Canon 1: On Repentance, on the Time of Repentance, on the Qualities and Fruits of Repentance

Chapter 1: Those who believe in the Lord must first of all repent, according to the preaching of John and according to the preaching of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. For those who do not repent now will be condemned more than those who were condemned before the gospel.

(Matt. 4:17): "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

(Matt. 11:20-22): "Then he began to reproach the cities in which his powers were most manifest, because they did not repent: woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the powers manifested in you had been manifested in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes, but I say to you, Tyre and Sidon will be more pleasant in the day of judgment than you," and so on.

Chapter 2. The present time is the time of repentance and remission of sins, and in the age to come the righteous judgment of retribution.

(Mark 2:10): "But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins," saith.

(Matt. 18:18-19): "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Verily I also say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth to ask for any thing, whatever they ask will be done unto them by My Father which is in heaven."

(John 5:28-29): "For the time is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who have done good will go out into the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil into the resurrection of condemnation."

(Romans 2:4-6): "Or do you despise the riches of God's goodness, meekness, and longsuffering, not understanding that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you store up for yourself wrath for the day of wrath and the revelation of righteous judgment from God, who will reward each one according to his deeds."

(Acts 17:30-31): "Therefore, leaving the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, for He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness."

Chapter 3. Those who repent must weep bitterly and other things that are characteristic of repentance, express from the heart.