NOTE: Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts this afternoon at 3 PM (not 5pm)
PLAN: Confession. Fr. Boris Hemon will be here this Saturday at 10am during Liturgy + 7pm during Vespers. Сповідь. o. Борис Гемон буде тут цієї суботи о 10:00 під час Літургії + 19:00 під час Вечірні
HELP: Volunteers needed for grounds keeping (students looking for hours or anyone else)
ABOUT THE SERVICE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Tonight is the yearly singing of the Great Canon and the reading of the life of Saint Mary of Egypt. If you will be praying at home, download THE GREAT CANON 2021 (file below). Before the canon (and after if you wish), read “A who’s who guide of the Great Canon” which explains who all the biblical characters are that will be referenced in the various odes. I strongly recommend reading this in order to better grasp the meaning of the texts - and its a fantastic bible lesson!
I have provided the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt in full as a PDF document, and also a link to a recording of it. If you will be watching the live stream, follow along with the text provided. If not, then tonight or tomorrow morning you are obligated to read (or listen) to this life in full. It's worthwhile for sure! If possible, before this evening, listen to the podcast episode from “Firstfruits” (link provided below).
"MY SOUL, MY SOUL ARISE! WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?"
The Great Canon is a masterpiece of liturgical hymnody and repentance that each and everyone of us need to hear and experience. Together with the reading of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, it proves an invaluable source of encouragement and formation.
There is no other sacred hymn which compares with this monumental work, which St Andrew wrote for his personal meditations. Nothing else has its extensive typology and mystical explanations of the scripture, from both the Old and New Testaments. One can almost consider this hymn to be a “survey of the Old and New Testament”.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT CANON:
The Great Canon was written by a holy man to teach himself the right way to live. We cannot benefit from it unless we make it a priority to stand in prayer, in the church, and listen to it, with a great desire and expectation for God’s grace to teach us and heal us. Our theology is first and foremost – experienced and prayed, and not only “studied”.
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