What is canon
The Orthodox Church has seven Sacraments. All of them were established by the Lord and are based on His words preserved in the Gospel. The sacrament of the Church is a sacred act where, with the help of external signs and rituals, the grace of the Holy Spirit is given to people invisibly, that is, mysteriously, hence the name. The saving power of God is true, in contrast to the “energy” and magic of the spirits of darkness, which only promise help, but in fact destroy souls.
In addition, the Tradition of the Church says that in the Sacraments, unlike home prayers, molebens or memorial services, grace is promised by God Himself and enlightenment is given to a person who has prepared for the Sacraments correctly, who comes with sincere faith and repentance, an understanding of his sinfulness before our Sinless Savior.
The Lord blessed the apostles to perform seven Sacraments, which are usually named in order from birth to death of a person: Baptism, Confirmation, Repentance (confession), Communion, Wedding (marriage), Priesthood, Blessing of Anointing (Unction).
The Sacrament of the Eucharist, Communion, was established by the Lord Himself during the Last Supper, on Holy Thursday, before the Crucifixion. This event is described by all the evangelists and in most detail by the Apostle John the Theologian.
Vecherya means "dinner" in Russian. It was secret because at that moment the Pharisees were already looking for Christ, expecting the betrayal of Judas, for the sake of putting the Lord to death. Christ, as the Omniscient God, knew that this dinner was the last, and he made it in secret so that the important meal would not be interrupted. He chose the place in Jerusalem, now called the Zion Upper Room.
At the Last Supper, the Lord gave the last instructions to the apostles, again reminding them that He must leave them, dying a terrible death. Christ calls the disciples children - as never before - and calls them to love one another as God Himself loves them. For the sake of strengthening their faith and the birth of the Church, sealed by the Body of Christ Himself, the Lord performs and establishes forever the greatest Sacrament that sealed the New Testament between God and man - the Sacrament of the Eucharist (in Greek thanksgiving), in Russian usually called the Sacrament of Communion.
Christ took the bread into His hands and, blessing it with a sign, broke it, then poured wine and distributed everything to the disciples, saying: “Take and eat: this is My Body and My Blood.” With these words, priests to this day bless wine and bread during the Liturgy, when they are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
It was unleavened bread - unleavened bread - and red wine that were on the table during the Last Supper. Therefore, to this day they consecrate, transforming red wine and prosphora into the Holy Gifts. In early Christian times, the Sacrament took place at the “love suppers”, agapes, not so solemnly. The apostles themselves broke the bread, transforming it into the Body of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. Christians brought the future Holy Gifts to meetings, the best products were chosen for the Liturgy, and the rest were simply eaten at the table during a meal with a conversation, which necessarily took place after the Liturgy.
Today, prosphora is baked in a large bakery in the main city of the diocese, often in monasteries; in parishes, constant baking of prosphora is rarely carried out.
Rules for reading canons and akathists
Canon: If troparia are indicated before the beginning of the canon, they should be sung. Irmos are sung in the voice that marks the entire canon, or are simply omitted during reading. The chorus is pronounced before the first and second (and third, when there is one) troparion of each song, but is not read before the troparion beginning with the words “Glory:” and “And now:”. Instead of these words it is read, respectively, “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and “And now and ever and unto ages of ages.” Amen . Also, instead of the word “Jesus,” the transcript placed at the beginning of the canon is read, for example: “Lord Jesus Christ my God, have mercy on me.” When reading the canons, you should pay attention to the instructions printed in a different font (for example, three times - that is, repeat three times) and follow them. The names of prayers, ikos, and troparia are not read aloud.
Akathist:
reads as printed. The last kontakion is read three times, and then the first ikos and the first kontakion (this is indicated additionally at the end of the akathist). The prayer after the akathist should also be read aloud.
Necessary Daily Prayers
Instructions from a conversation with the elders of Optina Pustyn
O. John: “If the enemy is overpowering you and is creating all sorts of troubles, obstacles and intrigues for you, then take my advice, listen: read in the morning and in the evening and in general before each beginning of your prayers psalms: 26, 50 and 90, and before them read the great Arkhangelsk Rejoicing - prayer “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice...”; if you do this, then neither fire will take you, nor water will drown you, a bullet will not pierce you... it will not tear you apart with a bomb.”
Hegumen Anthony of the same Optina Hermitage gives advice: “When people attack you strongly and you are overcome by despondency and melancholy, then in this case make 100 bows with prayer to the Lord (Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinful servant) and then not only rifle bullets, but guns will not frighten you either.”
“Illness has come to me, Glory to Thee, Lord! My illness has increased, Glory to Thee, Lord! My illness has become incurable, Glory to Thee, Lord! For it is better for me to be in heaven with You than with people on earth.”
“And if a person happened to die on that day on which he partook of the Holy Mysteries, then the Holy Angel would receive his soul in his arms, for the sake of honor for the sake of communion!”
Psalm 26
The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom I will fear; The Lord is the protector of my life, from whom I will fear. Always approach me with anger, to tear down my flesh, those who insult me, and defeat me, they are exhausted and fallen.
Even if a regiment rises up against me, my heart will not fear; even if it rises up to fight me, I will trust in him.
I have asked one thing from the Lord, this I will require: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy temple.
For He hid me in His village in the day of my evil, He covered me in the secret of His village, and lifted me up on a stone. And now, behold, you have lifted up my head against my enemies: I have died and devoured in His village a sacrifice of praise and shouting: I will sing and sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, my voice in which I cried, have mercy on me and hear me.
My heart says to you: I will seek the Lord. I will seek Your face, O Lord, I will seek Your face. Do not turn Your face away from me, and do not turn aside in anger from Your servant: be my helper, do not reject me, and do not forsake me, O God of my Savior.
For my father and mother have abandoned me, but the Lord will receive me. Give me the law, O Lord, in Thy way, and guide me on the right path for my enemy’s sake. Do not betray me to the souls of those who afflict me: for I have stood up as a witness of unrighteousness, and lied untruthfully to myself. I believe that the Lord will see good things on the land of the living.
Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Absolutely, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. You alone have I sinned and done evil before You: so that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome the judgment of You, for I was conceived in iniquity and in sins my mother gave birth to me. Thou hast loved the truth: Thou hast revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Thy. Sprinkle me with ussop, and I will be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give joy and gladness to my hearing: humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with the Master’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation: my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a contrite and humble heart God will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering: then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.
Psalm 90
Living in the help of the Most High, he will dwell in the shelter of the heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. As if he will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from the word of rebellion. His blanket will cover you, and under his wing you will hope that His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak and demon of the midday. A thousand will fall from your arrow and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come close to you. Look before your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners.
For You, O Lord, are my hope: You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not come close to your body. As his angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot against a stone. You stepped on the asp and the basilisk, and crossed the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him. I will fill him with long days and show him My salvation.
