ANDREY OF CRETE, saint (c. 660–740), Byzantine ascetic, church poet-hymnographer. Born in Damascus, he labored in the Jerusalem monastery of St. Savva. As secretary of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, he participated in the VI Ecumenical Council. Subsequently, Andrei of Crete was installed as bishop of the city of Gortyn on Fr. Crete. The most famous work of Andrei Kritsky is the Great Canon, containing 250 troparions (stanzas). The entire canon is devoted to the theme of repentance. The biblical story of the Old Testament and the New Testament is used as the plot outline. The images and events of Holy Scripture throughout the canon are associated with the ascent from sin to reconciliation with God. The Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the saint on July 4 and October 17. ***In the book, the Great Canon is divided into parts as it is read on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of the first week of Great Lent and is presented in full as it is read on Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent . Also added is the life of St. Andrew of Crete and the life of St. Mary of Egypt.