Canon of St Andrew of Crete Ode 6 With my whole heart, I cried unto the compassionate God, and He heard me; and He lifted up my soul from the depths of hell and from corruption. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. I offer you, O Saviour, sincere tears and the deepest groans of my soul, crying from the heart, O God, I have sinned against You, be merciful to me. When Datham and Abiram defied Moses and turned from the Lord, the earth opened to swallow them. Now you, my soul, having turned from the Lord as well, must cry with your whole heart from the depths of hell to be spared, lest you share their lot. Having lived as a stubborn mule, O my soul, like that idol worshipper Ephraim, now as an agile deer flee the hunters and save your Life, strengthening it with good deeds, wisdom, and prayer. Be assured, O my soul, that as God was able to turn Moses hand white with disease and cleanse it once again, so can He also cleanse and purify a diseased Life. Therefore, do not despair of yourself even though infected with many sins. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. I AM the Trinity, simple and undivided in essence yet divided in Persons. I AM also the Unity united in nature, says God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Your womb, O Theotokos, held God Who for our sakes took human form. Implore Him, the Creator of all, that through your prayers we may be justified.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:35:59 +0000