Photo: Valaam.ru

This is a long service, which happens only once a year. During it, the entire The Standing of St. Mary The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Thursday of the First WeekI fall prostrate before Thee, O Jesus. I have sinned against Thee, be merciful to me. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.

“>Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read from start to finish (during the first week of Great Lent, it was read in four parts from Monday to Thursday), and the The Standing of St. Mary Venerable Mary of EgyptCovered by the cloak, the ascetic turned to Zosimas: “Why do you want to speak with me, a sinful woman? What did you wish to learn from me, you who have not shrunk from such great labors?””>Life of St. Mary of Egypt is joined to it.

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St. Mary lived in the desert for forty-seven years in fasting and prayer, and attained great sanctity. The only person who saw St. Mary after her departure to the desert was hieromonk Zosima. She told him her story.

The service of the Standing of St. Mary. Photo: Valaam.ru

At age twelve, she left her family and went to Alexandria, where she became a harlot. But one day, after a miraculous incident, she changed her life completely. On the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, Mary joined herself to a group of pilgrims that was travelling to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem she tried to enter the church, but an unknown force prevented her. The harlot began to pray before the icon of the Mother of God that hung in the church narthex. After praying, Mary was able to enter the church and venerate the Cross. When she left the church, she heard the voice of the Theotokos, who said, “If you cross the Jordan, you will find blessed peace.”

The service of the Standing of St. Mary. Photo: Valaam.ru

The tradition concerning St. Mary of Egypt was passed on orally until the seventh century, when it was committed to writing by Sophronius of Jerusalem. The full text of her life can be found The Standing of St. Mary Thursday of the Great Canon, with the Life of St. Mary of EgyptOn Wednesday evening a very special service is celebrated in Orthodox churches—the Great Canon with the Life of St. Mary of Egypt. This is the only time in the year when the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, which was read in four parts during the first week of Great Lent, is read in its entirety, along with the canon to St. Mary of Egypt. This canon contains every motivation toward fasting and repentance, and the Church repeats it in the fifth week in its entirety in order to inspire us with renewed strength to finish the course of the fast. The Life of St. Mary of Egypt is also read to that end—to motivate us to be attentive and repent.

“>here.

This text, according to the holy fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council (692)—and that is when the service of the Great Canon of Repentance of St. Andrew of Crete and the Life of St. Mary of Egypt were compiled—can give hope even to those who think they are in desperate straits, and to those who do not believe that they are capable of worthily finishing the fast and greeting the Resurrection of Christ. The Standing of St. Mary is a service that comforts the suffering, and arouses the faithful to continue their ascetic labor of fasting and repentance.

The service of the Standing of St. Mary. Photo: A.Goryainov / Pravoslavie.ru

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