The institution of the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete in Kyivan Rus during Lent and its formation in Churches of St. Volodymyr’s Baptism over the centuries

Abstract

The tradition in which the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete had emerged is specified. The original name of the Great Сanon is represented. It is found out that even if it was composed in times of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (679–680) and was initiated by the Council to be celebrated on the Fifth Thursday of Lent, the text of the Canon was different than that text we have at present. The reason of its introduction into the Lent worship services by the Eastern Church is defined. The publication represents the emergence and formation process of the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Eastern Church. Hypotheses of scholars concerning the time of the emergence and the authorship have been analyzed. It is found out that the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete is the repentant autobiography of the venerable Andrew of Crete. It is shown that despite St. Andrew of Crete is considered the author of the Great Canon, its text was shortened and complemented later with other canons of St. John of Damascus and St. Cosmas of Maiuma. The time of use of the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete in Kyivan Churches is specified. Stages of the Great Сanon of Andrew of Crete formation in the Slavic tradition have been traced both in Kyivan and Moscow Churches. First printed editions have been found in the “Triodions” published before the Mohyla’s and the Nicon’s reforms. The edition that was found in Mohyla’s and Nikon’s “Triodions” has been characterized. The structural composition of the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete is shown. It is emphasized that in the first part of every song of the Great Canon St. Andrew of Crete is conversing with his soul and in their second part he is asking God for His mercy. It is found out that the structure of the Great Canon does not follow the chronological order in description of the biblical events but the fact does not diminish uniqueness of this Lent worship service. It is shown that the Great Canon remains a fundamental ecclesiastical composition of repentance of the Eastern Church. It is emphasized that its value, importance and usefulness for today are based on the Holy Scriptures, the ecclesiastical and patristic understanding of sin and the struggle of man against it. It is found out that the content of the Great Сanon of St. Andrew of Crete, which is based on the examples of people of the Old and New Testament, appropriately reflects the whole problem of sin and its consequences for humanity. It is demonstrated that the Great Canon depicts not only the fall of man, but also reminds its dignity and beauty before the fall, and calls for repentance and conversion. The Canon emphasizes that man committed the sin though still can overcome it with God’s help. It is shown that the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete reflects the fact that the Old Testament events are very close to the life of a modern person of the 21st century. Thus, both in the past and in the present it is a unique ecclesiastical composition by means of which a man can not only break one’s heart for conversion but also to learn more the Heavenly Creator and to live in accord with His will. It is noted that the abridged biography of St. Andrew of Crete and the essence of his Great Canon is appropriately represented in the synaxarion which is read during the celebration of the Great Canon on Wednesday in the evening of the Fifth week of Lent in Ukrainian Churches of the Kyivan tradition. It is stated that in Ukrainian Churches of the Kyivan tradition the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is celebrated at present partly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the First week of Lent and it is postponed from Thursday to Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent when it is celebrated in its full structure. It is emphasized that presently there is a liturgical book in Churches of St. Volodymyr’s Baptism named the Book of Lenten Triodion, which contains the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Keywords: Sticheron, Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Lent, Slavic tradition, Lenten Triodion, Kyivan Church, Churches of St. Volodymyr’s Baptism