Simple Prayer Rule for Home - Including Weekly Praying of the Psalter

Structure for Each Prayer Period 

(Morning, Midday, or Evening — before each Kathisma)

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1. The Opening Invocation

Make the sign of the Cross and bow.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

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2. The Trisagion Prayers

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (×3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us;

O Lord, cleanse us from our sins;

O Master, pardon our transgressions;

O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (×3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest/Reader: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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3. The Psalm Reading (One Kathisma)

Now read one kathisma according to the day’s order.

If desired, pause between stases with a short prayer such as:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God! (×3)

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Then proceed to the next stasis.

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4. After the Kathisma

After completing the kathisma, bow in silence for a few moments, and pray:

It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and to sing unto Thy Name, O Most High, to declare Thy mercy in the morning and Thy truth by night.

Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy,

and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 50/51)

(You may read the full Psalm 50 if desired.)

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5. The Jesus Prayer (Silent or Vocal)

Sit, stand, or bow quietly, and pray for several minutes or extend as long as time allows or as the Spirit moves. Prostrations may be added here as well.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Let the mind descend into the heart, and remain attentive to the rhythm of the breath and the presence of the Name.

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6. Concluding Prayer

O Christ our God, who art praised in the hymns of the holy psalmist David,

and who hast granted us to read the words of Thy Spirit,

implant them deeply in our hearts,

that they may bear fruit in patience, compunction, and unceasing remembrance of Thee.

Make us temples of Thy Holy Spirit,

that day and night our hearts may burn with Thy love,

and that our lips may glorify Thee, with Thy eternal Father,

and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit,

now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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7. Dismissal

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

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Optional Concluding Hymn

When desired, you may end with a short hymn to the Theotokos:

It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos,

ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God.

More honorable than the Cherubim,

and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim,

without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word:

true Theotokos, we magnify thee.

Daily Order of Kathisma

MONDAY

• Kathisma 1: Psalms 1–8

• Kathisma 2: Psalms 9–16

• Kathisma 3: Psalms 17–23

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TUESDAY

• Kathisma 4: Psalms 24–31

• Kathisma 5: Psalms 32–36

• Kathisma 6: Psalms 37–45

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WEDNESDAY

• Kathisma 7: Psalms 46–54

• Kathisma 8: Psalms 55–63

• Kathisma 9: Psalms 64–69

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THURSDAY

• Kathisma 10: Psalms 70–76

• Kathisma 11: Psalms 77–84

• Kathisma 12: Psalms 85–90

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FRIDAY

• Kathisma 13: Psalms 91–100

• Kathisma 14: Psalms 101–104

• Kathisma 15: Psalms 105–108

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SATURDAY

• Kathisma 16: Psalms 109–117

• Kathisma 17: Psalm 118 (the great Psalm “Blessed are the blameless…”)

• Kathisma 18: Psalms 119–133

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SUNDAY

• Kathisma 19: Psalms 134–142

• Kathisma 20: Psalms 143–150

• Optional Return: Begin again with Kathisma 1 as an offering of thanksgiving, or meditate slowly on Psalm 50 and Psalm 150 as the psalms of repentance and praise.