“Have a mercy on me, God, have a mercy”: reading of St. Andrew of Crete canon

“The Standing of St. Mary of Egypt” is a divine service, when the complete Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and St. Mary of Egypt’s life are read. She gives a great example of a woman who found the strength to see her sinfulness and change her life completely.

St. Mary’s life, before she found Christ, was full of sinful pleasures. Once she wanted to join pilgrims and enter with them to the church, but an unknown force pushed did not let her go. Then she realized that her sinful life was the main obstacle and heartfully prayed to the Mother of God. Leaving the church she had gone to the desert, where she spent 47 years in unceasing prayers.

On April 5, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite officed a divine service at the Intercession Academic Church. At Matins, the Rector read the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Hieromonk Varnava (Losev), Dean of the Intercession Academic Church, read the life of St. Mary of Egypt.

On April 6, Hieromonk Vyacheslav (Sorokin) celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Intercession Academic Church.

Alexander Sumzin, a 2nd year Master's student, delivered a sermon:

It is a miracle when a person renounces his sins and fully belongs to God. When this miracle happens, we will see a great change: sorting out some kind of relationship, rude words, pain, suffering, resentment, reproaches or self-pity. After all, repentance is a change and transfiguration of us by the Lord. The soul must constantly receive grace-filled help in order to resist the world of sins and temptation.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky and a mixed choir led by K.A. Tarelkina.

At the morning service, chanting performed by male choirs under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky and V.V. Chuvilov.

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