The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is one of the most significant penitential hymns in the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). It is associated with deep repentance and is particularly prominent during Great Lent.
The Great Canon was written by St. Andrew of Crete (c. 660–740), a Byzantine monk, bishop, and hymnographer. He was born in Damascus and later became the Archbishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete. His writings deeply influenced Orthodox liturgical traditions, especially through his hymns and canons.
This extensive hymn reflects on biblical figures and events, emphasizing repentance and the need for divine mercy. It is structured as a dialogue between the soul and itself, calling for inner transformation and return to God.
The Great Canon is chanted twice during Great Lent:
During the First Week of Great Lent
It is divided into four parts and read during Great Compline from Monday to Thursday.
This serves as a powerful introduction to the Lenten season, calling believers to repentance.
On the Fifth Thursday of Great Lent (Wednesday evening in some traditions)
The full text of the Canon is chanted during a special service called Matins with Prostrations.
This service is also known as “Thursday of the Great Canon” or “Standing of St. Mary of Egypt” because it includes the reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, an example of radical repentance.
The Great Canon is filled with biblical allusions, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments.
It presents a spiritual journey of sin, repentance, and divine mercy.
The refrain “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me” is repeated throughout, reinforcing the penitential theme.
The service includes numerous prostrations (metanoias), symbolizing humility and the soul’s return to God.
It prepares the faithful for the deeper stages of Lenten asceticism.
The repeated invocations of repentance reflect the theme of spiritual renewal.
The inclusion of St. Mary of Egypt’s life serves as an example of radical transformation, showing that even the gravest sinners can attain holiness through repentance.
This service is one of the most solemn and moving moments of Great Lent in both the Orthodox and Ukrainian Greek Catholic traditions, emphasizing the Church’s deep call to repentance before Pascha (Easter).
