Comments on: The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete. Explanation, themes, texts, biography

By: A Meditation on the Great Canon of St. Andrew : St. George Church of Prescott

A Meditation on the Great Canon of St. Andrew : St. George Church of Prescott — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:56:11 +0000

[...] text of the Great Canon can be viewed here. Share and [...]

By: Christina Archer

Christina Archer — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:08:14 +0000

The great canon of St. Andrew should be read and prayed about through out the year. I heard and sung it for the first time this year (2010).

By: Diane Pappas

Diane Pappas — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:51:17 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful resource. I always thought that except for a few mentioned sins in the canon that I was praying the canon with a false humility and false repentence because, as far as I knew, I hadn't done or thought many of those sins… I had done others equally bad or worse but not those in the canon and not to that degree, definitely. Then somewhere I read that we chant it and confess those sins as identification with all human beings of all time because we share a common humanity, and it is in the heart of each of us to do these sins in one form or another as we share a common propensity to sin, any sin and all sins. Since then, God in His grace and mercy has opened my eyes to so many of my past sins and sinful attitudes that have been hidden from even me. Now I can enter into the praying of the canon sincerely, from my heart, as I identify with my brothers and sisters who have lived throughout the Old Testament times because I know we share in the same flesh and blood, the same sin nature and I either would have participated in the sin mentioned or have participated in that sin in some manifestation in my own life. So thank you for the opportunity to enter more fully into the prayers of the canon through your guidance.

By: Natalia Arzhantseva

Natalia Arzhantseva — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:25 +0000

I always thought, and many other people do, that the Great Canon is the most significant writing of the Church compositions. It is so ample! It’s an example of what a person is, what he should be, how he should repent; an example of CONFESSION. How open & frank a person should be – and St Andrew shows that confessing in front of God in this Canon all the depths of his soul & feelings. It is a true repentance!
It also shows – to me, as I miss it – that we should read the Old Testament, as so much in the Canon is based on it, and what is so important in it for us.
It shows us how we should develop into the new being, which is impossible without a thorough, sincere repentance, analysis of our state of mind, disclosing all the hidden corners to God.

It’s an example of PRAYER.

I also think that we should read the Great Canon not only the assigned days in the Church (though in this atmosphere it produces a very deep impression on our soul, and is always felt as we hear it for the first time, as it always overwhelms us with its poetry & depth, and each year we are struck with something new – as if first discovered – because our soul develops with the course of time), but also alone in our rooms, thoughtfully, living through each phrase. As it is both the Church, synodical creation, but also refers to each individual soul, and everyone stops & dwells on something personal in it, and sometimes it takes much time.

For me the Canon is a motivation to study the Old Testament, as I know it very superficially!

Bless.