Archimandrite Luke reading the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete during the first week of Great Lent.

True Repentance is Joyful

Homily on the Eve of the Great Fast  

17 February / 1 March 2020

His Grace LUKE,
Bishop of Syracuse

In accordance with the typikon of Holy Trinity Monastery, the brotherhood take part in the Rite of Forgiveness on the night of Cheesefare Sunday (also known as Forgiveness Sunday), at the end of the Order of Small Compline. Prior to asking the forgiveness of the brotherhood and of all present, the monastery’s abbot, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, gave the following word on the coming lenten struggle.

The audio recording below begins with a Russian-language sermon, substantively the same as the English that follows, beginning at 06:17.