On Thursday of the First Week of Great Lent
In the evening 21 March 2024 of the year, thursday of the first week of Great Lent, Metropolitan Herman of Kursk and Rylsk celebrates Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of Ven. St. Andrew of Crete in the Cathedral Church of the Kursk Root Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Male Hermitage.
Vladyka Herman was co-served by the abbot of the monastery, Hegumen Seraphim (Kotelnikov) and the brethren of the monastery in the priesthood. Monks of the monastery and pilgrims prayed in the church.
At the end of the service, the archpastor delivered a sermon.
During Great Lent, the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is celebrated twice. On the First Week and Thursday of the Fifth Week, when all four parts of the canon are read in a row, together with the Life of St. Mary of Egypt.
Canon, Done in the evenings, connected not to the evening, and with compline – a rare liturgical rite, with which the laity practically do not meet outside of Great Lent. The main theme of the canon is repentance. Translated from Greek, this word means "change of soul". And indeed, Lent is time, which gives an opportunity to distract from the worldly vanity and think about the soul.
"My soul, to my soul, Stand Up, What do you write down; The End Is Coming, And the Imashi are embarrassed: Wake Up, may Christ God have mercy on you, Everywhere, and do all things." (Kontakion, voice 6).
Source: website of the Diocese of Kursk
