A beginner of his spiritual path in Orthodoxy, of course, raises a lot of questions about the terminology used in the ritual and prayer practice of worship. An important concept is "kathisma". By answering the question “What is this?”, One more step can be taken to comprehend such a comprehensive truth as Faith in God.
At present, a favorable background is observed for an increase in the growth of the introduction of the population to Orthodoxy. This is objectively due to overcoming the “vacuum of faith” that has been observed for several generations of the previous era of construction of the “bright future” (1917-1991) and the subsequent stage of the redistribution of property into the “dashing nineties”. The search for God in modern people is inevitable, because the dynamics of life implies undoubted deadlocks and unexpected turns in overcoming the most various obstacles and hardships.
And in this case, it is prayer that helps to maintain that spiritual comfort and peace, which, like a light in the darkness, helps to maintain basic life guidelines. But for effective prayer you must follow the rules established from the ages. In this matter, it is important to join the reading of such a liturgical book as the Psalter and to understand the order of its reading (kathisma). Therefore, it turns out that the concept of "kathisma" is the key in the order of prayer reading. That is why it is necessary to understand this issue at the very beginning of a long journey of spiritual ascent.
What is kathisma?
So, kathisma is the liturgical section of the Psalms. Translated from Greek, where all Orthodox terminology originates from, the words "kathisma" means "sit." This should be taken literally. That is, while reading kathisma in the service, you can take advantage of the relaxation and not stand on your feet. It should immediately be said that in the Psalms there are twenty sections that determine the reading order of kathisma. So, for example, the 17th Kathisma consists of only one psalm 118 “Immaculate”, and the 18th consists of fifteen psalms (119-133).
Thus, the reading of the Psalms is carried out according to kathisms. And each part of kathisma consists of a “article” or “glory, ” which translates as “subsections” or “chapters”. Accordingly, each staty or glory may include one or more psalms.
Reading order kathisma
To connect the text of kathisma with the proclamation of prayer in official reading, the first part of the praise, recited by the reader, consists of the words: "Glory, and now. Amen." And the second part is pronounced by the singers on the choir. And the third part ends again with the reader: "Glory, and now. Amen." The alternate praise of God during the service creates the necessary atmosphere of the connection of the natural and supernatural worlds, which symbolizes man and angels in their single impulse of unity with the Lord.
Taking as a short notation "K - Kafism" and "P - Psalms", we can present their structural construction as an example of the first and last (twentieth) Kathism: "K. I: P. 1-3 (first glory), P. 4 -6 (second glory), P. 7-8 (third glory) "and" K. XX: P. 143-144 (first glory), P. 145-147 (second glory), P. 148-150 (third glory)".
In this context, one nuance should be noted. The fact is that the official (canonical) Psalter contains 150 psalms, but in the Greek and Slavic Bible there is the 151st psalm written by a certain Levite living in Qumran caves in epic times. It is the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls that have resurrected it for current generations of believers. This 151st psalm, if necessary, can be considered final to the twentieth kathisma.
It is important to know that the Charter of the Orthodox Church defines a completely clear reading order for kafism, which implies a week-long reading of the Psalms. That is, on ordinary days of one week, all one hundred and fifty psalms of the Psalms (twenty kafism) are fully accountable. And during the period of Great Lent, this reading volume doubles. Thus, in Great Lent, the Psalter is read twice in one week. There are special tables in which the day of the week and the list of kathismos are provided for reading in Vespers and Matins. Moreover, the concept of "ordinary kafism" refers to those kafisms that should be read on a given day in accordance with the Charter.
With a weekly reading, Kathism should be aware that the week starts on Sunday. Moreover, one kathisma is read in the evening service, and two in the morning service. According to the Charter, the evening Sunday of kathisma (first) is read on Saturday evening, and if the All-Night Vigil falls on the eve of this day, this order is canceled. Since, according to the Charter, vigilance is allowed on the eve of every Sunday day, Kathisma is not readable on Monday evening either.
Important points when reading Kathisma
A special place is occupied by the seventeenth of kathisma, which together with the sixteenth is read not on Friday, but on Saturday. This is due to the fact that she is recited on the midnight night. You should also know that subject to the availability of polyeleos for the holiday (reading Psalms 135-136), reading ordinary Kathisma at Vespers is already canceled due to the glory of the first of them. And on Sunday Vespers it is also pronounced.
During the Great Holidays, reading Kathism at Vespers is canceled, but other than Saturday evening. In this case, the first kathisma is recited. This exception applies to Sunday evening, when the first state of kathisma is read. However, in the matins they are read even on the days of the Great Feasts of the Lord. But this rule does not apply to the Easter week (the first week of Easter), since there is a special procedure for worship in this regard.
The special procedure for reciting Kathism during Lent involves reading the Psalms twice a week. Such a volume of recitation Kathism implies reading at Vespers, Matins and at certain hours after special psalms. In addition, it should be borne in mind that in addition to the fifth week this order is carried out on a clear schedule. But on the fifth week on Thursdays, the canon of Andrei of Crete is served, and in matins only one kathisma is read. In addition, during Holy Week, the Psalter is read only Monday through Wednesday and only once. Further, kathismas are not recited, and only on Matins of Great Saturday the psalm "Immaculate" is read with praises.
A special order of psalmopenia is provided for the Bright Week. It is called “six-psalm, ” because instead of kathism the following psalms are recited: 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, 142 (a total of six). On this great holiday, a solemn conversation of Christians with God himself takes place, during which it is forbidden to sit and move.
