This is the only chant that unites the period of preparation for Lent and Lent itself. It appears with the beginning of the singing of the Lenten Triodion on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. We hear it at every Sunday vigil (evening service on Saturday evening) until the 5th Sunday of Lent (St. Mary of Egypt). Thus, during the Lenten Triodion, “Open to Repentance...” is sung, as a rule, 9 times. Cancellation of this hymn is possible only if the twelfth holiday (the Presentation of the Lord or the Annunciation) or a temple holiday occurs on one of the Sundays of the Triodion.
Until the middle of the 17th century in Russia, in the Sunday services of the Lenten Triodion, the full corpus of stichera “Open to Repentance...” began to be sung only on the Week of Cheese, while in the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee, About the Prodigal Son and the Meat, they sang only the last stichera, “The many cruel things I have done...” instead of “Jesus has risen from the grave...”, and on “Glory” and “And now.” they sang the usual “Prayers of the Apostles...” and “Prayers of the Mother of God...”. Only after the reform in the middle of the 17th century, the stichera “Open to Repentance...” and “On the path of salvation...” were added to the services of these Weeks.
The first stichera - “Open the doors of repentance” - is based on the parable of the publican: comparisons are taken from it to depict the feeling of repentance. The second song, “On the Path to Salvation,” is based on the parable of the prodigal son. The third is based on “Many evil things I have done” - the Savior’s prediction of the Last Judgment.
Glory, voice 8: Open the doors of repentance to me, O Giver of Life, for my spirit will rise to Thy holy temple, the temple of my body is completely desecrated; but, as you are generous, cleanse me with your gracious mercy.
And now: Mother of God: Instruct me in the path of salvation. Mother of God, my soul was frozen with sins and my whole life was spent in laziness; but through Your prayers deliver me from all uncleanness.
Also, voice 6: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity.
Thinking about the many evil things I have done, O wretched one, I tremble at the terrible day of judgment; but trusting in the mercy of Your compassion, like David crying to You: have mercy on me. God, according to the greatness of Your mercy.
##Open the doors of repentance: sheet music
“Open to me repentance.” Lipaev
“Open to me repentance.” Bortyansky