The head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis performed the morning service with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

      Text by Andrey Rukavishnikov. Photo by Dmitry Smirnov. On March 25, in the Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral dedicated to Saint Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas celebrated the morning service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Assisting the ruling hierarch were the keyholder of this cathedral and the head of the administrative secretariat of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, Priest Artem Muzhichenkov, the acting rector of the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary, Archpriest Vasily Spirkin, and other clergy of the diocese. During the service, students of the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary and the students of the Church Specialists Training Center of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese "Pokrov" named after Metropolitan Nikolai (Kutev) prayed together with the parishioners. After the service, addressing those gathered in the temple with a pastoral word, the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis reminded of the life of St. Mary of Egypt and spoke about its spiritual significance. "By the mercy of God, we are passing through the fifth week of Great Lent. The Holy Forty Days is a special time for prayer, God-thoughts, and repentance. St. Andrew of Crete wrote the penitential canon. And in these days we hear the words of the special prayer of repentance from one of the ancient fathers of the Church. St. Mary of Egypt acquired special grace through her feat. The holy fathers remind us that without repentance there is no forgiveness. The Lord said about the Kingdom of Heaven: 'And nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination and falsehood' (Rev 21:27). For a person to repent, he must see his sins, not condemn others. During the days of Great Lent, the Lord gives us a special opportunity to be sober in mind and enlightened in heart. Acknowledging our weaknesses, we raise prayers to St. Andrew of Crete and ask for his intercession before the Lord, that we may guide ourselves towards feelings of repentance. We also turn our prayers to St. Mary of Egypt, that she may ask the Lord for us for at least a small measure of resolve, which this saint has shown us. May the Lord keep you all!" added the archpastor.

      Reference: On this evening, a special service took place in all Orthodox churches - the Standing of St. Mary of Egypt. This name refers to the morning service, usually held on Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent. In the people, this service is also commonly referred to as Mary's standing, as the life of St. Mary of Egypt is read during it. The term "standing" indicates that the parishioners take on the effort to pray during the lengthy service, which requires internal concentration as well as external focus.

      On this day, the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read in full in the churches, which was read in parts at the beginning of Great Lent (the first time the Great Canon, divided into four parts, is read on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the first week).

      The canon has been read during the Lenten service in churches for almost 1200 years and is perceived by believers just as it was when it was written by the holy hymnographer. The meaning of this sacred act is to summarize the fast as a time of self-observation, self-condemnation, weeping for one's sins, and repentance for them, now at the end of the Lenten journey, when there are two and a half weeks left until Easter.

      The Great Canon consists of 250 troparia and is called Great not only for its unusually large number of verses but also for its inner dignity, the height of thoughts, and the strength of their expression. The entire Old Testament presents itself to us in the troparia of the canon as a school of repentance. Showing the virtues and feats of the saints, St. Andrew of Crete does not forget about the evil and cruel deeds, urging us to imitate the good and turn away from the evil. But in the Great Canon, there are not only examples from Sacred Scripture but also admonitions to the soul, reflections, and prayers. Fasting is a time for repentance and purification, and the canon of St. Andrew of Crete is aimed at awakening the human soul from sinful slumber, revealing to it the harmfulness of sinful states, prompting strict self-examination, self-condemnation, and repentance, turning away from sins and correcting one's life.

      The life of St. Mary of Egypt is also read during the service - a saint whose feat is one of the brightest examples of deep and true repentance, capable of rebirthing the soul and changing the life of any person. St. Mary of Egypt, who, with God's help, became from a great sinner the greatest saint, lived in sins for 17 years until the merciful Lord turned her to repentance. She withdrew to the harsh and desolate Jordanian desert and spent almost half a century there in complete solitude, in fasting and prayer. Through her harsh feats, the ascetic completely eradicated sinful desires within herself and made her heart a pure temple of the Holy Spirit.

      When citing, a link (hyperlink) to the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis website is mandatory.

      More news about the event:

      The Standing of Mary of Egypt. In the Serafimo-Diveyevo Monastery, the reading of the Great Canon and the life of St. Mary of Egypt was performed by the clergy of the monastery in the Trinity Cathedral. 22:25 25.03.2026 Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveyevo Monastery - Nizhny Novgorod

      The head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis celebrated the morning service with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Text by Andrey Rukavishnikov. 22:15 25.03.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Metropolitan Artemy led the "Mary's Standing" in the main cathedral of the region. On March 25, 2026, on the eve of Thursday of the 5th week of Great Lent, Metropolitan Artemy of Khabarovsk and Priamur celebrated the morning service of Thursday with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the life of St. Mary of Egypt. 11:14 26.03.2026 Priamur Metropolis - Khabarovsk

      Bishop Alexy of Vyazma and Gagarin celebrated the morning service of Thursday with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon. #News #Archpastor. On the evening of March 25, 2026, on the eve of Thursday of the 5th week of Great Lent. 04:12 26.03.2026 Vyazma Diocese - Vyazma

      Metropolitan Amvrosiy read the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at the "Standing of Mary of Egypt" service. "My Christ, grant repentance to those singing to You today the Great Canon." On March 25, on the eve of Thursday of the 5th week of Great Lent. 03:35 26.03.2026 Tver Diocese - Tver

      Morning service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. On the evening of March 25, on the eve of Thursday of the Great Canon, His Grace Bishop Isaac celebrated the morning service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the life of St. Mary of Egypt in the Ascension Cathedral. 01:37 26.03.2026 Kasimov Diocese - Kasimov

      Archpastoral service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon was held in Yakutsk. On the evening of March 25, 2026, Archbishop Roman of Yakutsk and Lena celebrated the morning service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Transfiguration Cathedral. 07:54 26.03.2026 Yakutsk and Lena Diocese - Yakutsk

      On March 25, 2026, the Standing of Mary of Egypt took place in the Nikolsky Cathedral of the city of Teikovo. On the evening of March 25, on the eve of Thursday of the Great Canon, Bishop John of Shuya and Teikovo celebrated the morning service with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Nikolsky Cathedral of Teikovo. 00:52 26.03.2026 Ivanovo Metropolis - Ivanovo

      On March 25, 2026, the Standing of Mary of Egypt took place in the Assumption Cathedral. On March 25, in the Assumption Cathedral of the city of Ivanovo, Metropolitan Joseph of Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Vichuga led the morning service with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (Standing of Mary of Egypt). 00:52 26.03.2026 Ivanovo Metropolis - Ivanovo

      In the Assumption Cathedral, a service was held with the reading of the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete. On the evening of March 25, 2026, on the eve