We are familiar with many of the psalms from hearing them in church and may even read them at home. All Christians are meant to read the psalms regularly, and reading the psalms throughout Great Lent is an excellent way to deepen our participation in the Fast. The Orthodox Psalter is designed to ease reading all the psalms by organizing the Book of Psalms into 20 groupings—each grouping is called a kathisma.

 

One way to encourage each other in reading the psalms is to join a Psalter group. The aim is to have at least 20 people in the group, each assigned to read a different kathisma every day. This means for every day of Great Lent all the psalms will be read, and each person will have read all the psalms twice during the season.

 

You can read the psalms anywhere you are comfortable and at whatever time works best for you. We have prayers to prepare you to read the psalms, and you are also encouraged to pray for the people in your group.

 

Ideally you will read your kathisma daily, but if you miss a day or fall short of the whole kathisma, do whatever you can. This is not about perfection: better to read one psalm deliberately than to rush through without attention.

 

Use this link to sign up for the Psalter Group.

Kathismata

Kathisma 1: Psalms 1–8 Kathisma 2: Psalms 9–16   Kathisma 3: Psalms 17–23  Kathisma 4: Psalms 24–31 Kathisma 5: Psalms 32–36 Kathisma 6: Psalms 37–45 Kathisma 7: Psalms 46–54 Kathisma 8: Psalms 55–63 Kathisma 9: Psalms 64–69 Kathisma 10: Psalms 70–76

Kathisma 11: Psalms 77–84 Kathisma 12: Psalms 85–90 Kathisma 13: Psalms 91–100 Kathisma 14: Psalms 101–104 Kathisma 15: Psalms 105–108 Kathisma 16: Psalms 109–117 Kathisma 17: Psalm 118 Kathisma 18: Psalms 119–133 Kathisma 19: Psalms 134–142 Kathisma 20: Psalms 143–150/151

 

Each psalm reader in the Psalter Group will start on the first day of Great Lent (Monday, March 18) with the kathisma of their number. On day two, you would advance to next kathisma in order. For example:

• Psalm Reader 1 might be Valentina

• Psalm Reader 2 might be Elena

• Psalm Reader 3 might be Martha

• …

   

• On day 1 Valentina will read kathisma 1, Elena will read kathisma 2, Martha will read kathisma 3 and so on.

• On day 2, Valentina will read kathisma 2, Elena will read kathisma 3, Martha will read kathisma 4, and so on,

• Once you have read the 20th kathisma, the next day you turn to the first.

After signing up as a psalm reader, each person will be sent a guide to their participation in the Psalter Group.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Glory to you, O God, glory to You.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere and fill all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Trisagion Prayers:

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

 

Read the appointed Kathisma. Then conclude with the alleluia:

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, O God (three times)

 

On weekdays of Lent, you can add the Prayer of St. Ephraim:

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
Prostration.
But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to your servant.
Prostration.
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed are you unto ages of ages.

Prostration.

 

And a dismissal:

More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim: without corruption you gave birth to God the Word; true

Theotokos, we magnify you.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us. Amen