St Andrew Crete Handout Orthodox Christian

GreatCanonofStA GreatCanonofStAndrewofCrete ndrewofCrete The Canon is a conversation between a sinner and its’ soul.

“My soul, O my soul, rise up! Why are you sleeping? The end draws near and soon you shall be troubled. Watch, then, that Christ your God may spare you, for He is everywhere present and He fills all things.”

In 680 AD, St Andrew travelled to Constantinople for the 6th Ecumenical Council and brought with him a great poetic Canon of 250 troparia as well as the life of St Mary of Egypt written by his teacher, Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Church responded in great favor of both and reads them throughout Great Lent and particularly on the 5th Wednesday to instruct us towards repentance.

Godbemercifultomeasinner Godbemercifultomeasinner  The Canon recounts the events of the Bible and makes them personal for our own reflection and prayer

“I bring you, O my soul, examples from the New Testament to lead you to repentance. Follow the example of the righteous, turn away from the sinful, and through prayers and fasting, through chastity and reverence, win back Christ’s mercy.”









mycreation   myfall myfall  my  exile  my  return  my longing  my  redemption 

“Christ became man, calling to repentance thieves and harlot Repent, my soul: the door of the Kingdom is already open, and Pharisees and publicans and adulterers pass through it before thee, changing their life.”