In Orthodox worship, there is a certain order in which services are held. An important part of every prayer service is the daily singing of hymns - the canon. The meaning of the word that is called this genre of prayer singing, translated from Greek, can be translated as "norm" or "rule".
The meaning and concept of the word
For prayer service, the phrase "prayer canon" is of particular importance. The main meaning of the word "canon" remains the concept of a rule, a certain order in which they read songs with the irmos and troparia included in them. In a narrower understanding, canon is the obligatory part of the service, which consists of glorifying hymns. The canon is also called the hymns themselves, read in a certain order.
The canons are read during the morning service, supper, midnight service and other services. The canon is also included in the daily prayer rule read at home.
Hymns
The content of the canon is determined by the day of the week, church holiday or the day of remembrance of the saint. Each service necessarily includes a canon. The meaning of the word, as a cycle of hymns uttered as part of one service, is determined by a strictly fixed number of 9 songs. In the correct canons there is no second song.
Songs are also divided into parts - irmos and troparia. The first part of the song is called irmos, it tells about the events of the Old Testament and includes an appeal to the Lord. All subsequent parts are called troparia, the reading of which is preceded by a tune. The number of troparia varies from 2 to 6, in special cases the number of troparia can be increased to 30. Each song of the canon ends with katavasia - an especially hot prayer with a request to the glorified saint.
The content of the song of the canons are topics taken from the Bible. The wise words of the Eternal Book are repeated for many centuries and, listening to them, the worshipers go through the stages of repentance, tenderness, spiritual rebirth, receiving hope.
Daily Prayer Canons
The canons are read daily, glorifying the most significant figures of Christian doctrine: Jesus, the Virgin and the Guardian Angel. Glorifying them, the worshiper proves his reverent faith and receives the blessing of the Holy Fathers, the canons of which were written.
The basic idea of daily glorification is spiritual enlightenment and quenching of eternal human longing for divine love. By repeating the words of the hymn addressed to the Lord, the prayer receives protection, calmness and peace of mind.