In the first week of Lent, during the Great Complines from Monday to Thursday, we read the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This Canon is a heartfelt cry and pierces the mans soul about sins. At the very beginning, “where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched life?” What first-fruit shall I offer, O Christ, for my present lamentation? Song 1, sets the soul to sorrow and repentance.

The Great Canon of St. Andrew is based on a powerful foundation of the Fathers, it is read by quotations from St. Melito Sardinan, St. Ephrem, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Maximus the Confessor. The merit of St. Andrew of Crete was that he was able to synthesize thier experience and capture it in the Canon.

This Great Canon was written about 1200 years ago and is performed during the first week of Lent in churches to this very day.

This year the Orthodox V congregations held this reading at St. John the Baptist Church at Chipman, AB. and was attended by many worshippers. At the suggestion of Fr. Oleksii, all the lights were turned off and the congregation prayed by candle light, as was done in the 8th century. All participants noted that the darkness and lit candles helped to create a more prayerful and repentant mood.

Daily, after the reading, we organized a social period with a discussion of what was heard on that day. Every one had an opportunity to ask Fr. Oleksii questions about the reading.

If we speak about personal feelings, these were the first services for me that were held so peacefully and full of prayer.

We are grateful to the Parish of St. John the Baptist for the opportunity to spend these evening services in the church, all who came to pray and to all those who could not attend but prayed at home while being with us in spirit.