savior, repenting with fear and calling with love: those who have sinned against You alone, have mercy on me, O Most Merciful One.
Spare Thy Savior creation, and seek as a shepherd the lost, anticipate the erring one, snatch me away from the wolf, make me a sheep to pasture Your sheep.
When the Judge sat down as if he were gracious, and showed the terrible glory of Your Savior, oh, what fear then! The burning furnace, to all who fear Your unbearable judgment.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Light of the never-ending Mother, having enlightened you, free you from the darkening of passions; Having also entered into spiritual grace, enlighten Mary, who faithfully praise you.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having seen a new miracle, you were truly terrified of the Divine in you, Mother Zosima, who saw an angel in the flesh, and filled with horror, singing Christ forever.
Glory,
Trinity: Father without beginning, Son without beginning, Good Comforter, Righteous Soul, Word of God to the Parent, Father without beginning to the Word, Living Soul and Creator, Trinity Unity, have mercy on me.
And now,
Theotokos: For from the turning of the scarlet, O most pure, intelligent scarlet of Immanuel, the flesh was consumed within in Thy womb; In the same way, we truly honor Theotokos.
Song 9
Irmos: Of the seedless conception there is an unspeakable nativity, to the mother of the husbandless fruit the incorruptible fruit, for God's birth renews the nature; In the same way, we all give birth to You as the Blessed Mother of God, we magnify you Orthodoxy.
Be merciful and save me, have mercy on the Son of David, healing the infuriated with a word, and a gracious voice like a thief saying to me: Amen, I say to you, you will be with me in paradise when I come in my glory.
The thief who spoke of Thee, the thief who theologized Thee, were both hanging on the cross, but O Holy Mother, as unto Thy faithful thief, who knew Thee as God, and to me, open the door of Thy glorious Kingdom.
The trembling creature crucified seeing Thee, the mountains and stones disintegrating with fear, and the earth shaking, and hell being laid bare, and the light being darkened in the days, in vain thee Jesus was nailed to the cross.
Do not extract fruits worthy of repentance from me, for my strength within me is diminished; Grant me an ever-contrite heart, and spiritual poverty, so that I may offer this to You, like a pleasant sacrifice, the One Savior.
My Judge, and my Master, even though you may come again with the angels, judge the whole world with Your merciful eye, then seeing me, have mercy and mercy on me, Jesus, who has sinned more than any other human nature.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You surprised everyone with your strange life, the ranks of angels, and the councils of men, having lived immaterially and having passed on from nature; even as Mary entered into the immaterial foot, you passed over the Jordan.
Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Appease the Creator for those who praise you, reverend mother, get rid of bitterness and sorrow around those who attack, so that, having been delivered from misfortunes, we will constantly glorify the Lord who glorified you.
Chorus: Reverend Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Honest Andrew, and most blessed Father, Shepherd of Crete, do not cease praying for those who sing your praises, that we may be delivered from all anger and sorrow, and corruption, and immeasurable sins, who faithfully honor your memory.
Glory,
Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, exalt the Son, faithfully worship the Divine Spirit, the Indivisible Trinity, the Unity in essence, as Light and Light, and Life and Life, life-giving and illuminating of ends.
And now,
Theotokos: Preserve Your City, O Most Pure Mother of God, in You this reigns faithfully, in You it is established, and through You it conquers, it overcomes every temptation, and captivates warriors, and obedience passes.
Song 8
Irmos: Whom the armies of Heaven praise, and the Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, every breath and creature, sing, bless and exalt to all ages.
[Whom the armies of heaven glorify and before whom Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, Him, all beings and creatures, sing, bless and extol in all ages.]
Tearful, Savior, glass, like the ointment that drains the head, I call you like a harlot seeking mercy, I bring a prayer, and I ask you to accept your abandonment.
[Pouring a vessel of tears like ointment onto my head, Savior, I appeal to You, like a harlot seeking mercy, offering prayer and asking for forgiveness.] (Matthew 26:6–7. Mark 14:3. Luke 7: 37–38)
And no one else, even as I have sinned against You, but accept me both, O Compassionate Savior, repenting with fear and calling out to love: I have sinned against You alone, have mercy on me, O Most Merciful.
[Although no one has sinned before You like I have, but, Merciful Savior, accept me, repentant with fear and crying out with love: I have sinned before You Alone, have mercy on me, O Merciful One!
Have mercy, O Savior, Your creation, and seek, as the Shepherd, the lost, before the one who went astray was caught from the wolf, make me a sheep to pasture Your sheep.
[Spare, O Savior, Your creation and, like a Shepherd, seek out the lost, bring back the lost, take me away from the wolf and make me a lamb in the pasture of Your sheep.] (Ps. 119:176)
When, O Judge, you sat down, as if you were blessed, and showed your terrible glory, O Savior, oh what fear then! The burning furnace, to all who fear Your unbearable judgment.
[When You, the Merciful, sit as a Judge and reveal Your terrible greatness, Savior, oh, what horror then: the furnace will burn, and everyone will tremble before Your inexorable judgment.] (Matthew 25:31, 41, 46)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Light of the never-setting Mother, having enlightened you, freed you from the darkness of passions. Having also entered into spiritual grace, enlighten, Mary, those who faithfully praise you.
[The Mother of the never-ending Light – Christ, having enlightened you, freed you from the darkness of passions; Therefore, having received the grace of the Spirit, enlighten, Mary, those who sincerely glorify you.)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having seen a new miracle, I was truly terrified of the divine in you, mother, Zosima, for I saw an angel in the flesh, and was filled with horror, girding Christ forever.
[Seeing in you, mother, truly a new miracle, Saint Zosima was surprised, for he saw an Angel in the flesh, and was filled with amazement, chanting Christ forever.]
Glory, Trinity: Father without beginning, Son without origin, Good Comforter, Righteous Soul, Word of God to the Parent, Father without beginning to the Word, Living and Creator Soul, Trinity Unity, have mercy th me.
[Beginless Father, Co-originating Son, Good Comforter, Right Spirit, Parent of the Word of God, Beginningless Word of the Father, Life-Giving and Creating Spirit, One Trinity, have mercy on me.]
And now, the Mother of God: As from the turning of the scarlet, the most pure, intelligent scarlet of Immanuel, the flesh was worn out inwardly in Your womb. Moreover, we truly honor Theotokos.
[Mental purple - the flesh of Immanuel is woven inside Your womb. Most pure, as if made of a purple substance; therefore we honor You, the True Mother of God.]
