The Undying Psalter

There is a wonderful practice of prayer called the Unceasing Psalter - this is a special kind of church prayer and it is called so because it is read around the clock, without interruption. This prayer consists of reading the most ancient liturgical book of the Psalter with the commemoration of living and deceased Orthodox Christians.

This prayer is prayed exclusively in monasteries and this prayer has unprecedented power.

• The unceasing Psalter is read by monks, they have a special grace to pray for the laity, because they live by prayer. They renounce the world in order to stand for it in prayer of love, and devote most of their time to it.

• The Unceasing Psalter is read either in the church or in a prayer cell near the temple designated for this purpose. Next to the Psalter are special journals in which the names of all living and deceased Orthodox Christians for whom they asked to pray were written, having ordered the Unceasing Psalter. After each "Glory" the monk opens these journals and lists the people mentioned there.

• It is worth saying that one can submit a request for the Unceasing Psalter, as well as any church request, with a note containing the names of those who were baptized in the Orthodox Church and, if we are talking about a prayer for the repose of the soul, then for those who did not commit suicide.

• After reading each part of the kathisma, called "Glory" (there are three "Glory" in each kathisma), the established prayers are said, depending on the book of remembrance being read - For Health or For Repose. Such remembrances are intended to ensure that prayer for a person is constantly offered. Thus, a person will be remembered not once a day, but at each kathisma (there are 20 kathismas in the Psalter).

• The name "Unceasing Psalter" is given because the psalms are read around the clock. Usually, almost all the monks of the monastery take part in this, replacing each other in turn. 

• The reading of the Unceasing Psalter takes place in silence, reverent mood and calms the soul.

• Reading the Unceasing Psalter joins us to the ceaseless angelic choir, glorifying God together with the saints. The power of this continuous monastic prayer is confirmed by the experience of past centuries and our contemporaries.

• When this prayer is prayed for a person, it protects him from evil demons, devils, helps in the fight against passions, heals and attracts God's grace. 

“And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9,10).

You can order the reading of the Unceasing Psalter for both the living and the deceased - details [HERE] .