Saints Peter & Paul Orthodox Church
Meriden, Connecticut
Psalter Group: Read the Psalms this Advent
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 the Nativity Fast is an excellent way to deepen our participation. 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 Advent 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.
 
How to Participate

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 the Nativity Fast (Friday, November 15) with the kathisma of your 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.

 
Prayers to Begin Reading the Psalms
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 debts as we forgive our debtors, 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)
 
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
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