Kanon pokajanen composed in 1997 based on the text of the Penitential Canon is the largest work in Arvo Pärt`s work for a capella choir. The composer had previously drawn inspiration from Orthodox texts in 1989 he wrote a piece for the choir a capella Nyne k vam and five years later Memento.

The Orthodox canon traditionally includes nine songs on biblical subjects. Each song consists of several short stanzas. Usually the second canto is omitted in all canons which is also done in Kanon pokajanen. In the first stanza of each song irmos the praise of the Lord is ascended to the texts from the Old Testament. Irmos is followed by a troparion where repentance is spoken of and human weaknesses are lamented. As irmos contrasts with the troparion in the traditional canon so in the music of Arvo Pärt we see a clear contrast between them.

Arvo Pärt composed Kanon pokajanen for two years. This work like all other vocal works of the composer is directly based on the text `I wanted to give the words the opportunity to