How to Pray With the Psalms in the Orthodox Church

Orthodox Christian prayer life includes the Psalms.

The Psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures comprise the Psalter used in many Christian denominations. The Orthodox Christian churches consider the Psalter "the hymn book of the Church," according to the Orthodox Research Institute. Pray the Psalms with the Orthodox Church as it prays throughout the day for Vespers, Matins, Compline and the Hours. Worship with emphasis on the Psalms during the Liturgy and with antiphons on Orthodox feast days. Arm your prayer life with the Psalter for a rich Orthodox prayer experience.

Things You'll Need

• The Psalter

Instructions

1. 

   The Psalms form an integral part of Orthodox Christian prayer and worship.

   Use an approved Orthodox translation of the Holy Psalter for Orthodox prayer, worship and reflective reading. Follow the daily readings for ordinary seasons and for Great Lent. Follow the Orthodox numbering system of the Psalms, which differs from Protestant and most Catholic numbering, in order to match the way the Orthodox churches read the Psalms.

2. Align your mind, spirit and voice by chanting the Psalms in your home every day. Focus on the words so you can grasp any moments when God chooses to speak to you. Follow the Orthodox Church Daily Cycle of Services for a sense of communal prayer with the Church as a whole.

3. Memorize Psalms used often in Orthodox liturgy. Recite, for example, Psalm 50, which the Orthodox Church recites in every Divine Liturgy, according to the Orthodox site, Pramvir.com. Memorize Psalms until they resonate in your soul.

References

• Orthodox Research Institute; The Psalter: (A Model and Means of Prayer); Fr. John Ealy, 1998
• Protection of the Mother of God Church: Daily Readings from the Orthodox Psalter
• Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church: An Instructive Story: A Psalm Works a Little Miracle
• Pramvir.com; Psalm 50; Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou; 2011

Resources

• Metropolitan Cantor Institute: The Daily Cycle of Services