On March 5, 2025, Wednesday of the First Week of Great Lent, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, continued reading the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.
On Wednesday, several troparia in honor of St. Mary of Egypt, who turned from deep spiritual downfall to great piety, are added to the Great Canon.
Praying during the service were the heads of the departments of the Metropolitan District, the clergy of the Ascension Cathedral, employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, and parishioners.
The hymns of the compline were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia O. N. Ovchinnikov and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of E. Boguslavets.
After reading the canon, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan addressed the gathered faithful with a word of edification.
A live broadcast of the reading of St. Andrew of Crete’s canon took place on the YouTube channel of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan, Semirechie.
On Thursday, Metropolitan Alexander will conclude the reading of the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the main church of the Southern Capital.
“O my soul, O my soul, arise! Why are you sleeping? The end draws near…,”—these deeply moving words from the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete resound in the first days of Lent. As a means of salvation from inner worldliness, as an effective way to awaken from the sleep of sin and return to the Heavenly Father, the Church of Christ offers us the penitential days of the Holy Forty Days. Great Lent provides guidance for living according to the Gospel in our world, immersed in the abyss of sin, teaches how to overcome sinful inclinations and acquire virtues, and reveals the joy of life with God. It is essential to understand that observing Great Lent is not only important but also an indispensable condition for the correct path to salvation. St. Ambrose of Milan notes: “This time was sanctified by Christ Himself through His fasting. Whoever among Christians does not fast during the Holy Forty Days demonstrates betrayal and stubbornness, breaking by indulgence the law given by God for salvation… Just as observing the fast is a good deed, so is breaking it during the Forty Days a sin.” At times, from people still distant from true spiritual life, one may hear self-justifications such as “No one taught us, we do not know, we do not understand.” But now, the Mother Church addresses everyone: “Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). The special order of services, the prostrations, the dark vestments, the deeply moving chants—all of this effectively helps us to put aside the earthly and transient, and to turn with all our hearts to the Heavenly and eternal. One must not neglect this liturgical treasure of the Church. Frequent attendance at the House of God, participation in church services, and attentiveness to prayers and hymns are among the key aspects of observing the fast and a true school of piety. — From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.
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