Liturgics - The Division of the Psalter

into Kathismas - Orthodox Church in

America
A kathisma (pl. kathismas or kathismata;
from Grk. kathemai, "sit") is a twentieth part
of the Psalter, that is, a section conveniently
readable in one sitting or session. Each of
the twenty kathismas is subdivided into 3
sections called stases or antiphons. A
kathisma is often followed by meditative
expository hymns called sessional hymns
(from Latin  sedere , "sit"; Grk.  kathismata ,
Slav.  sedalny). While it is advantageous to
read from the Septuagint version of the
Psalter, the Hebrew numbering is provided
as well. The service books provide a year-
round schedule of Psalter readings at
vespers and Psalter readings at matins
(orthros).

Greek Numbering  of Hebrew Numbering of

Psalms Kathisma Psalms
 Stasis Stasis  Stasis Stasis
Stasis 3 Stasis 3
1 2 1 2
1-3 4-6 7-8 I 1-3 4-6 7-8
9-10 11-13 14-16 II 9-11 12-14 15-17
17 18-20 21-23 III 18 19-21 22-24
24-26 27-29 30-31 IV 25-27 28-30 31-32
32-33 34-35 36 V 33-34 35-36 37
37-39 40-42 43-45 VI 38-40 41-43 44-46
46-48 49-50 51-54 VII 47-49 50-51 52-55
55-57 58-60 61-63 VIII 56-58 59-61 62-64
64-66 67 68-69 IX 65-67 68 69-70
70-71 72-73 74-76 X 71-72 73-74 75-77
77 78-80 81-84 XI 78 79-81 82-85
85-87 88 89-90 XII 86-88 89 90-91
91-93 94-96 97-100 XIII 92-94 95-97 98-101
101- 102-
103 104 XIV 104 105
102 103
105 106 107-108 XV 106 107 108-109
109- 112- 110- 113- 116:10-
115-117 XVI
111 114 112 116:9 118
118:1- 118:73- 118:132- 119:1- 119:73- 119:132-
XVII
72 131 176 72 131 176
119- 124- 120- 125-
129-133 XVIII 130-134
123 128 124 129
134- 137- 135- 138-
140-142 XIX 141-143
136 139 137 140
143- 145- 144- 146-
148-150 XX 148-150
144 147 145 147