Today, March 15, 2021, Lent begins. During the first days, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete is performed in Orthodox churches. In each line, a person turns to his own soul, repents for his sins, yearns for the Lord if he has distanced himself from Him due to the Fall.
In the canon of Andrei Kritsky there are 250 songs - troparia. The text mentions events from the Old Testament, talks about the sins of Adam and Eve, the birth of Jesus Christ, separation from Him and longing for Him. Prayers and repentance help the laity to take the true path.
Rules for reading the canon of Andrei Kritsky when it is reread
The Canon of Andrew of Crete is read in the first week of Great Lent, the first four days, called the Great Vechernitsa. This is read in parts, and the full text is re-read at the end of the post in the fifth week on Wednesday evening. In churches where Liturgies are held, the “Standing of Mary” service is also held.
When reading each verse of the canon, they bow three times. Thus, in total there are 798 of them. The canon is supplemented by the troparions of Mary of Egypt and St. Andrey Kritsky.
The Canon of Andrew of Crete was read by Christians when various disasters occurred. Now his goal is to prepare for abstinence during Lent. In Orthodox churches, people are encouraged to avoid sinful acts and sincerely repent in order to spiritually become closer to God. Prayers, humility and faith help with this. The canon of Andrew of Crete is biblical stories.
Song 5
Imitating Reuben, the accursed one, committed unlawful and criminal counsel against the Most High God, desecrating my bed, like his father’s.
Reuben is the eldest of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), from whom the 12 tribes of Israel descended. Reuben desecrated his father's bed by sleeping with his concubine. Genesis 35:21-22: “And Israel went and pitched their tent beyond the tower of Gader. While Israel was in that country, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah, his father's concubine. And Israel heard." In Jacob's blessing of his sons (Gen. 49:3-4), from the father's lips, instead of blessing Reuben, a curse sounds to him for this sin.
I confess to You, Christ the King, that I have sinned, that I have sinned, like the brethren who sold the fruit of purity and chastity before Joseph.
The righteous soul was bound by its relatives, selling itself into sweet work, in the image of the Lord: but you, my soul, sold yourself to your evil ones.
Imitate Joseph’s righteous and chaste mind, you damned and unskillful soul, and do not be defiled by wordless aspirations, ever lawless.
Even if Joseph sometimes lived in the ditch, Lord Lord, but in the image of Your burial and resurrection: what will I bring to You when I bring calico?
Joseph is one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), the brother of Reuben, the eldest son of Rachel, the ancestor of the two tribes of Israel - Ephraim and Manasseh. The life of Joseph is described in chapters 37, 39-50 of the book of Genesis. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. His brothers were jealous of him and out of envy they sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. In Egypt, the righteous Joseph shows himself to be chaste, refusing to become the lover of the wife of a noble nobleman. The angry wife of the nobleman falsely accuses Joseph and he is thrown into an underground dungeon. But the Lord turned the evil they had done into good - for his wisdom, Joseph was called by the ruler of Egypt, exalted at the court of Pharaoh and was able to save his father’s family from hunger during a drought. Seeing the grief they brought to their father, Joseph’s brothers repented of their actions.
Portal "Wonderful Diveevo"
Kontakion 1 To the chosen Voivode and Lord, for the joy of Thy repentant servants, I, a sinner, resort to Thee. Receive me, Father, as I repent, do not reject my tears and heartfelt sighs, and do not despise the one who calls to You in tenderness: Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Ikos 1 I was jealous of the first-created Adam in crime, breaking the commandments of my God, desecrating my soul and body with cruel deeds. And where do I start to mourn my bad life? What is the beginning of the current sobbing? But come, my accursed soul, with your flesh, confess to the Creator of all and cry out to Him with tears: Merciful, look at me with your gracious eye and accept my warm repentance. Merciful, I have sinned more than all people, only one has sinned before You, but You, like God, have mercy on Your creation. Merciful, like a harlot, I shed tears, have mercy on me according to Your mercy. You are merciful, having desecrated the robe of my flesh and those who have blackened within me, created in Your image and likeness. Merciful, I have darkened my soul with passionate pleasures and turned my whole mind into dust. Merciful, I lie naked from my virtues and am ashamed. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 2 See, my soul, that the end is drawing near at the door of the Judge. Wake up, think about your deeds, what you have done, bring them before your eyes and shed drops of your tears; Boldly tell your deeds and thoughts to Christ and cry out to Him with tenderness of heart: Alleluia.
Ikos 2 I understood, my Savior, that there is no sin, no deed, no evil in life, in which I would not have sinned in mind, word and will more than all people. Conscience convicts me, conscience condemns me in my evil deeds. But Judge, my Deliverer and Leader, have mercy, deliver and save me, Your servant, who cries to You: Merciful, those who have sinned, those who have sinned, having sold their soul to sinful habits, like Joseph’s brothers. You are merciful, like Cain, and I offered you a vicious sacrifice: vile deeds and indecent living, and thus I was condemned. Merciful, I have transgressed Thy commandments from youth, I have passed away from a sad life, save me by Thy mercy. Merciful, like the prodigal son, I wasted my wealth in fornication and hunger of soul, and I cry out to You: Generous One, saturate my soul with Your grace. Merciful, I was all wounded by my thoughts, I was filled with wounds, as if I had fallen among thieves, but You came and healed me. Merciful, listen to the groaning of my soul, accept the tears of my eyes and cleanse me, the repentant one. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 3 By Thy power, O Savior, Adam was worthily expelled from Eden, because he had not kept Thy one commandment; and this one, sitting straight up in paradise and weeping bitterly in his nakedness, crying out: Alas, for me, paradise, my beautiful paradise! Am I to suffer, my Lord and God, always rejecting Your life-giving words? But give me time, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds, and I will sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos Z Having in mind the many cruel things I have done, I tremble, accursed one. And what will I do when the Lord comes with thousands of angels to judge the universe? Alas for me, alas! God of the fathers, before you even close the door of Your mercy to me, I run to You, the Generous One, and together with David I cry: Merciful, I was born in sins and added other wounds to my wounds, but have mercy on me, God of the fathers. You are merciful, like David, who sinned with You and I: for I wounded my soul with the arrow of adultery, but, like him, I cry out to You: have mercy on me according to Your mercy. Merciful, awaken my mind to conversion, accept me, the repentant one, have mercy on him who calls: save those who have sinned. Most merciful, I did not bring either a stranger or a traveler under my roof, rejecting the good will of the Shunammite, and therefore I weep: do not deprive me of Your palace. I am merciful and obsessed with the love of money, and like Gehazi I am condemned. Mercifully, by the will of the murderer of the soul’s conscience, armed with my evil deeds. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 4 A storm of sins has befallen me, and who will extend a helping hand to me, if not You, who shone forth from the Virgin Jesus. Save me, I cry out to You, save me, just as you saved Peter when he drowned; May the storm of passions not drown me. Lead me to a serene haven, and with love I will sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 4 Hearing that the Lord sometimes rained down fire, they hit the land of Sodom, alas! I cry out. Soul, arise! May the fire of Gehenna not burn you. Flee from the flames, flee from the Divine flame, save yourself on the mountain, like Lot, crying out to God: You are merciful, even if you have sinned, but we know, as a Lover of mankind, you punish mercifully and are merciful warmly and hasten, like a father, calling on the prodigal. Mercifully, I have weaved a foul robe to expose my self-willed passions, exposing me to the first godly garments. Merciful, I have clung to earthly things and am burdened with a heavy burden. Mercifully, I have adorned the idol of my flesh with the robe of foul thoughts, despising the inner godlike tabernacle. Merciful, I buried the beauty of the first image with passions, and, like once a drachma, having sought and found. Mercifully, I cry to You for those who have sinned, like a harlot: I am the only one who has sinned before You, but accept these and my tears. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 5 You, O Savior, poured out your rich blood on the cross to wash me; Thou hast given up the spirit, that thou mayest bring me to Thy Parent; We go, closed and opened, all creation and all the nations worship You for salvation and sing everlastingly: Alleluia.
Ikos 5 You see, you see, for I am God: listen, O my soul, to the Lord when it cries out, flee from your former sin, and fear, Lord, as the righteous Judge and God. Turn, repent, reveal your hidden things, fall to Him like the prodigal son, with tears and, beating your chest, say to God, who knows everything: Mercifully, I am wounded and ulcerated: behold, the arrow of the enemy struck soul and body, and so I came running to You with tears . Most merciful, like a publican, I cry to You: cleanse, cleanse me, none of those who are from Adam, even as I have sinned with You. Merciful, remove the heavy burden of my sins and forgive me my sins. Merciful, forgiving my voluntary and involuntary sins, obvious and secret, known and unknown, save me. Merciful, the storm of passions drowns me, and there is no salvation for me, but stretch out Your hand to me, like Petrov. Most merciful, do not close the door of Your mercy on the day of judgment, but open, O mountaineer who repents to You. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 6 The desert-loving turtledove, the voice of one crying, the Lamp of Christ the Forerunner, cried out to all people: repent and purify yourself: all Judea and Samaria, having heard, suffered and confessed their sins. Fathers and you, my soul, to the source of life, so that you do not get bogged down in a lawless net, kiss repentance and sing to Christ: Alleluia.
Ikos 6 Listen to the sky, and I will say: inspire in the earth a voice repentant to God. Who else is corporeal from man, like I am: the mind is wounded, the body is sick, the spirit is weak, the scabs are multiplying. Blessed Physician, before I even completely perish, save me, as I cry out to You: Merciful, You are God, test hearts, torture intentions and expose deeds, the thorns of my sins have fallen and show me pure before You. Merciful, You are the Good Shepherd, seek me like a sheep perishing among the thorns of sins. Merciful, You are my Creator, By You, Savior, I will be justified. Merciful, You are the source of life, pour out life into my soul, revive it, until death befalls me. Merciful, those like those who were under Noah committed sins, and like them, I am immersed in the waters of the flood. Merciful, I did not cover up my neighbor’s shame, having defiled my conscience with arrogant linguistics, I became like Ham the parricide. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 7 If you wished for everyone to be saved and to come into the understanding of truth, You, the Son of God, descended to earth, became human, and, calling robbers and harlots to repentance, opened the doors of the Kingdom to all who repent, open the doors of repentance for me too, O Life-Giver, to You for the morning and I cry to you: Alleluia.
Ikos 7 The Ninevites brought wondrous repentance to God, when Jonah the prophet cried out to them about their destruction, for they put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their heads and created great lamentation, saying: May the Lord turn away His righteous wrath. Therefore, you too, my soul, cry out to God, like the Ninevites, and thus say: Mercifully, Ishmael was cast out like the offspring of a slave, so that this may not befall me for lust. Mercifully, by the will of subservience to sin and like Hagar, I gave birth to a new Ishmael - insolence. Most merciful, do not reject the prayers of those who sing Your praises and grant forgiveness to those who ask with faith. Merciful, have mercy, I cry to You, have mercy, when you come with the Angels to reward each one according to the merits of his deeds. Merciful, do not despise Your creation, even if people have sinned above all others. You are the Lord of the universe, I am dust, and in Your power I can forgive my sins. You are merciful, even if you have desecrated your soul and body, but You, my Savior, cleanse, wash, make me whiter than snow. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 8 Make yourself strange before You, Jesus, for I preferred the storehouses of Canaanite thoughts to Your stone with the source of wisdom, and pork meat to the food of heaven. Moreover, like the prodigal son, I am dying with hunger, not knowing how to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 8 All I was wounded by my thoughts and filled with wounds, as if I had fallen among the robbers and, seeing me, the Mimoida priest and the Levite also, seeing me lying in trouble, despised me. But You Yourself, Christ, pour oil and wine on me, so that I cry to You: You are merciful, let Your Blood be a font of cleansing for me, and the water that flows from Your side be a drink of consolation, give life to me with Yourself. I am merciful, like a Pharisee, I am proud and, like him, I act insolently before you, but kill the sin in me and give me a humble heart. Merciful, we know that I have sinned before You, but I repent - accept me, I confess - raise me up, so that I will not be a source of wealth and food for the enemy, You yourself have mercy on me. O Merciful One, I have not listened to Your voice, nor have I submitted to Your Scripture, and so I stand naked before You. Merciful, the night of sin became darkness and deep darkness for me, but you, O Savior, make me a son of the day. Merciful, alas for me, for I have desecrated my mind with uncleanness, but I pray for Your goodness, wash me in the font of my tears and make the garment of my flesh white like snow. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 9 of the Old Testament I bring all of you, my soul, into likeness: imitate the righteous, God-loving deeds and avoid the pack of evil sins, so that Christ may spare you on the day of judgment and may you be worthy to sing to Him with all the saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 9 The many-spoken people are perplexed with which words to awaken me to repentance: for my heart is hardened and I am not below tears, below crying. Merciful, Generous One, touching my heart with Your goodness and strengthening me with the Lord’s Spirit, send me a cloud of tears to Your servant, who prays to You: Merciful, as one who was bleeding, I came running to You, touching the tears of Your garments, and say to me, like her: Your faith saved you . O great one, give me streams of life-giving flow from Your most pure veins, give me to drink like a Samaritan woman, so that I may not thirst forever. Merciful, may my tears be like Siloam, that I may wash the apples of my soul with them, and with my mind I may see Your ever-present light. Most merciful, I offer You the tears of my eyes and deep sighs, my heart cries out in me: God, those who have sinned before You; have mercy, forgive me. Merciful, like Dathan and Aviron, my soul has departed from You, and so I call to You: have mercy, so that the earth does not swallow me up, like them. Merciful, the waves of my sins covered me, like the horsemen of Egypt covered the Red Sea, but call me from the underworld and deliver my belly from corruption. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 10 Even though Lot would be saved by the Divine flame, he fled from Sodom, as the Lord commanded him. My soul, if you want to be saved, imitate the righteous, run from the flames of sin, run from the fire kindled by crazy lust, do not wake up the glorious pillar by returning back. Let the image of Sodom frighten you, sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10 Holy King, the time of my life is short and full of illnesses and wickedness, but in repentance, accept me and call me to reason, so that I will not be an acquisitive person, nor a stranger to cruelty. sin, so that the fire does not consume me from despair. Merciful, I am the lost drachma, seek me, kindle Your light and find Your image. Merciful, David, having sinned greatly, both cried bitterly, and even more than this he committed evil, the fruits did not bear thee of repentance. Merciful, Solomon, sometimes wise, love dissolute wives, depart from God, and I imitated this in my thoughts with shameful voluptuousness. Merciful, alas for me! In abominations comparable to Achaab, having made his soul a vitality of carnal impurities and a vessel of vile passions. Merciful, all the beauty in me has become blackened, and the lamp has gone out from passions, but have mercy and return to me, as David sings, joy. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 11 A wonderful hymn was written by You, sometimes David denounces the very act he committed, so that you, my soul, repent and arise, leave your evil deeds and, like him, cry out: Have mercy on me, for You alone have sinned against all God: Cleanse me Yourself. according to Your mercy, - and may you be able to sing to Him with a pure heart: Alleluia.
Ikos 11 Light-giving Lord, send down Your light and enlighten my heart, cleanse my soul from all sin, for to You, like Jonah I cry to my face, saying: Merciful, my days disappear like a dream, and I cry like Hezekiah on my bed, prolong my life, so that I may wash away my sins. Mercifully, like a thief, I cry: remember me! Like Peter, I cry bitterly, like a publican, I cry: forgive me, Savior. Merciful, like a harlot, I shed tears, accept my weeping, like once the wife of the Canaanites. Merciful, You are the only Doctor, heal the ulcers of my soul, put a plaster on my face, pour oil and wine and grant me tenderness and tears. Mercifully, as if I were bleeding, I touch the hem of Your garments and weep, like Martha and Mary over Lazarus. Merciful, I pour out my tears to You, like a vessel of the world on your head, I offer prayer and ask you to grant me your petition. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 12 Do not take Your grace from me, O Good Jesus, even though men have sinned above all others, You are a merciful God, You do not want the death of a sinner, You forgive the repentant and call the lost. Sanctify me with Your grace and renew the Right Spirit in my womb. I call you in repentance: Alleluia.
Ikos 12 I weep and weep, O Lord, for the evil things I have done and I pray for Your goodness: do not run short of the fruits worthy of repentance, for my strength in me is impoverished: grant me an ever-contrite heart, but let me bring this spiritual poverty to You as an acceptable sacrifice. Save me, crying out to You: O Merciful One, see my fear, see the contrition of my soul and grant me forgiveness. Merciful, You are my Judge and God, may my soul heed this and depart from all sin, as You command. Merciful, do not go into court with me, do not torture my deeds; but despise, as you are Generous, my atrocities and save me, O All-Powerful One. Most merciful, I bow down to You, cleanse those who have sinned, take away from me the burden of heavy sin and, as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness. Most merciful, I have told You the sins I have committed, and the ulcers of my soul and body, even the murderous thoughts of robbery within that you have placed on me. Merciful, I have been cast down before Thy gates in my old age, do not cast me into hell as someone worthless, but before the end grant me remission of sins. Merciful, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 13 O Most Gracious and All-Bountiful Jesus, all the secrets of my heart and all the things I have done from my youth even to this day, confessed to You, my Judge, see my suffering, see my sorrow and attend to my judgment now, and have mercy on me, for You are Compassionate, To you crying: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. This Kontakion is read three times, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1
