The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete
The MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT CANON
Explanation of the Canon liturgical format
Short Explanation of the Great Canon
Themes of the Great Canon.
Full Text of the Great Canon as chanted on 5 days of Great Lent
Biography of St Andrew
The Great Canon of St Andrew,
Bishop of Crete, is the longest canon in all of our services, and is associated
with Great Lent, since the only times it is appointed to be read in church are
the first four nights of Great Lent (Clean Monday through Clean Thursday, at
Great Compline, when it is serialized) and at Matins for Thursday of the fifth
week of Great Lent, when it is read in its entirety (in this latter service,
the entire life of St Mary of Egypt is also read).
There is no other sacred hymn
which compares with this monumental work, which St Andrew wrote for his
personal meditations. Nothing else has its extensive typology and
mystical explanations of the scripture, from both the Old and New
Testaments. One can almost consider this hymn to be a “survey of
the Old and New Testament”. Its other distinguishing features are a
spirit of mournful humility, hope in God, and complex and beautiful Trinitarian
Doxologies and hymns to the Theotokos in each Ode.
The canon is a dialog
between St. Andrew and his soul. The ongoing theme is an urgent exhortation
to change one’s life. St Andrew always mentions his own sinfulness
placed in juxtaposition to God’s mercy, and uses literally hundreds of
references to good and bad examples from the OT and NT to “convince
himself” to repent.
A canon is an ancient
liturgical hymn, with a very strict format. It consists of a variable number of
parts, each called an “ode”. Most common canons have eight Odes,
numbered from one to nine, with Ode 2 being omitted. The most penitential
canons have all nine odes. Some canons have only three Odes, such as many of
the canons in the “Triodion” (which means “Three
Odes”).
In any case, all Odes have the
same basic format. An “Irmos” begins each Ode.
This is generally sung, and each Irmos has a reference to one of the nine
biblical canticles, which are selections from the Old and New
Testament, which can be found in an appendix in any complete liturgical Psalter
(book of Psalms, arranged for reading in the services). A variable number of
“troparia” follow, which are short hymns about the
subject of the canon. These are usually chanted, and not sung. After each
troparion a “refrain” is chanted. At the end of each
Ode, another hymn, called the “Katavasia”,
either the Irmos previously sung, or one like it is sung.
The troparia of the Great Canon
in all its twelve Odes are usually chanted by the priest in the center of the
church, with the choir singing the Irmos and Katavasia. There are varying
traditions about bows and prostrations. Some prostrate and some make the sign
of the cross and bow three times after the Irmos and each troparion.
General Themes of the Great Canon.
How we should think about
ourselves
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
fallsMon:1.1
Desire to change - dialogue with the soul
Come, wretched soul, with your flesh, confess
to the Creator of all. In the future refrain from you former brutishness, and
offer to God tears of repentance Mon:1.2
Recognizing Reality
The end is drawing near, my soul, is drawing
near! But you neither care nor prepare. The time is growing short. Rise! The
Judge is at the very doors. Like a dream, like a flower, the time of this life
passes. Why do we bustle about in vain? Mon:4.2
How to pray - Laments and supplications to God
Thou art
the Good Shepherd; seek me, Thy lamb, and neglect no me who have gone
astray Mon:3.5
OT and NT examples of righteousness and unrighteousness, for the purpose of emulation or avoidance.
Do not be a pillar of salt, my soul, by
turning back; but let the example of the Sodomites frighten you, and take
refuge up in Zoar.(Genesis 19:26) Thu Ode
3:5
I have reviewed all the people of the Old Testament as
examples for you, my soul. Imitate the God-loving deeds of the righteous and
shun the sins of the wicked.Tue Ode 8
THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT CANON.
The Great Canon was
written by a holy man to teach himself the right way to live. We cannot benefit
from it unless we make it a priority to stand in prayer, in the church, and
listen to it, with a great desire and expectation for God’s grace to
teach us and heal us. Our theology is first and foremost – experienced
and prayed, and not only “studied”.
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