Praying the Psalms Through the Fast

Thank you for joining with us in praying the Psalms through the fast.

Names, starting kathismas, and saints' names are in the table below. Each person's kathisma for today is linked to the online Psalter. Logistics and how-to follow the table.

Starting
Kathisma		 Today's
Kathisma		 Name Baptismal Name
Loading the roster…

How it works

We begin with our starting kathisma and move forward by one each day. After Kathisma 20, return to Kathisma 1 and keep going until the end of the fast. We have enough participants to complete the entire book of Psalms together every day!

We also pray for every member of the group each day, by their given name or baptismal/saint's name. Just go down the “Baptismal Name” column praying “Lord, have mercy on [name].”

Tools

The Psalms are divided into 20 sections, each called a kathisma, and each of us prays a different kathisma every day. Each kathisma is further divided into three stases. This chart shows which Psalms are in each stasis:

KathismaStasis 1Stasis 2Stasis 3

The numbering in that chart follows the Septuagint, which is slightly different from most English Bibles (except the Orthodox Study Bible and Orthodox Psalters). If your Psalter uses the Masoretic (Hebrew) numbering, convert with this table:

Septuagint (Greek)Masoretic (Hebrew)
1–81–8
99–10
10–112Add 1 to each Psalm number
113114–115
114116:1–9
115116:10–19
116–145Add 1 to each Psalm number
146147:1–11
147147:12–20
148–150148–150

You can print one or both charts and make a little bookmark for your Psalter or Bible.

Online Psalms

A Septuagint Psalter is available online, and it's a simple, convenient way to read your kathisma for the day, especially on a smartphone. The easiest way is to tap your kathisma number in the table above. You can also open the online Psalter, enter your kathisma, and press “Get Kathisma.” It will be divided into stases for you.

Mechanics

You can add your Psalms and prayers for each participant to an existing prayer rule, or do this as a stand-alone prayer time. Here is a short order for a stand-alone prayer time:

Standing:

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

Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee!

O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good gifts and Giver of life: come and abide in us. Cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (×3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Lord, cleanse us of our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities.
Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (×3)

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

Our Father…

For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then you may sit to read your kathisma. At the end of each stasis, stand and say:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God. (×3)
(After Stasis 3 only:) O our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.
Lord, have mercy. (×3)
Glory to the Father…

Repeat for the remaining stases. After the third stasis, continue:

Lord, have mercy on (once for each participant):

    When you have concluded your prayers:

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

    I pray God will bless you through this joining together to pray the Psalms and pray for each other! If you have any questions, let me know.

    Please forgive me, dear brothers and sisters.

    With love in Christ,
    Your brother Arsenios

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