On March 17, on Wednesday of the first week of Lent the Rector of St. George Church, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Compline with the reading of penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

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.

Following the service the Rector preached a sermon in which he pointed out that the Canon of St. Andrew is all the time referring to the Sacred Scripture. It mentions the just men or the sinners described in the Bible. Ven. Andrew was very well familiar with the Scripture. Unfortunately, many people, even the believers, are not so knowledgeable about the Bible. Thus such people listening to the reading of the Canon may not fully understand its references. That fact urges us to read and study the Sacred Books. However, any faithful Christian, even if he does not know the Bible, can understand the most important message of the Canon – to repent. Repentance is the most important matter taught by that Canon and the most important feature of Lent.