Saint Andrew of Crete is glorified in the face of the saints of the Orthodox Church as an outstanding saint. This great righteous man lived in the VI-VII centuries from the birth of Christ.
Orthodox believers know St. Andrew of Crete as a great ascetic of piety and a prayer book before God. In his life, the righteous set an example of meekness, humility, and virtue. The liturgical life of the Church now preserves, perhaps, the main written work of the saint - the Great Penitential Canon.
First Week of Great Lent
The Great Penitential Canon is an outstanding liturgical work composed of 250 penitential troparia depicting the prayer appeal of a sinning person to God with sincere repentance. Biblical Old Testament types are shown in the prayers of the canon, showing the full depth of a person's possible sinfulness.
The reading of this canon was laid down by the Church during Holy Lent. At the first week of the Fourteenth Day (in the first four days) this canon is read by the priest during the evening service. The priest reads the canon in the center of the temple at the beginning of the Lent. Between the troparia works laid bow to the earth.
The entire liturgical work of St. Andrew of Crete at the first week of the fast is divided into four parts.
