Prayers of the Church - Orthodox Psalter

Daily Readings from the Orthodox Psalter

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
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)

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
Third Hour – Kathisma 7
Sixth Hour – Kathisma 8
Vespers – Kathisma 18

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 18375
Kathisma 2 11 mins 15364
Kathisma 3 15 mins 13830
Kathisma 4 13 mins 15025
Kathisma 5 12 mins 14556
Kathisma 6 16 mins 15072
Kathisma 7 14 mins 14008
Kathisma 8 12 mins 13307
Kathisma 9 13 mins 20376
Kathisma 10 14 mins 14300
Kathisma 11 17 mins 13274
Kathisma 12 13 mins 14649
Kathisma 13 12 mins 13567
Kathisma 14 12 mins 13035
Kathisma 15 12 mins 12937
Kathisma 16 10 mins 14674
Kathisma 17 14 mins 15841
Kathisma 18 10 mins 17363
Kathisma 19 13 mins 13779
Kathisma 20 10 mins 13226