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Eastern Orthodox Psalm Reading Plan
The Eastern Orthodox Church and other churches
utilizing the Byzantine rite maintain a system of reading
the Psalms weekly. The 150 Psalms are organized in twenty groups, each
called a kathisma, and each kathisma
in turn is divided into three sections, each called a stasis. Each kathisma
is of roughly the same reading length,
as is each stasis. This organization of the Psalms is then utilized
in determining a set of Psalm readings for each week
throughout the year. In most weeks, the 150 Psalms are read through in
their entirety in one week. During Lent, however,
the full body of 150 Psalms are read twice during the week.
The tables below have converted the kathisma
numbers of each set of readings into the Psalm numbers according to the
NRSV. With this set of tables and a calendar, one may follow in devotional
reading the pattern of Psalms as they're being
used each day in Eastern Orthodox Church services throughout the world. I
found great comfort in this practice during a
particularly trying time in my life recently. I trust that others will
find it so as well.
Sunday of St. Thomas (1st after Pascha) through 21 September
|
|
Matins |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-37 |
38-46 |
| Tue |
47-64 |
65-70 |
| Wed |
71-85 |
86-91 |
| Thu |
92-105 |
106-109 |
| Fri |
135-150 |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
* in place of Psalm 119, Psalms 135-136 may be used (throughout)
22 September through 19 December
|
|
Matins |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-46 |
120-134 |
| Tue |
47-70 |
120-134 |
| Wed |
71-91 |
120-134 |
| Thu |
92-109 |
120-134 |
| Fri |
135-150 |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
20 December through 14 January
|
|
Matins |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-37 |
38-46 |
| Tue |
47-64 |
65-70 |
| Wed |
71-85 |
86-91 |
| Thu |
92-105 |
106-109 |
| Fri |
135-150 |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
15 January through Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Sunday before Meatfare Week)
|
|
Matins |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-46 |
120-134 |
| Tue |
47-70 |
120-134 |
| Wed |
71-91 |
120-134 |
| Thu |
92-109 |
120-134 |
| Fri |
135-150 |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
Meatfare & Cheesefare Weeks
|
|
Matins |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-37 |
38-46 |
| Tue |
47-64 |
65-70 |
| Wed |
71-85 |
86-91 |
| Thu |
92-105 |
106-109 |
| Fri |
135-150 |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
Weeks 1 through 4 of the Great Fast
|
|
Matins |
Prime |
Tierce |
Sext |
Nones |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-46 |
-- |
47-55 |
56-64 |
65-70 |
120-134 |
| Tue |
71-91 |
92-101 |
102-105 |
106-109 |
110-118 |
120-134 |
| Wed |
135-150; 1-8 |
9-17 |
18-24 |
25-32 |
33-37 |
120-134 |
| Thu |
38-64 |
65-70 |
71-77 |
78-85 |
86-91 |
120-134 |
| Fri |
92-109 |
-- |
135-143 |
144-150 |
-- |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Week 5, with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete read on Thursday
|
|
Matins |
Prime |
Tierce |
Sext |
Nones |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-46 |
-- |
47-55 |
56-64 |
65-70 |
71-77 |
| Tue |
78-101 |
102-105 |
106-109 |
110-118 |
120-134 |
135-143 |
| Wed |
144-150; 1-17 |
18-24 |
25-32 |
33-37 |
38-46 |
47-55 |
| Thu |
56-64 |
-- |
65-70 |
71-77 |
78-85 |
86-91 |
| Fri |
92-109 |
-- |
135-143 |
144-150 |
-- |
120-134 |
| Sat |
110-119 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1-8 |
| Sun |
9-24;119* |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Week
5 of the Great Fast, with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete read on Tuesday,
because Thursday
is the Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos (25 March)
|
|
Matins |
Prime |
Tierce |
Sext |
Nones |
Vespers |
| Mon |
25-46 |
47-55 |
56-64 |
65-70 |
71-77 |
78-85 |
| Tue |