July 4: Commemoration of Andrew of Crete, Author of the Great Canon

[J. Thomas Shelley]

My heart is heavy this day for many reasons, not the least of which the news imparted on the now-locked Prayer Request discussion.

The Fourth Day of July is the Commemoration of Andrew of Crete, Author of the Great Canon

Andrew of Crete, Author of the Great Canon

His Great Canon of Repentance is sung, one quarter at time, on the weekdays of the first week of Great Lent.   The entire Canon is sung on Thursday evening of the fourth week of Great Lent, interwoven with the vita of St. Mary of Egypt.

The Second Ode of the First Quarter seems well suited for all that this day has brought:

Attend to me, O God my Saviour, with Thy merciful eye, and accept my fervent confession. (Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 33:15)

Refrain:  Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

I have sinned above all men, I alone have sinned against Thee. But as God have compassion, O Saviour, on Thy creature. (1 Tim. 1:15)

Having formed by my pleasure-loving desires the deformity of my passions, I have marred the beauty of my mind. A storm of passions besets me, O compassionate Lord. But stretch out Thy hand to me too, as to Peter. (Matthew 14:31)

I have stained the coat of my flesh, and soiled what is in Thy image and likeness, O Saviour. I have darkened the beauty of my soul with passionate pleasures, and my whole mind I have reduced wholly to mud.

I have torn my first garment which the Creator wove for me in the beginning, and therefore I am lying naked. (Genesis 3:21)

I have put on a torn coat, which the serpent wove for me by argument, and I am ashamed. (Genesis 3:4-5)

The tears of the harlot, O merciful Lord, I too offer to Thee. Be merciful to me, O Saviour, in Thy compassion. (Luke 7:38; 18:13)

I looked at the beauty of the tree, and my mind was seduced; and now I lie naked, and I am ashamed. (Genesis 3:7)

All the demon-chiefs of the passions have plowed on my back, and long has their tyranny over me lasted. (Psalm 128:3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

To the Holy Trinity: I sing of Thee as one in three Persons, O God of all, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Spotless Mother of God, only all-hymned Virgin, pray intensely that we may be saved.

Attend to me, O God my Saviour, with Thy merciful eye, and accept my fervent confession. (Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 33:15)

[Weedon]

Are you familiar with J. Michael Thompson’s recording of the Great Canon? He is an old friend from Seminary days. Here’s his recording of the Second Ode:

https://youtu.be/xr0H62kywSY

[Matt Hummel]

Thanks!