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Kathisma (Greek: καθισμα; Slavonic: каѳисма,
kafisma), literally, "seat", is a division of the
Psalter, used by
Eastern Orthodox Christians and
Eastern Catholics who follow the
Byzantine Rite. The word may also describe a hymn sung at
Matins, a seat used in monastic churches, or a type of monastic establishment.
Psalms
According to ancient practice, monastics recite all 150
psalms on a regular basis. Originally, the
hermits in the desert would recite the entire Psalter every day. With the spread of
coenobitic monasticism, the practice began of chanting the
Canonical Hours in common, and the Psalter thus became the foundation of the
Daily Office, augmented by numerous hymns, prayers and scriptural readings. The custom grew of reciting all 150 psalms each week during the course of the services.
To facilitate this, the 150 psalms were divided into 20 sections, called
kathismata (Greek: καθισματα; Slavonic: каѳисмы,
kafismy), meaning literally, "sittings". The name is derived from the fact that, in the Office as it developed in
Jerusalem and
Constantinople, the psalms would be read by one of the brethren while the others sat and listened attentively.
Each kathisma is further subdivided into three
staseis (Greek: στασεις), literally, "standings", because at the end of each
stasis (Greek: στασις) the
reader says: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit..." at which all stand...
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