Today is the first day of the 40-day Nativity fast and the first day of our Psalter Groups!

I know I saw this all the time but I truly feel like organizing these groups is a tremendous blessing. There is so much power in prayer and I know many of you know this from experience by the emails I receive from those of you who participate season after season.  Thank you again for being a part of this community of prayer!  I always look forward to this time with you.  <3

During this time we should also take extra care to abstain from unholy things or things that distract us from God and the upcoming feast. Pray for the healing of the nations. Stretch out your hand to those in need and comfort those around you who need comforting. Embrace all that God intended for this season to be.

I’ve also been enjoying watching so many of you praying along with my book, SONGS OF PRAISE: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women. There’s plenty of journaling pages and extra wide margins to keep track of the names of your group members, along with any other thoughts or notes or inspiration you find within the psalms.  

The prayers we say before reading are also included along with lots of wisdom from the saints on why reading the Psalter is so beneficial.

Check out the following hashtags on social media to join other women who are praying along with you this year. And if you share any photos of your Psalter devotional in action, please use the hashtags so we can follow along with you.

#songsofpraisebook

#psaltergroups

Without further ado, here are the assigned readings for the 2020 Nativity season!

Names are numbered in order of what kathisma you begin on.

*Be sure to look through all the lists for your name. It will be as you signed up. There are a lot of Mary’s, Maria’s, Katherine’s, etc.  Even less common names are often duplicated!  Make sure you’re looking at the right one!  I included usernames or emails wherever I could to make it a bit easier. 

PLEASE read through ALL OF THE GROUPS until you’re sure you found your name. If you’re not positive, leave a comment and I will clarify. This is extremely important so that readings/groups are being done properly.

Once you find your name, you will see what Kathisma (set of Psalms) you start with.  If you’re number 18 in your group you’ll start on Kathisma 18 on Day 1.  On Day 2, you’ll read Kathisma 19,  Day 3,  Kathisma 20 and so on. Then the following day you’ll start on Kathisma 1.  Make sense? If not, be sure to ask in the comments!

Before beginning to read your assigned kathisma, please recite the Trisagion prayers (and the prayer at the bottom of this post if you choose):

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

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Thrice)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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 evil.

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

At the end of each kathisma please recite the following:

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

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God. (twice)

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to you, O God our hope, O Lord, glory to You. Lord have mercy on (name of each person in your group).

******People in the last group, please check back periodically since more people will most likely be added to your group, so you can add their names to your prayer list.  

And as always, if you have any questions at all, let me know!

Don’t become discouraged if you miss some, it takes time to build a habit and anything you read is more than you would have read if you hadn’t signed up! Kali Dynami!

Readings  (The Psalm numbers before each Kathisma are for people following along from the book of Psalms in their Bible)

1. Day 1– Psalms 1-8 (Kathisma 1)
2. Day 2– Psalms 9-16 (Kathisma 2)
3. Day 3– Psalms 17-23 (Kathisma 3)
4. Day 4–Psalms 24-31 (Kathisma 4)
5. Day 5– Psalms 32-36 (Kathisma 5)
6. Day 6– Psalms 37-45 (Kathisma 6)
7. Day 7– Psalms 46-54 (Kathisma 7)
8. Day 8– Psalms 55-63 (Kathisma 8)
9. Day 9– Psalms 64-69 (Kathisma 9)
10. Day 10– Psalms 70-76 (Kathisma 10)
11. Day 11– Psalms 77-84 (Kathisma 11)
12. Day 12– Psalms 85-90 (Kathisma 12)
13. Day 13– Psalms 91-100 (Kathisma 13)
14. Day 14– Psalms 101-104 (Kathisma 14)
15. Day 15– Psalms 105-108 (Kathisma 15)
16. Day 16– Psalms 109-117 (Kathisma 16)
17. Day 17– Psalms 118 (Kathisma 17)
18. Day 18– Psalms 119-133 (Kathisma 18)
19. Day 19– Psalms 134-142 (Kathisma 19)
20. Day 20– Psalms 143-150/151 (Kathisma 20)
21. Day 21–start over

GROUP ONE

1. Melissa (mbctwilliams)
2. Kalliope T.
3. Irene V.
4. Presbytera Kyrrana
5. Catherine Athena
6. Sevasti P.
7. Maya (Dicheva)
8. Maria (Ditsou)
9. Malamatenia
10. Olga (April V)
11. Christina Carmon
12. Sevasti L.
13. Asimeni (simone)
14. Nikola P.
15. Monica (Meredith)
16. Foteini (Papadopoulos)
17. Lydia Len
18. Chrisi (Soula K)
19. Irene (grkdoxa)
20. Vasiliki (Vicki)

GROUP TWO

Elizabeth (amyhconner)

Maria (mariaslpfl)

Virginia (ginny_ann)

Elisavet (eliemironidou)

Nonna (Kara)

Melissa (Petridis)

Juliana (Amy)

Maria (Linda)

Ruth (Jan)

Kathryn (kathrynkarney)

Petronela (carmenhodson)

Christina (siounis)

Cara Maria

Julianna (Sabrina)

Elena (garrett)

Athanasia P.

Katarina (kekivancevic)

Ioana-Teodora

Kalliope

Emilia (officermillie)

GROUP THREE

1. Konstantina (connielemmink)
2. Katherina (mtetley)
3. Kathleen Sophia
4. Linda Irene
5. Melissa (mcruffing)
6. Nicole (stevens)
7. Anna (Jenna)
8. Ekaterini (loucas)
9. Stephanie (Guy)
10. Michaela (Michelle G.)
11. Sonia (sampras)
12. Frantzeska (fvchristou)
13. Matushka Katherine (white)
14. Eikaterini (kaporis)
15. Sheryl (svanderwagen)
16. Soultana (tania)
17. Alexandra (sandrayeske)
18. Vaia (konstantinidou)
19. Irene C.
20. Marie (ava-marie)

GROUP FOUR

1. Fotini
2. Chrysovaladou
3. Elaine-Marie
4. Catharine (katyavic)
5. Anastasia (nazarko)
6. Panayiota (Teresa)
7. Olga D.
8. Xenia Maria
9. Victoria (vtrenham)
10. Nina (Morris)
11. Alexandra (Ladas)
12. Stefany (krasson)
13. Venetia (vvdemson)
14. Maria (Colleen)
15. Nektaria (tziokas)
16. Presbytera Evanthia
17. Amalia Maria
18. Ann (Vanessa)
19. Christina (timeteatraveller)
20. Isabella (abusleme)

GROUP FIVE1. Anna (akougentakis)2. Christina Pamela3. Joanna (Bojana)4. Panayiota (patti)5. Elisabeth (elisabethrose)6. Denise Marie7. Aggeliki (Angel)8. Emmelia (emcanear)9. Olga (Amy)10. Xenia (Amanda)11. Georgia (gtsikinis)12. Elisabeta (elisal)13. Mary (Danielle)14. Anna (Ada)15. Khouriyeh Mary16. Philothea (Rebekah)17. Maritsa (Maria S.)18. Mary (Erin M.)19. Magdalene (Maggie)20. Panayiota (Paulina)GROUP SIX1. Sara (Clark)2. Styliani (Stella)3. Maria (Strates)4. Panayiota (Penny)5. Anthea (powerhousepcos)6. Rebekah (bekahlovesu)7. Raphaela (Brandee)8. Juliana (Arielle)9. Elizabeth (Jessica H)10. Anastasia (Nazarko)11. Amanda Mary12. Donna (ivancevic)13. Marina (djurisic)14. Dimitra P.15. Despina (dagrizikos)16. Athanasia A.17. Venetia D.18. Lambrini (lpsiouri)19. Yanexis (ymart)20. Stefania (Nicole)GROUP SEVEN1. Nina (Shelby)2. Gabriela (cosma)3. Elizabeth F.4. Maria (Papas)5. Michelle (Mimi)6. Anna (Ada)7. Sara (Clark)8. Christina (Christa B)9. Parthenope (Popi)10. Makrina (Erika)11. Vanessa (Vanessa.e3)12. Georgia (Ferentinos)13. Anna (Jill)14. Emilia (Emily)15. Tatiana (tggilman)16. Veronica (Carrie)17. Stella (Saris)18. Brigid (Lauren)19. Anastasia (Anamaria)20. Anastasia (Samouris)GROUP EIGHT1. Maria (maraki811)2. Sevasti & Tsambika3. Konstandina (Tina)4. Kalliope (Edge)5. Christina Pamela6. Artemisia (bandes)7. Constantina (Tina-ioannou)8. Evanthia9. Amanda Mary10. Irena (ivaz)11. Anna (lauribaird)12. Ceylin13. Rachel (Chebeleu)14. Monica Mihaela15. Mary (Danielle)16. Jill Marie17. Anastasia T.18. Sophia K.19. Anna (Jill)20. Georgia T.**Reminder to Group Eight--check back daily as your group fills up!

***Not to worry if you haven’t signed up yet. Simply leave your baptismal name and email address in the comment section of THIS post!