Rachel Evans
The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is an ancient liturgical hymn that is read by Catholics during the Great Lent. It is the longest canon and consists of nine odes or parts, each containing a number of short hymns or troparia. The Canon is designed to be prayed for in sections from Monday to Thursday during the first week of Great Lent and can be prayed in church or at home. It is said to be written by St. Andrew to teach himself how to live a righteous life and to emulate the positive examples of sanctity and repentance from the Bible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | St. Andrew of Crete |
| Type | Canon, liturgical hymn |
| Parts | Odes, Irmos, Troparia |
| When it is read | First four nights of Great Lent, Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent |
| Where it is read | Church, home |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Canon of St. Andrew is a liturgical hymn
The Great Canon is the longest canon in all of the services and is associated with Great Lent. It is appointed to be read in church during the first four nights of Great Lent (Clean Monday through Clean Thursday) and at Matins for Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, when it is read in its entirety. The canon consists of a variable number of parts, each called an "ode," with the most common canons having eight odes and the most penitential canons having all nine. Each ode begins with an "Irmos," which is generally sung, and includes references to one of the nine biblical canticles from the Old and New Testaments.
The Great Canon is a monumental work that serves as a survey of the Old and New Testaments. It is characterized by a spirit of mournful humility, hope in God, and complex Trinitarian Doxologies and hymns to the Theotokos in each ode. St. Andrew wrote it for his personal meditations, using it to teach himself the right way to live and placing his own sinfulness in juxtaposition to God's mercy.
The ongoing theme of the Great Canon is an urgent exhortation to change one's life. It includes a dialogue between St. Andrew and his soul, with references to examples of righteousness and unrighteousness from the Old and New Testaments to emulate or avoid. The canon emphasizes the importance of standing in prayer, listening with expectation for God's grace to teach and heal, and prioritizing personal experience and prayer over mere study.
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It is read during Great Lent
The Great Canon of St. Andrew, Bishop of Crete, is a sacred hymn that is read during Great Lent. It is the longest canon in all of the services and is associated with Great Lent. It is read in church during the first four nights of Great Lent (from Clean Monday to Clean Thursday) at Great Compline, when it is serialized. It is then read in its entirety during Matins on the Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, alongside the life of St. Mary of Egypt.
The Great Canon is an ancient liturgical hymn with a strict format. It consists of several parts, each called an "ode", with most common canons having eight odes and the most penitential canons having nine. The Great Canon of St. Andrew stands out for its extensive typology and mystical explanations of scripture, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments. It is characterized by a spirit of mournful humility and hope in God, with complex Trinitarian Doxologies and hymns to the Theotokos in each Ode.
The content of the Great Canon teaches a way to live righteously by providing examples from the Old Testament. It emphasizes the importance of imitating the righteous and avoiding the sins of the wicked. The Canon also encourages a personal reflection on one's actions and a desire for God's grace to heal and teach.
The Canon is typically read in church, but it can also be prayed at home by any of the faithful, either as a family or individually during breaks in their daily routine. It is a lengthy prayer that St. Andrew composed for his personal meditation, and it is considered a good way to start the Great Fast.
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It can be prayed at home or in church
The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is a sacred hymn that is typically read in church during the first week of Great Lent, from Clean Monday to Clean Thursday. It is also read in its entirety during Matins on the Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent. However, it is not restricted solely to church services. The Great Canon can also be prayed at home by any of the faithful, either as part of a "reader's service" in front of icons or during breaks at work or family prayer times.
The Canon is an ancient liturgical hymn with a strict format, consisting of various parts called "odes." Each ode begins with an "Irmos," which references one of the biblical canticles from the Old or New Testament. This is generally sung, while the following "troparia," or short hymns about the subject of the canon, are typically chanted. The Great Canon of St. Andrew is known for its extensive use of images and subjects from both Testaments, providing a broad survey of the Bible.
When prayed at home or in church, the Great Canon of St. Andrew offers a guide on how one should think about themselves and their actions:
> "Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched life? What first-fruit shall I offer, O Christ, for my present lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me release from my falls. Desire to change dialogue with the soul: Come, wretched soul, with your flesh, confess to the Creator of all. In the future, refrain from your former brutishness, and offer to God tears of; repentance."
Additionally, the Canon emphasizes the importance of emulating positive biblical examples of sanctity and repentance while learning from and avoiding negative examples of sin, fallen nature, and pride. It encourages individuals to identify personally with the faithful and to seek God's grace for healing and teaching.
Whether prayed at home or in church, the Great Canon of St. Andrew serves as a powerful tool for personal meditation, reflection, and connection with God.
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It is divided into odes, irmoses, and troparia
The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete is the longest canon in all Orthodox services. It is read in church during the Great Lent. The Canon is a sacred hymn, with a very strict format. It is divided into odes, irmoses, and troparia.
Odes are the variable number of parts that make up the canon. Most canons have eight odes, with the second ode being omitted. The most penitential canons have nine odes, while some canons have only three odes. Odes are generally sung and each ode has a reference to one of the nine biblical canticles from the Old and New Testaments.
Irmoses are the hymns that begin each ode. They are generally sung by the choir, and each Irmos has a reference to one of the nine biblical canticles from the Old and New Testaments. After each Irmos, there are varying traditions about bows and prostrations. Some prostrate, while others make the sign of the cross and bow three times.
Troparia are short hymns about the subject of the canon. They are usually chanted and not sung. After each troparion, a refrain is chanted. The troparia of the Great Canon are usually chanted by the priest in the center of the church.
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It teaches readers how to live a righteous life
The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, also known as the Canon of Repentance, is a lengthy penitential canon composed in the seventh century. It is the longest canon in all of the services of the Orthodox Church and is associated with Great Lent. The only times it is appointed to be read in church are the first four nights of Great Lent (Clean Monday through Clean Thursday) and at Matins for Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, when it is read in its entirety.
The Great Canon was written by St. Andrew as a form of personal meditation and as a way to teach himself how to live a righteous life. It is a dialogue between St. Andrew and his soul, in which he mentions his own sinfulness in juxtaposition to God's mercy. The Canon uses hundreds of references to good and bad examples from the Old and New Testaments to convince the reader to repent and follow a righteous path. It encourages readers to imitate the God-loving deeds of the righteous and shun the sins of the wicked.
The Canon consists of four parts, each divided into nine odes, with a greater number of troparia in comparison to other canons. At the refrain "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me," a full prostration is performed. Some of the odes also have additional refrains and troparia dedicated to St. Andrew or St. Mary of Egypt, a model of repentance in Christian history.
The Great Canon is not just about personal reflection but also about community and congregational experience. During the reading of the Canon, the congregation encounters many biblical examples of sin and repentance. They are expected to emulate the positive examples of sanctity and repentance and learn from the negative examples of sin, fallen nature, and pride. The Canon attempts to portray these Biblical images in a very personal way to each penitent, encouraging a deep introspection and examination of one's own life.
Overall, the Great Canon of St. Andrew serves as a guide for those seeking to live a righteous life, providing a wealth of theological teachings and personal meditations that have benefited many over the centuries.
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Frequently asked questions
The Canon of St. Andrew, or the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, is a liturgical hymn written by St. Andrew, the Archbishop of Crete. It is the longest canon and is associated with Great Lent.
The Canon of St. Andrew is read during the first week of Great Lent, from Clean Monday to Clean Thursday, and at Matins for Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent.
The Canon of St. Andrew is typically read in church. However, it can also be prayed at home, in front of icons, as a "reader's service."
The Canon of St. Andrew was written by St. Andrew to teach himself how to live a righteous life. It serves as a guide for Catholics, encouraging them to emulate positive biblical examples and avoid the sins portrayed in the Canon.
