Praying the Psalms - Nativity 2024

Thank you for joining with us in praying the Psalms through the fast.
The details of names, starting kathisma, and saints names are in the table below. Logistics/How-To follows below the table.



Starting
Kathisma

Today's
Kathisma

Name

Baptismal
Name

1

Ron and Lisa

Isidore and Dymphna

3

Kirk and Elena

Demetrius and Elena

5

Linda

Irene

7

Delaney

Hermione

9

Amanda

Xenia

11

Ricky

Luke

13

Randi

Eirini

15

Scott

Arsenios

17

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

19

Bryan, Maya, and Benjamin

Thomas, Elizabeth, and Thomas

2

Anna

Nina

4

Jeanine

Macrina

6

Matthew

Benedict

How it works:
We begin with our starting kathisma and increase by one each day. When you've done 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 collectively every day! We also pray for every member of the group each day, either 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 of which is called a "Kathisma" and we will each pray a different Kathisma every day. Each Kathisma is further divided into 3 "Stases."
Here is a chart that tells you what Psalms are in each Stasis of each Kathisma:

Kathisma

Stasis 1

Stasis 2

Stasis 3

I

1-3

4-6

7-8

II

9-10

11-13

14-16

III

17

18-20

21-23

IV

24-26

27-29

30-31

V

32-33

34-35

36

VI

37-39

40-42

43-45

VII

46-48

49-50

51-54

VIII

55-57

58-60

61-63

IX

64-66

67

68-69

X

70-71

72-73

74-76

XI

77

78-80

81-84

XII

85-87

88

89-90

XIII

91-93

94-96

97-100

XIV

101-102

103

104

XV

105

106

107-108

XVI

109-111

112-114

115-117

XVII

118:1-72

118:73-131

118:132-176

XVIII

119-123

124-128

129-133

XIX

134-136

137-139

140-142

XX

143-144

145-147

148-150

The numbering in that chart is for the Septuagint numbering of the Psalms, which is slightly different than the numbering in most English Bibles (except, of course, the Orthodox Study Bible and Orthodox Psalters). 
Here is a table that shows you how to convert the numbering if your book of Psalms uses the Masoretic (or Hebrew) numbering:


Septuagint (Greek)

Masoretic (Hebrew)

1-8

1-8

9

9-10

11-112

Add 1 to the number of each Psalm

113

114-115

114

116:1-9

115

116:10-19

116-145

Add 1 to the number of each Psalm

146

147:1-11

147

147:12-20

148-150

148-150

You can copy/paste and then print one or both charts and make a little bookmark for your Psalter/Bible.
 
Online Psalms:
There is a Septuagint Psalter online which, if you desire, is a simple and convenient way to read your Kathisma for the day. To use it, click the following link:
 
 
Enter the Kathisma you need for that day and click the "Get Kathisma" button. You will then be taken to your Kathisma, divided into stases. Handy for reading on your smartphone.

Mechanics:
You can add your Psalms and prayers for each participant to an existing prayer rule. You can also do this as a stand-alone prayer time. Here is a short order you can use as 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. (x3) 
 
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the 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. (x3) 
 
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. 
When you come to the end of a stasis, stand and say:] 
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen.
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia! Glory to Thee O God. (x3)
[Stasis 3 only] O our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.
Lord have Mercy. (x3)
Glory be...
[repeat for the remaining stases. After the 3rd stasis, continue below:] 

"Lord, have mercy on [name]" [one for each of our participants:]

[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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