The Order of Canons #
“The cell of the monk is a ceaseless intercessor in prayer…” — with these words opens the book Order of Canons (Canon Rule). According to pious custom, in addition to the prescribed services of the Ustav, monks in their private cell rule daily read four canons: one to the Sweetest Jesus, the Akathist to the God-bearer, the Lesser Canon to the God-bearer, and the Canon to the Guardian Angel.
The Order of Canons are also prayed by laypeople. According to their ability and zeal, they may supplement their daily prayer rule with them. A Christian may use the Order of Canons as part of preparation for Holy Communion. Although these canons are especially to be read immediately before Communion, they may also be read regularly. The canons are read in pairs: the Canon to the Sweetest Jesus together with the Akathist to the God-bearer (on Sundays, the Marian canon taken from the Akathist is replaced with the Canon for the Annunciation; on Wednesdays, with the Canon to the Hodigitria). Afterward, the Lesser Canon to the God-bearer is read together with the Canon to the Guardian Angel (on Mondays, the Lesser Canon to the Angel is replaced with the Great Canon to the Angel).
The most readily available modern edition is a facsimile reprint of the canons printed in 1908 under the blessing of Saint Arseny of the Urals. This edition contains detailed instructions for reading the Order of Canons, the canons themselves, the Hours before Communion, the Order of Preparation for Holy Communion, and the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Communion.