According to biblical teaching, despondency and sorrow are states of the sinful plan. Since a person, falling into them, ceases to be a phenomenon of life, does not radiate vital energy. But it is said: “According to your light, let it be to you” (Apostle Paul).
Because it is important, despite the different situations and phenomena that occur in life, even when in a state of despondency, try to get out of it as soon as possible.
One of the ways, created back in the 8th century AD by Saint Theostirikt, is the singing of the Canon of the Penitent to the Lord, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel. This will be discussed in this article.
About the author of canons
The monk Theostirikt (according to other sources Theoktirist) lived in the 8th century AD. He was a well-known worshiper of sacred icons and a spiritual writer at the time.
Just in timeyears of his life, Constantine Copronymus ruled in Greece. This was a cruel king, since the period of his reign is considered the time of the development of iconoclasm in the church. Constantine Copronymus was even compared to the pagan emperor Diocletian, who cruelly mocked Christians.
Also, this ruler subjected the monks to terrible tortures for defending the Christian faith, protecting icons.
So St. Theostirict was no exception: his hands and nose were burned with hot resin. Others were stoned.
But this elder, the author of the sacred Canons of repentance to the Most Holy Theotokos, nevertheless steadfastly endured the trials sent to him and lived a long, fruitful life, dying at a ripe old age.
Canons
In ancient sources it is reported that the saint often experienced a state of despondency due to the constant persecution of Christians by the ruler of the country. He felt deeply the constant attacks.
And therefore, being a deeply religious person, as well as a spiritual writer, he composed special songs-poems, which are called the Holy Canons Penitent to Christ, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel. And they helped the monk to move away from the negative state and come back to joy and peace.
Currently, believers who apply the Canons also feel a positive result regarding their inner state.
They are sung together "The Penitential Canon to the Lord, the Mother of God and the Angel" or each separately. But this does not affect the meaning and result.
Calledthese songs like this:
- The Penitential Canon of Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos.
- The penitential canon to the Guardian Angel.
- The penitential canon of Jesus Christ.
About the language of canon songs
The article contains the Canon of the Repentance of the Most Holy Theotokos in Russian. And also to the Guardian Angel and the Lord (explained in Russian).
In churches they are sung in Church Slavonic. But since not everyone knows and understands this language, the songs have been translated into Russian so that everyone can clearly understand the meaning.
They are also translated into other languages of the world so that the Canons can be sung by other peoples who revere the Orthodox faith.
Canon of repentance prayer to the Theotokos
The song begins with the Troparion to the Mother of God (4 Tone), which says that a person diligently turns to the Queen of Heaven and bows before Her, repenting and crying out for help from the depths of his soul.
Further, follows the praise of the Mother of God and the promise of a person never to depart from the Lady, because it is She who is the protection, support, support for the earthly righteous. It is only thanks to Her that they are still free.
Psalm 50 speaks of an appeal to the mercy of God and a request to cleanse from sin. Renew your heart and spirit. Fill with joy. Please help open your mouth and praise the Lord in front of other people without fear. About willingness to donate.
The Canon of the Penitent Mother of God (in Russian) begins with Tone 8, Canto 1, with Irmos, the connecting semantic link between the Troparion and the Canon. song of praiseGod.
Chorus: a request to the Mother of God for salvation from temptations, passions, misfortunes and troubles. Glory to the Queen of Heaven sounds that she gave birth to the Son-Savior. Disaster relief request.
Song 3. Irmos: a request to the Lord in affirming a person's love for Him.
- Chorus one: it is sung that the Theotokos is the Defender and Patroness of man, the Cause of all blessings.
- Chorus two: a plea for help to the Mother of God, so that confusion and despondency dissipate. Calling Her Mother of the Chief of Silence.
- Glory (it is recommended to pronounce "Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit").
- And now (it is recommended to say: "And now and forever and ever. Amen").
- Next, please save the servants of the Queen of Heaven (people who revere Her) from troubles, as they turn to Her in prayers after God. A request for Her gaze on the body and soul of a grieving person.
- Troparion, Tone 2. The name of the Mother of God With a fervent intercession, an impregnable wall, a source of mercy, a refuge for the world.
Song 4. Irmos: understanding the mystery of the Providence of the Lord, glorifying God.
- Chorus one: a person's appeal to the Queen of Heaven about calming the passions of unrest and the storm of sin.
- Chorus two: a request to the Mother of God for mercy.
- Chorus three: Hymn of Thanksgiving to Our Lady.
- Glory. Request for help.
- And now. Gratitude to the Queen of Heaven that She is Hope and Affirmation, and Salvation is an Unshakable Wall.
Song 5. Irmos: a request to the Lord-Love of Man for the enlightenment of His Commandments and the World.
- Chorus one: an appeal to the Most Pure Mother of God to fill the heart of a person with joy and bright fun.
- Chorus two: please get rid of troubles.
- Glory. prayer to the Mother of God to dispel the darkness of human sins.
- And now. Request for healing.
Song 6. Irmos: a prayer to the Lord for the proclamation of human sorrows.
- Chorus one: a request to the Mother of God to pray to Her Son to save a person from the villainy of enemies.
- Chorus two: an appeal to the Queen of Heaven as the Defender of life and the Faithful Guard, who dissolves temptations, the malice of the unclean, drives away in prayer from harmful passions to save a person.
- Glory. Request for salvation from passions and troubles.
- And now. Request for salvation from fatal diseases of the body.
Kondak. Tone 6
Second kontakion. Tone 6. Appeal to the Blessed One as the only Helper and Hope
Stikhira. Tone 6. Request to the Mother of God not for earthly intercession, but for Heavenly.
Song 7. Irmos: a song about young men from Judea who were burned for their belief in the Trinity.
- Chorus one: the chanting of the Savior who came to Earth through the Womb of the Mother of God - Defender of the World.
- Chorus two: an appeal to the Queen of Heaven as a pure Mother, who gave birth to the Loving Mercy, in a prayer of deliverance from sins and spiritual filth.
- Glory. Appeal to the Lord, who revealed the MotherHis Treasury of salvation and Source of eternity.
- And now. Request to the Mother of God for the healing of spiritual and bodily infirmities of a person.
Song 8. Irmos: Chanting of the Heavenly King.
- Chorus one: a request to the Queen of Heaven not to despise the help from Her who ask, ex alt Her forever.
- Chorus two: chanting of the Mother of God as the Healer of human infirmities.
- Glory. Chanting of the Virgin, abundantly pouring out healing to those who sing of Her with Faith.
- And now. Chanting of the Virgin who deflects temptations.
Song 9. Irmos: the statement that the Mother of God is truly the Mother of God.
- Chorus one: a man's request to the Queen of Heaven not to reject his tears, but to wipe them off his face.
- Chorus two: please fill your heart with Joy.
- Chorus three: a request to the Mother of God to become a Shelter, Protection, an unshakable Wall, Shelter, Cover, Joy for people who resort to Her.
- Glory. Request to the Queen of Heaven With the light of illumination to drive away the darkness of ignorance.
- And now. Request for healing from infirmity to he alth.
Stichery, Tone 2. Song of the Theotokos, praise and gratitude. Please pray for the salvation of the people of all Saints.
Prayer in the Penitential Canon to the Holy Mother of God
After the Canon follows the Prayer to the Queen of Heaven. It consists of two parts.
- The first is an appeal-a request for help, consolation, resolution of suffering and troubles.
- And in the second part, first comes the murmuring prayer, cry for help. Then praiseMother of God, already a joyful request for help. And in the conclusion of the Canon of the Penitent Mother of God in Russian it sounds “Rejoice!”.
Canon of repentance to the Guardian Angel
Begins with Troparion, Tone 6. An appeal to the Angel of God, the guardian saint, to establish the human mind on the true path, and inflame the soul with love for the heavenly Father.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: a request to the Queen of Heaven, the Holy Lady, to pray for the salvation of the human soul of Christ and the Angel. And forgive sins.
Canon. Tone 8. Song 1. Irmos: a song of gratitude to the Lord that He led His people through the waters of the Red Sea.
- Chorus one: for mercy to Jesus Christ, sing a song and praise the Angel.
- Chorus two: a request to the Guardian Angel to pray to God for a person who is in unreason and laziness at the moment. Don't leave him perishing.
- Glory. Please direct your mind rightly towards the Lord and receive forgiveness of sins and turn away from evil.
- And now. A request to the Mother of God to pray for a person together with the Guardian Angel.
Song 3. Irmos: an appeal that the Lord is Affirmation and Light.
- Chorus one: a song about thoughts and soul, aspiring to the Guardian Angel. Request for deliverance from the misfortunes of the enemy.
- Chorus two: a confession about the enemy, trampling and instructing to fulfill their desires. Asking the Angel for Protection.
- Glory. A request to the Angel to grant the opportunity to chanta song of Praise to God and the Guardian Angel.
- And now: a request to the Mother of God to heal the ulcers of the soul and drive away the enemies fighting the man.
Sedal. Voice 2. Appeals to the Angel about protection and preservation from insidious tricks, about direction to the Heavenly Life, about admonishment, enlightenment and strengthening.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: an appeal to the Most Pure One together with the Angel for help in getting rid of any difficulty, giving tenderness and light to the soul.
Song 4. Irmos: a person's hearing about the Sacrament of the Providence of the Lord. understanding of His works. And praise Him.
- Chorus one. A request to the Angel to always pray to the Lord for a person, do not leave him, save the world and give salvation.
- Chorus two. Prayer to the Angel, as the Intercessor and Guardian of life from God. Please release from any troubles.
- Glory. Request for cleansing and deliverance to the Angel.
- And now: a request to the Mother of God for deliverance from troubles and difficulties.
Song 5. Irmos: glorification of the Lord.
- Chorus one. A song to the Guardian Angel to pray to the Lord for deliverance from oppressive evils.
- Chorus two: a song to the Angel, like a shining Light, to enlighten the soul of a person.
- Glory. Asking the Angel to keep the person awake.
- And now. A request to the Virgin Mary to cast down the enemy's offerings, and to rejoice those who sing about Her.
Song 6. Irmos: about the giving of the Robe.
- Chorus one: a prayer to the Angel for salvation from misfortunes and sorrows.
- Chorus two: pleaseto the Guardian to sanctify the mind and thoughts.
- Glory. A request to the Guardian Angel to keep the human heart from confusion, to be awake in good deeds and direct to life-giving silence.
- And now. Song of Praise to the Mother of God.
Kondak. Voice 4. A request to the Angel for mercy, not excommunication from a person, for enlightenment.
Ikos. Prayer-request to the Guardian Angel for mercy and the preservation of the soul, for enlightenment with good thoughts, for the deposition of enemies malicious against a person, to help him become worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Song 7. Irmos: about young men from Judea who remained faithful to the Holy Trinity. For this they were burned.
- Chorus one: a request to the Angel for mercy, for He is the intercessor, mentor and guardian of human life forever.
- Chorus two. Prayer to the Angel for the protection of the human soul from the attacks of robbers on the path and directing it to the Path of repentance.
- Glory. A request to the Angel for the healing of the shamed soul of a person.
- And now. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, please fill with wisdom and divine strength.
Song 8. Irmos: Chanting of the Heavenly King.
- Chorus one: a request to the Guardian Angel to approve the life of a person and stay forever with him.
- Chorus two: Chanting of the Angel - the soul of the human mentor and guardian.
- Glory. Prayer of the Angel to be the Cover and the Fortress wall in times of trials.
- And now. A request to the Mother of God to be for a person who believes in Her, Helper andSilence.
Song 9. Irmos: an appeal to the Lord, who is truly revered through the Mother of God and magnified with the Angels.
- Chorus to Jesus: a request-song for mercy and joining a person to the hosts of the righteous.
- Chorus: a request to the Guardian Angel for thinking and doing good and useful, to show strength to the righteous and blameless in weakness.
- Glory. Angel's petition to pray for the man of the Lord and have mercy on him.
- And now. A request to the Virgin Mary to pray to Her Son to free a person from bonds and salvation.
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
As well as the prayer to the Theotokos, the Penitential Canon is final, so is the prayer at the end of the Canon of the Penitent to the Guardian Angel.
At its very beginning, recognition, repentance for human sins: laziness, evil temper, shameful deeds. But that is the human will, given to everyone by God from birth.
Further, comparing yourself with unreasonable cattle, but not doing this. Reproaching oneself as a man in front of the Guardian Angel and deeds committed.
At the end, a prayer-request for help, mercy, intercession against the evil enemy with holy angelic prayers sounds.
Canon of repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ
Begins with Canto 1. Irmos: Singing a song of victory to God as the Israelites marched on dry land and the Pharaohs drowned in the sea. A request for mercy, a penitential prayer to the Lord.
- Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- Now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
- Appeal to the Mother of God with a request to get rid of the networks of darkness. And instructions on the Path of repentance.
Song 3. Irmos: Praise be to the Lord, holy and merciful. Repentance of the soul before the terrible judgment.
- Glory. Prayer-repentance of the soul of a person, defiled, hard-hearted by deeds and thoughts.
- And now. Prayer of repentance and a request for mercy to the Mother of God.
Sedal. Repentance for the evil deeds at the thought of a terrible day, a request to the Lord for mercy.
- Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- And now. Prayer for help and salvation to the Queen of Heaven.
Song 4. Irmos: the chanting of the Lord by the Holy Church. The path of the righteous is narrow, but the path of the voluptuous is wide and comfortable - a call to beware of the second. Repentance.
- Glory. A call to seek the Kingdom of God on earth, rather than material we alth that is perishable.
- And now. Request-prayer to the Mother of God for mercy, strengthening virtue, escort to the Kingdom of God.
Song 5. Irmos: morning prayer-a request to the Lord to fill the human soul with Divine Light, Love, Light striving. Repentance for sinful deeds.
- Glory. The Lord accepts repentant sinners as a harlot and a thief in earthly life.
- And now. Request for help and purification of the soul to the Mother of God.
Song 6. Irmos: an appeal to the Lord for salvation from perdition in the sea of life, where it is full of temptations.
- Glory. Prayer of repentance and mercy. Asking for help deliverance from sin.
- And now. A request to the Mother of God to save fromvisible and invisible evil of man.
Kondak. An appeal to the soul that has sinned to repent before the Lord.
Ikos. A request to the soul for repentance before death.
Song 7. Irmos: singing of the furnace created by the Angel, sprinkling dew on the holy youths and God's command of the Chaldeans, that even the tormentor-king exclaimed a blessing to God. An appeal to the human soul not to hope for perishable we alth and external beauty.
- Glory. A call to the soul to remember eternal life for the righteous and torment for the unworthy.
- And now. Prayer of the Mother of God for ambulance and mercy.
Song 8. Irmos: the ex altation of Christ for the Holy Works He has done. A request to the Lord for repentance and mercy.
- Glory. Faith in the Lord and asking for repentance before death.
- And now. Prayer for repentance to the Most Pure Mother of God.
Song 9. Irmos: man's prayer to the Queen of Heaven, Angels and Archangels of deliverance from eternal torment.
- Glory. Prayer to the holy martyrs, hermits, the righteous to turn to the Lord for mercy on a person.
- And now. Request to the Mother of God to pray for the man to the Lord, have mercy on him during the trial.
Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ
The ardent prayer of the penitent righteous to Christ, who healed human passions with His sufferings, Healed human ulcers with His sores. Please grant a life-giving fragrance to the body and sweeten the soul with Honest Blood, so that the bitterness poured out by enemies will go away.
Please raise the human mind to the Lord, lead away from the abyss of death, grant repentance and grace.
The prayer ends with a request to find a righteous person and introduce him to the pasture of the Lord, to the sheep of the chosen flock.
In closing
The Penitential Canon to the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel and Jesus Christ is a rather strong song-prayer. It is necessary to join this shrine only with sincere motives in repentance.
But everyone who ever turns to the Canon of the Penitent to the Most Holy Theotokos in Russian or Church Slavonic will definitely receive help and support.
