On Wednesday of the 5th week of Lent the Church celebrates a special service known as St. Mary’s Standing. Great penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read in its entirety during that service. This Canon is composed as a conversation of a person with his own soul. It reveals that often we imitate sinners mentioned in the Scripture but do not wish to follow the steps of the righteous ones. It also calls us to bring the fruits of repentance and not to exalt ourselves.

This year, according to the liturgical statutes, that service was moved to Monday evening because on Wednesday evening the Church will celebrate vigil of the Annunciation. Therefore, celebration of St. Mary’s Standing was held on Monday, April 4. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov led the service at St. George Church reading the Canon.