How to read the psalter for the deceased. Rules for reading the psalter for the dead at home. At home, you can read the Psalter for the repose with the blessing of the priest and subject to certain rules.

The custom of reading the Psalter for the dead goes back to ancient times, reading this undoubtedly brings them great consolation in itself, as reading the word of God, and as testifying to the love for them and the memory of them living brethren. It also brings them great benefit, for it is accepted by the Lord as a pleasant propitiatory sacrifice for the cleansing of the sins of those who are commemorated - just as any prayer, any good deed is accepted by Him.

Psalms should be read with tenderness and contrition of the heart, without haste, delving into what is being read with attention. The reading of the Psalter by the commemorators themselves brings the greatest benefit: it testifies to the great degree of love and zeal for the commemorated of their living brethren, who themselves personally want to work in their memory, and not replace themselves in labor with others.

The feat of reading will be accepted by the Lord not only as a sacrifice for those who are commemorated, but as a sacrifice for those who bring it themselves, those who labor in reading.

Of course, one who is capable of this and has certain knowledge appropriate for serving a sacred cause can take over the reading of the Psalter at the tomb of the deceased. The sacrificial impulse of commemorating relatives or friends of the deceased can in many ways, but not in everything, make up for their poor preparedness. In addition, the reading of the Psalter at the tomb should be as continuous as possible, and this requires several successive readers. Therefore, there is a custom to invite people capable of it for sacred reading, adding to this invitation the giving of alms for those who are commemorated. However, in any case, the duty of attention to the word of God and prayer for the soul of the deceased lies not with one reader of the Psalter, but also with the family relatives of the deceased.

The very reading of the Psalter for the dead is of two kinds. The first is a purely reading of the Psalter over the coffin of the deceased in the coming days and weeks after his death - for example, until the 40th day. Reading the God-inspired psalms of David should ideally be a daily private activity for Orthodox Christians, so it is common to combine cell (home) reading of the Psalter with commemoration of the living and the dead - this is another kind of reading of the Psalter with commemoration.

If the Psalter is read only for the deceased, before the first kathisma, the Canon must be read for the one who died. After the canon - "It is worthy to eat .." and further to the end, as indicated in the rank of the private reading of the Canon for the one who died.

When the psalter is read at the tomb of the deceased, the Priest present first performs the Follow-up on the exodus of the soul and body. After that, the reader begins reading the Psalter

At the end of the entire Psalter, the reader again reads the Canon for the deceased, and after it the reading of the Psalter begins again, and this is repeated throughout the reading of the Psalter for the deceased.

“When reading the Psalter at the tomb of the deceased,” writes Bishop Athanasius (Sakhorov) in his exhaustive study “On the Commemoration of the Dead According to the Rule of the Orthodox Church,” “there is no need to read the troparia and prayers assigned to the usual cell rule in kathismas. It will be more appropriate in all cases , and after each "Glory:", and after the kathisma, read a special memorial prayer. The practice of Ancient Russia consecrated the use in this case of that funeral troparion, which should end the cell reading of the funeral canons: "Remember, Lord, the soul of your departed servant," moreover during the reading, five bows are due, the troparion itself is read three times.According to the same ancient practice, the reading of the Psalter for the repose is preceded by the reading of the Canon for the deceased, after which the reading of the Psalter begins.After reading all the psalms, the funeral Canon is read again, after which the reading of the first begins again kathisma. This order continues throughout the reading of the Psalter for the dead."

Now a slightly different tradition of reading the Psalter at the tomb has also become widespread: according to the first and second "Glory:" kathismas, the prayer "Remember, Lord our God ..." is read, and at the end of the kathisma, the troparia are read at rest (and not the troparia at the end of this kathisma) and the prayer after the kathisma. This reading order is recommended in the Psalter of the edition of the Moscow Patriarchate (1973) and some other editions.

When reading the Psalter at the grave of the deceased, one should take into account the tradition and each time precede the reading of the 1st kathisma with the reading of the funeral canon.

In conclusion, it remains only to add that it is more fitting for any reader of the Psalter (experienced or inexperienced) to stand like a person praying (at the feet of the coffin of the deceased), if a special extreme does not force him to sit down. Negligence in this matter, as in the observance of other pious customs, is offensive both to the sacred rite, blessed by the Holy Church, and to the word of God, which, in case of carelessness, is read as if inconsistent with the intention and feeling of the praying Christian.

Follow-up when reading the Psalter for the dead

The reading of each kathisma begins with a prayer:

Come, let us worship our King God.

Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ, our King God.

Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.

(When reading a kathisma for each “Glory” (which reads as “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, And now and forever and forever and ever Amen”), it is pronounced:

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God! (thrice.),

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

(Then a prayer petition is read for the deceased “Remember, Lord our God ...”, located at the end of the “Following the Exodus of the Soul”, and the name of the deceased is commemorated on it with the addition (until the fortieth day from the date of death) of the word “newly reposed):

Remember, Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the belly of your eternally reposed servant, our brother [name] and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgive sins, and consume iniquities, weaken, leave and forgive all his voluntary sins and involuntary, deliver him eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good, prepared for those who love You: if you sin, but do not depart from You, and unquestionably in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your God in the Trinity glorified, faith, and Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him the same, and faith, even in Thee instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as if Generous rest: there is no man who lives and does not sin. But Thou art One, apart from all sin, and Thy righteousness, righteousness forever, and Thou art the One God of mercies and generosity, and love of mankind, and to Thee we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Then the reading of the kathisma psalms continues). At the end of the kathisma it reads:

Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist.)

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (thrice);

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

Tropari

From the spirits of the righteous who have died, the soul of Your servant, Savior, give rest, keeping me in a blessed life, even with You, Humane

In Thy rest, Lord: where all Thy saints rest, rest also the soul of Thy servant, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind

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

You are the God who descended into hell and loosed the bonds of the fettered, Thyself and the soul of Thy servant rest

And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray that his soul be saved.

Lord have mercy (40 times)
(Then the prayer laid down at the end of the kathisma is read.)

The reading of each kathisma begins with a prayer:

Come, let us worship our King God. Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ, our King God. Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.

(When reading a kathisma for each “Glory” (which reads as “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, And now and forever and forever and ever Amen”), it is pronounced:

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God! (thrice.), Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(Then the reading of the kathisma psalms continues. At the end of the kathisma, it is read):

Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist.) Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake. Lord have mercy. (thrice); Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen

Lord's Prayer Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Tropari

(located at the beginning of the Soul Exodus Follow-up)

From the spirits of the righteous who have died, the soul of Your servant, Savior, give rest, keeping me in a blessed life, even with You, Humane In Your chambers, Lord: where all Your saints rest, give rest to the soul of Your servant, as You alone are the Lover of mankind Glory to the Father and the Son and To the Holy Spirit: Thou art God, descended into hell and loosed the bonds of the fettered, Thyself and the soul of Thy servant rest now and forever and forever and ever. Amen. One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray that his soul be saved. Lord have mercy (40 times)

(Then the prayer laid down at the end of the kathisma is read).

The Psalter is a book of laudatory church hymns, the psalms from which are read in different situations by a believer. Excerpts from the church collection are also read at death.

Orthodox commemoration of the dead

In Orthodoxy, it is customary to commemorate deceased relatives on the anniversary of their death and on major church holidays. Prayers for the dead are read on the days allotted for this and subject to the established rules.

The fact that the afterlife exists and the soul of the newly deceased within 40 days independently reaches its destination, passes various tests, was learned thanks to Blessed Theodora. After death, the Saint went to Paradise and got the opportunity to inform those living on Earth about how long it takes the soul after death to get to its destination. In addition to Theodora, the benefits of reading the psalm were shown by the apostles, who prayed for the soul of the Virgin for 3 days and sang prayers from the Psalter near her tomb.

Every person who has lost his loved one needs to read prayers for the repose. It is believed that in this way thoughts of loss recede into the background, and the prayer calms down and tunes in to a future life without the deceased. Prayer is a special language in which a person speaks with God and with those who are in Heaven.

The need to pronounce chants of praise for the departed up to 40 days is considered to be help to the wandering soul, and the more words are said in her honor, the more likely the newly deceased will go to Paradise. In addition, the words from the Psalter, spoken from the heart, help to overcome the difficulties that the deceased faces on the way to their destination.

The Church recommends reading the Psalter for the Dead continuously, starting at the time of a person's death and ending on the 40th day after his death. In special cases, holy words are read 80 days from the date of death of a person. There is an Orthodox custom to read the Psalter in full 3 days after the departure of a relative to another world, and this is recommended to be done before his burial.

You need to start pronouncing holy words near the coffin of the deceased while standing, and finish without his physical presence at home or in the temple. If it is not possible to read the holy book directly over the body, then the relatives of the deceased divide the chapters of the Psalter among themselves and at the appointed time, each in turn proceeds to fulfill the duty assigned to him, observing the continuity of prayer.

The word "Psalter" in translation into Russian from ancient Greek means the name of a musical instrument. This church book consists of 150, or songs, which can be read both in church and at home. The psalms are divided in the book into chapters called "kathismas," each of which contains an almost equal number of hymns.

When a person dies, his relatives, in addition to verbal assistance to the departed, must prepare kutya from wheat and honey and consecrate the dish in the church at the morning service. After that, sweet porridge is fed to those who came to honor the memory of the deceased. In addition, it is recommended to order a magpie in the temple so that the monks pray for the deceased for 40 days.

Why Read the Psalter

It is believed that the words that the Psalter contains for the dead up to 40 days find a response in the soul of the mourner. By reciting chants in the original language, a person tunes in to the same wave with the Higher powers and calms down.

Reading the Holy Book requires observance of order, which organizes the mourner and does not allow him to fall into deep sadness. In addition, a person understands that by his actions he helps the soul of the newly deceased to pass the test and get to Heaven.

Reading scheme of the Psalter

The study of holy texts is a daily ritual of every truly believing Christian. In addition, the texts of the Psalter are used in divine services, and if you read the holy songs at home, you can take a direct part in the service, glorifying the powers of heaven together with the priest. The scheme for reading the psalms looks like this:

on Sunday - psalm 23;
on Monday - 47;
on Tuesday - 66;
on Wednesday - 93;
on Thursday - 49;
on Friday - 92;
on Saturday - 91.

It must be remembered that kathismas are not read in the period from Holy Thursday of Holy Week to St. Thomas Sunday, popularly called "Anti-Pascha". During this period, the study of the Psalter is banned for 10 days.

In order to commemorate a relative or other close person, it is necessary, in addition to reading at least 1 kathisma daily, to adhere to a spiritual fast for 40 days. If the ceremony is performed at home, then it is not necessary to read the prayers written after each chapter. In this case, the ritual of commemoration will proceed correctly.

When reading laudatory hymns at home, you need to remember that after each pronunciation of the glory of the Holy Trinity, you need to read a prayer for the dead. These same words are pronounced at the end of each chapter of the Psalter. When the reading of the holy psalms comes to an end, you need to read the canon for the dead. This order was established in 1973 by the Moscow Patriarchate.

Prayer readings are performed with a lit candle, when thoughts are calmed and tuned in a spiritual way. The holy lines are read in a calm voice, slowly and without interruptions in words and stress. If the emphasis is placed in the wrong place, then the prayer may be interpreted incorrectly, which is undesirable.

Reading order of the psalms

The first rule of psalm reading is the continuity of the event. If it is not possible not to break away when commemorating the deceased, then the church allocates 3, 9 and 40 days, during which the Holy Word must be uttered without fail.

The introductory text for the commemoration of the newly deceased is located before the first chapter of the Psalter. Before each of the 20 chapters of the book, a prayer must be said 3 times, beginning with the words “Come, let us worship ...”, and after each “Glory”, the prayer “Remember, Lord our God ...”, the text of which is placed at the end of “Following the outcome of the soul from body", where the deceased is called by name. When any of the kathismas ends, you need to read "" and troparia for the deceased. The name of the holy songs can be omitted - it will not be a mistake.

If for some reason there is no introductory text in the publication, then before reading the kathisma, you can recite “Through the prayers of our holy fathers” as a keepsake. At the next stage, they read "Glory", and after - "To the King of Heaven." Then they act according to the described scheme.

Kathismas are read while sitting, you need to get up during the glorification of the Lord. If health allows, then the Psalms are studied standing up, which will be additionally counted both for the one who prays and for the deceased. It is forbidden to pronounce holy songs while lying on the bed, because such a position is disrespectful towards the Higher powers and the deceased. It is believed that the soul of the deceased stays next to the body for up to 3 days, so it can listen to prayers and psalms.

In addition, the Psalter has long been considered a sacred book that does amazing things. Before the New Testament, with the help of psalms, demons were cast out of the possessed and the soul was cured.

Variants of prayer according to the Psalter for the repose

There is a prayer in the Holy Book, which is considered the most powerful and effective. Kathisma 17 is suitable for both a one-time commemoration and ritual reading for 1.5 months. The clergy note that such a one-time commemoration of the soul of the deceased can replace the reading of the entire Psalter.

17 kathisma, according to many, is a beautiful song that has a beneficial effect not only on the soul of the commemorated, but also on the reader himself. Chapter 17 includes opening and closing prayers and Psalm 119.

Prayer for the dead and the emergence of tradition

The emergence of the tradition of commemorating the dead is rooted in ancient times. People who experienced the loss of relatives or close people, at any opportunity, remembered them and mentally turned to deities and other objects of belief to help the deceased and make it easier for them to find their last resting place.

In Christianity, it is believed that by pronouncing the words for the dead, a person receives consolation and releases the soul of the deceased into another world. Believers know that the one who loves is able to reconcile, but not able to forget, and reading the psalms helps to communicate with Heaven and remember the loss.

The first person who believed in the power of commemoration of the dead is the commander Judas. For the fact that he and his subordinates believed in God, the Creator rewarded their army with invincibility. But somehow the army was defeated, and many soldiers died in the battle. During the burial, Judas saw that many of the dead carried with them figurines of idols that were not associated with Christianity.

In order to direct at least their souls to the Kingdom of God, the commander began to pray, asking the Lord to forgive the ignorance of the soldiers. The Almighty liked such sincerity of Judas, and he forgave the dead, sending their souls to Paradise. It is believed that from that moment the tradition of commemoration of the dead appeared.

Prayer for the deceased 40 days

The importance of prayer for the dead is reported by various Christian sources. Theodora was the first person to tell the living that it takes 40 days to get to the gates of Paradise after death. At the same time, the woman noted that as soon as the living remembered her on Earth, it became easier to overcome the afterlife.

The fact that the soul exists is also reported by modern science, and scientists have even determined the weight of this integral component of a human being - 21 years. In addition, often after death, people dreamed of relatives and asked to pray for them or fulfill requests, which once again proves the fact of the existence of the soul and that it needs the help of the living.

The clergy note that for 1.5 months an invisible substance walks the earth, accompanied by a Guardian Angel, who shows the deceased his deeds. If during life a person sinned a lot, then active commemoration of him by people will tip the scales of the Supreme Court towards Paradise.

Understanding the Psalms

The text of the psalms that a beginner reads may not be initially clear to him if the study of holy songs takes place in Latin. Some priests are sure that it is possible to read the Psalter without understanding its meaning, which will be revealed later.

Other experts on holy texts recommend studying ritual chants in Russian and only then proceed to reading the holy book in the original language. In each case, attempts to study kathismas are already considered a good deed and will become a plus in the scale of righteous deeds of any person.

The servants of God recommend communicating with the Creator through prayer every day. They note that it is never too late to come to faith, and the inner desire is capable of much. A prayer uttered from the heart will be heard by those to whom it was intended.

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The collection of psalms is the most popular book among Orthodox believers. Children in Russia learned not from the primer, but from the Psalms. Authorship is attributed to King David, he himself composed the texts and performed to a musical instrument. A psalm for the repose of the soul of the deceased is a song of repentance.

It is not known where the custom came from to read psalms for the dead, but according to legend, at the tomb of the Mother of God, the apostles read psalms. It is believed that such a prayer helps not only the deceased, but also the grieving relative. So a person calms down in the grief of losing loved ones and is distracted from the bustle of life. The first Christians did not have a prayer book, but they did have a psalter.

Meaning of sacred texts:

the flight of the soul to heaven is hindered by evil demons who want to take possession and rule over it, and the psalter is an effective means of helping the soul on its journey;
psalms are an expression of the highest human qualities of the soul;
before the New Testament, the Psalter was the collection that allowed a person to be cleansed of evil demons;
holy texts allow you to protect the soul of the deceased and spiritually support a grieving person about the loss.

How to read psalm 118 for the deceased

Psalm 119 occupies a special place among the holy texts and is the longest. The text consists of twenty-two parts and eight lines, which begin with the Hebrew alphabet "alpha" "beta" and beyond. Reading a psalm facilitates the stay of the deceased in the other world. Each person commits many sins on earth, and after the end of earthly life, he can no longer change anything.

The words of the text lift the soul to heaven and give great joy. Kathisma in Church Slavonic is difficult to read, you can choose the text in Russian and read at any time at home.

The text is divided into three parts that follow before stanzas 73 and 131. In these places, a doxology and a special prayer are read with the name of the deceased person. This text is read at the morning and evening services, it is included in the burial and funeral service. With special laudatory doxologies, it is read on Holy Saturday.

Text 118 of the psalm about the deceased:

1 Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They do no iniquity, they walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded to keep Your precepts firmly.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed, considering all your commandments:
7 I would praise you in uprightness of heart, learning the judgments of your righteousness.
8 I will keep thy statutes; don't leave me at all.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? - Keeping yourself according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me deviate from Your commandments.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord! teach me your statutes.
13 With my mouth I proclaimed all the judgments of your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way of your testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I meditate on your commandments, and look at your ways.
16 I take comfort in thy statutes; I do not forget thy word.
17 Show mercy to your servant, and I will live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, and I will see wonders of your law.
19 I am a wanderer on earth; do not hide your commandments from me.
20 My soul is weary of the desire of thy judgments at all times.
21 You have tamed the proud, the accursed, those who deviate from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and shame, for I keep thy testimonies.
23 Princes sit and conspire against me, but your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my comfort, [and your statutes] are my counselors.
25 My soul is cast into the dust; revive me according to your word.
26 I declared my ways, and you heard me; teach me your statutes.
27 Let me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wonders.
28 My soul melts with grief: strengthen me according to your word.
29 Remove from me the way of falsehood, and grant me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set thy judgments before me.
31 I cleave to thy testimonies, Lord; don't shame me.
32 I will run in the way of your commandments, when you enlarge my heart.
33 Show me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and keep it with all my heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I have desired it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes, that they may not see vanity; give me life on your way.
38 Confirm your word to your servant, for the sake of reverence before you.
39 Turn away my reproach, which I fear, for your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have desired thy precepts; Give me life with Your righteousness.
41 Let Thy mercies come to me, O Lord, Thy salvation according to Thy word,
42 And I will give an answer to him that reproacheth me, for I trust in thy word.
43 Take not the word of truth completely from my mouth, for I trust in your judgments
44 And I will keep thy law always, forever and ever;
45 I will walk freely, for I have sought thy precepts;
46 I will speak of your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed;
47 I will delight in thy commandments, which I have loved;
48 I will stretch out my hands to your commandments, which I have loved, and meditate on your statutes.
49 Remember [Your] word to Your servant, in which You commanded me to trust:
50 This is a consolation in my distress, that your word revives me.
51 The proud have cursed me exceedingly, but I have not deviated from your law.
52 I have remembered thy judgments, O Lord, from of old, and have been comforted.
53 Horror seizes me at the sight of the wicked, leaving your law.
54 Your statutes were my songs in the place of my wanderings.
55 At night I remembered Your name, O Lord, and I kept Your law.
56 He became mine, for I keep thy precepts.
57 My portion, O Lord, I said, to keep thy words.
58 I prayed to you with all my heart: have mercy on me according to your word.
59 I meditated on my ways and turned my steps to your testimonies.
60 Hastening and not delaying to keep thy commandments.
61 Nets of the wicked have surrounded me, but I have not forgotten your law.
62 At midnight I rose to praise You for Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a partner with all who fear You and keep Your precepts.
64 Your mercy, O Lord, is full of the earth; teach me your statutes.
65 You have done good to your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good understanding and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before my suffering I went astray; but now I keep your word.
68 Good and beneficent are You, [Lord]; teach me your statutes.
69 The proud spin lies against me; but with all my heart I will keep thy precepts.
70 Their hearts are fat as fat; but I take comfort in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I suffered in order to learn your statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
73 Your hands created me and arranged me; give me understanding, and I will learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will see me and rejoice that I trust in Your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous and that You have punished me justly.
76 Let Thy mercy be my consolation, according to Thy word to Thy servant.
77 Let Thy mercy come to me, and I will live; for your law is my comfort.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they oppress me without cause; I meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You and know Your testimonies turn to me.
80 Let my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I will not be put to shame.
81 My soul melts for thy salvation; I trust in your word.
82 My eyes are melting at thy word; I say, when will You comfort me?
83 I have become like a bellows in smoke, but I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How many days is your servant? When will you judge my persecutors?
85 Years have dug a pit for me, contrary to your law.
86 All thy commandments are true; they unjustly persecute me: help me;
87 almost destroyed me on earth, but I did not leave your commandments.
88 Give me life according to your mercy, and I will keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is established in heaven;
90 Thy truth unto generation and generation. You set up the earth and it stands.
91 According to your decrees, everything stands until now, for everything serves you.
92 If your law had not been my comfort, I would have perished in my distress.
93 I will never forget your commandments, for by them you revive me.
94 I am yours, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait for me to destroy; and I delve into Your revelations.
96 I have seen the limit of all perfection, but Your commandment is immensely vast.
97 How I love your law! I've been thinking about it all day.
98 By thy commandment thou hast made me wiser than my enemies, for she is always with me.
99 I have become more intelligent than all my teachers, because I meditate on your revelations.
100 I know more than the elders, for I keep thy precepts.
101 I keep my feet from every evil way, that I may keep thy word;
102 I do not turn away from your judgments, for you teach me.
103 How sweet are thy words to my throat! better than honey to my mouth.
104 I am enlightened by your precepts; therefore I hate every way of lying.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106 I swore to keep your righteous judgments, and I will do it.
107 I am greatly oppressed, Lord; revive me according to your word.
108 Delight, O Lord, to accept the voluntary sacrifice of my mouth, and teach me your judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand, but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set up a net for me, but I have not deviated from your commandments.
111 I have received your testimonies as an inheritance forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to do your statutes forever, to the end.
113 I hate human inventions, but I love your law.
114 You are my cover and my shield; I trust in your word.
115 Depart from me, wicked ones, and I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Strengthen me according to your word, and I will live; do not shame me in my hope;
117 support me, and I will be saved; and in thy statutes I will unceasingly attend.
118 All who depart from Thy statutes, Thou dost cast down, for their tricks are a lie.
119 Like ash, you sweep away all the wicked of the earth; therefore I have loved your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for thy fear, and I fear thy judgments.
121 I did judgment and righteousness; do not hand me over to my persecutors.
122 Intercede for your servant for his good, so that the proud do not oppress me.
123 My eyes are melting, waiting for your salvation and the word of your righteousness.
124 Do with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am your servant: give me understanding, and I will know your testimonies.
126 It's time for the Lord to act: Your law has been destroyed.
127 But I love your commandments more than gold, and pure gold.
128 All thy precepts, I hold them all to be just; I hate every way of lying.
129 Wonderful are thy revelations; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The revelation of your words enlightens, enlightens the simple.
131 I open my mouth and sigh, for I thirst for your commandments.
132 Look upon me and have mercy on me, as you do with those who love your name.
133 Establish my steps in your word and do not let any iniquity take possession of me;
134 deliver me from the oppression of men, and I will keep thy precepts;
135 Shine on your servant with the light of your face and teach me your statutes.
136 Streams of water flow from my eyes because they do not keep your law.
137 Righteous are You, O Lord, and just are Your judgments.
138 Your testimonies, which you commanded, are righteousness and perfect truth.
139 My zeal consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten your words.
140 Your word is very pure, and your servant loved it.
141 I am small and contemptible, but I do not forget your commandments.
142 Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and your law is truth.
143 Sorrow and sorrow overtook me; Your commandments are my comfort.
144 The truth of your testimonies is eternal: give me understanding, and I will live.
145 I cry out with all my heart: Hear me, O Lord, and I will keep your statutes.
146 I call on you: save me, and I will keep your testimonies.
147 Anticipate the dawn and cry; I trust in your word.
148 My eyes anticipate the morning watch, so that I may delve into your word.
150 Those plotting wickedness drew near; they are far from your law.
151 You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.
152 Long ago I knew about your testimonies, that you established them forever.
153 Look at my distress and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Intervene in my cause and protect me; revive me according to your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Many are thy compassions, O Lord; revive me according to your judgment.
157 I have many persecutors and enemies, but I do not depart from Your revelations.
158 I see apostates, and I lament, for they do not keep your word.
159 See how I love your precepts; according to your mercy, Lord, revive me.
160 The foundation of thy word is true, and every judgment of thy righteousness is eternal.
161 The princes persecute me innocently, but my heart is afraid of your word.
162 I rejoice in your word, as having received a great profit.
163 I hate lies and abhor them; I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I glorify You for the judgments of Your righteousness.
165 Great is the peace of those who love your law, and there is no stumbling block for them.
166 I trust in Your salvation, O Lord, and I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps thy testimonies, and I love them dearly.
168 I keep thy precepts and thy testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.
169 Let my cry come near before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171 My mouth will utter praise when You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue will proclaim your word, for all your commandments are righteous.
173 Let thy hand be of help to me, for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my comfort.
175 May my soul live and praise You, and may Your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant, for I have not forgotten thy commandments.

What psalms are read for the deceased

A deceased person in the Orthodox faith up to one year old is called a newly reposed. Several traditions have been identified to commemorate the newly deceased:

reading the Psalter with a special prayer every day;
Sorokoust, read in the church;
funeral services 3, 9, 40 days;
lithium on the grave of the deceased on the days of general remembrance;
memorial dinners and donations.

The Orthodox Church divides the path of the soul to the afterlife into three periods:

three days the soul stays next to the body;
from the third to the ninth day, the angels lift her up to heaven and let her see the life of paradise;
from the ninth to the fortieth day, the soul experiences ordeals for committed and unrepentant sins on earth;
on the fortieth day, it is decided where the soul will be until the hour of the Last Judgment.

The third day of burial, after the ceremony, a memorial meal is arranged. On the ninth day, a memorial service is ordered in the church. Until the fortieth day, the psalter is read, then its reading stops.

When the body of the deceased is in the house, relatives take turns reading the psalter or invite an experienced reader. You can read while sitting, but get up at the words "Glory" and "Hallelujah." The psalter consists of twenty parts, after each one three bows are made and a short prayer is offered.

For reading, a stand and a candle are placed at the head of the deceased. On the day of burial, relatives agree on reading psalms for the deceased up to 40 days at home.

Funeral Dukhobor Psalms

The Doukhobors are representatives of the direction of Christianity that developed in Russia in the second half of the eighteenth century. The idea of the Doukhobors is that the Lord is present in any person. They do not welcome rites and sacraments, sacred ministers and hermitage and have created their own type of worship ritual of worship, which in the past took place in accordance with the Orthodox calendar and was the main rule of prayer every week. In an abbreviated form, the ritual could be included in the burial when parting with the deceased at the burial place.

Before moving to the Rostov region, the Dukhobors lived in Javakheti, Georgia, where the ritual of worship was performed in a prayer house, after which they began to be performed in residential buildings.

Psalms are a special genre of Doukhobor customs. Doukhobors refer to psalms texts related to such sources as the Psalter, the Acts of the Holy Apostles, the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, and the Revelation of John the Theologian.

The Doukhobors have created a singing direction in which three parts can be distinguished. These are psalms, poems and songs. The uniqueness of song singing lies in the combination of styles of folklore cultures. Some texts are only read, others are sung with a closed mouth and prolonged chanting of the words. Each text starts a sing-along, and such singing is similar to the Cossack.

God bless you!

In this video you will hear the reading of Psalms 118:

The Psalter is a book that is part of the body of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. It contains 150 psalms (hence the corresponding name), which are prayers to the Lord. King David is considered the author, however, some prayers were compiled by other rulers of ancient Israel.

The Psalter was widely used for use even in apostolic times. In Russia, since ancient times, this Old Testament book has been used as prayer books both in divine services and in home prayer. At present, the services of the Church also include prayers from the hymnal.

In Orthodox culture, there is a pious tradition to read the psalter in memory of them. The entire Old Testament book is divided into twenty kathismas, a complete reading of it can take up to five hours, so praying for the deceased with the help of this book is a special work of living people in memory of the deceased. The reading of the psalter is performed both by the laity and by the deacons and monks. Any devout Christian can read.

It is customary to read before the burial of the deceased. It is desirable that prayers last continuously, however, in the absence of such an opportunity, one can read at least a few kathismas a day or change readers. In the prayers of the psalter, one can trace the hope of a person for God's mercy, the sacred texts console the loved ones and relatives of the deceased person.

The Psalter can be read for forty days after death, with special attention being paid to the days of commemoration: the ninth and fortieth. In addition, the psalter for the dead can be read on the anniversary of death or on any other day, because prayers to the Lord for the forgiveness of the sins of the dead can be offered by a Christian at any time.

The order of the deceased is simple. In the prayer books, before reading the psalter, special preparatory prayers are laid, after which "Come, let us worship" and the text of the kathisma are read. All kathismas are divided into three "Glories". A feature of reading the psalter for the dead is the addition of a special prayer for the dead on each "slavnik". Thus, when the reader sees the inscription "Glory" in the text of the kathisma, it should be read as follows:

After this, the reading of the psalms from the kathisma continues. There is a practice according to which, after the prayer for the dead, the Mother of God prayer is pronounced "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice." On the last third "Glory" only "Glory" "And now", three times "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia glory to Thee, God" and a prayer for the deceased are pronounced. After that, the Lord's Prayer is read, special troparia written at the end of the kathisma, as well as a certain prayer.

The beginning of each new kathisma is again accompanied by the reading "Come let us worship":

At the end of the reading of the Psalter or several kathismas, special prayers are laid, published in the prayer book "after reading the Psalter or several kathismas."

It should be especially noted that if a person does not have the opportunity to read the psalter for the dead in full, one should work at least in reading the 17th kathisma, since it is this part of the psalter that is read at the funeral service (it is used during prayers for the remembrance of the dead).

The position of the worshiper when reading the psalter should be standing. The rest of the people during prayer can sit if they experience physical weakness.

If the psalter is read before the coffin of the deceased, then the reader stands at the feet of the deceased. When reading the psalter, it is customary to light candles or a lampada in front of the icons. During the reading of the psalter, it is necessary to fully concentrate on prayer and turn to the Lord with humility, reverence and pious attention to the sacred texts.

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