The Psalter is divided into 20 kathismata of three stases. Each stasis contains between one and three psalms. Except Kathisma 17, it is entirely the long Psalm 118.
Each of the divine services contain fixed portions of the Psalter that are read or chanted each time the service is celebrated. In addition, certain services of the Daily Cycle contain prescribed kathisma readings. These prescribed readings rotate daily so that the Psalter is read through once in its entirety in single week, and twice during Great Lent. (The Psalter is not read on Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, or during Bright Week.)
| Day | Psalter Readings Except Lent | During Lent |
Holy Week |
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| St. Thomas Sun. to Sept. 21 Dec. 20 to Jan. 14 Sun. of Prodigal to Sun. of Forgiveness |
Sept. 22 to Dec. 19 Jan. 15 to Sat. before Sun. of Prodigal |
Except for Fifth Week | 5th week If Annunciation does not fall on Thursday of week 5 (the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read on Thursday Matins) |
5th week If Annunciation falls on Thursday of week 5 (the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read on Tuesday Matins) |
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| Sunday | Matins – Kathisma 2, 3, 17(or Polyeleos) | Matins – Kathisma 2, 3, Polyeleos | ||||
| Monday | Matins – Kathisma 4,5 Vespers – Kathisma 6 |
Matins – Kathisma 4,5,6 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 4,5,6 Third Hour – Kathisma 7 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 8 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 9 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 4,5,6 Third Hour – Kathisma 7 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 8 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 9 Vespers – Kathisma 10 |
Matins – Kathisma 4,5,6 First Hour – Kathisma 7 Third Hour – Kathisma 8 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 9 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 10 Vespers – Kathisma 11 |
Matins – Kathisma 4, 5, 6 |
| Tuesday | Matins – Kathisma 7,8 Vespers – Kathisma 9 |
Matins – Kathisma 7,8,9 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 10,11,12 First Hour – Kathisma 13 Third Hour – Kathisma 14 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 15 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 16 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 11, 12, 13 First Hour – Kathisma 14 Third Hour – Kathisma 15 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 16 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 18 Vespers – Kathisma 19 |
Matins – Kathisma 12 Third Hour – Kathisma 13 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 14 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 15 Vespers – Kathisma 16 |
Matins – Kathisma 9 10, 11 Third Hour – Kathisma 12 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 13 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
| Wednesday | Matins – Kathisma 10,11 Vespers – Kathisma 12 |
Matins – Kathisma 10,11,12 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 19,20,1 First Hour – Kathisma 2 Third Hour – Kathisma 3 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 4 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 5 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 20, 1, 2 First Hour – Kathisma 3 Third Hour – Kathisma 4 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 5 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 6 Vespers – Kathisma 7 |
Matins – Kathisma 19, 20, 1 First Hour – Kathisma 2 Third Hour – Kathisma 3 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 4 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 5 |
Matins – Kathisma 14, 15, 16 Third Hour – Kathisma 19 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 20 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
| Thursday | Matins – Kathisma 13,14 Vespers – Kathisma 15 |
Matins – Kathisma 13,14,15 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 6,7,8 First Hour – Kathisma 9 Third Hour – Kathisma 10 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 11 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 12 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 8 Third Hour – Kathisma 9 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 10 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 11 Vespers – Kathisma 12 |
Matins – Kathisma 6, 7, 8 First Hour – Kathisma 9 Third Hour – Kathisma 10 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 11 Ninth Hour – Kathisma 12 |
(none) |
| Friday | Matins – Kathisma 19,20 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
Matins – Kathisma 13,14,15 Third Hour – Kathisma 19 Sixth Hour – Kathisma 20 Vespers – Kathisma 18 |
(none) | |||
| Saturday | Matins – Kathisma 16,17 Vespers – Kathisma 1 |
Matins – Kathisma 17 | ||||
| See Also: Psalms Chanted in the Services, Psalms in Antiphons, Psalms in Communion Hymns, Psalms in Prokeimenon and Alleluia Verses | ||||||
| Prayer | Read Time | Hit Count |
|---|---|---|
| Kathisma 1 | 9 mins | 18421 |
| Kathisma 2 | 11 mins | 15407 |
| Kathisma 3 | 15 mins | 13866 |
| Kathisma 4 | 13 mins | 15058 |
| Kathisma 5 | 12 mins | 14594 |
| Kathisma 6 | 16 mins | 15106 |
| Kathisma 7 | 14 mins | 14054 |
| Kathisma 8 | 12 mins | 13338 |
| Kathisma 9 | 13 mins | 20416 |
| Kathisma 10 | 14 mins | 14338 |
| Kathisma 11 | 17 mins | 13320 |
| Kathisma 12 | 13 mins | 14685 |
| Kathisma 13 | 12 mins | 13602 |
| Kathisma 14 | 12 mins | 13071 |
| Kathisma 15 | 12 mins | 12968 |
| Kathisma 16 | 10 mins | 14705 |
| Kathisma 17 | 14 mins | 15900 |
| Kathisma 18 | 10 mins | 17402 |
| Kathisma 19 | 13 mins | 13820 |
| Kathisma 20 | 10 mins | 13266 |