Wednesday of the fifth week of Great Lent is marked by special services of repentance held on that day.

In the morning, at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, Hegumenia Sergia, the abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery read stichera of repentance, the work by Venerable St. Andrew of Crete. Each stichera ends with, “Before I perish utterly, save me, O Lord.”

The entire Great Penitential Canon of Venerable Andrew of Crete and the Life of Venerable Mary of Egypt will be read at Matins in the evening.

These services aim to awaken in our hearts a particular feeling of repentance, help us to summon inner strength and prepare ourselves to face the Passions of Christ and His All-Glorious Resurrection.