The Ancient Rule of the Twelve Psalms?

[Andrew21091]

I was reading a book about Abbot Nazarius of Valaam. Now in it, it said that he regularly recited the ancient rule of the Twelve Psalms. Does anyone here know what those twelve Psalms are? I can't seem to find anything about it.

 

[SeraphimSarov]

This sounds interesting. Anyone?

 

[repentant]

It is when you recite 12 Psalms at every hour of the day from morning to evening for 12 hours, give or take, to complete all 150 Psalms in one day. Sometimes it is repeated so that all Psalms are read twice in one day. It comes from the Desert Father's, and there is of course a story to it..

The Desert Fathers were argueing about how many Psalms should be said by them during a service. While they were argueing, someone appeared and began singing a series of Psalms. They quieted down and followed the singing in their minds. After the twelfth Psalm was sung, the young man disappeared into thin air . The Fathers then concluded that this was an Angel sent to them by God to teach them that twelve Psalms is the acceptable number. Another Angel appeared to St Pachomius to tell him to pray once in each of the hours of the night and day. The Greek Fathers then devised a method to pray in accordance with this Rule of St Pachomius. They divided up the Psalter into twelve "stases" or portions composed of 12 Psalms each. The beginning stasis and the one at the end were given three extra Psalms apiece to make up the number of 150.


Here is something about it that I can find..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathisma

 

[Dewi Sant]

How beautiful!

I've been reciting the psalms more often lately.
They bring so much relief to the troubled and often unstable Christian.

 

[ma2000]

From my prayer book (translation):

The Rule of the Twelve Psalms is very old within the Eastern Orthodox Church and it was used especially by the fathers in the desert of Egipt at the time of the morning and evening services. It is mentioned in books of the elders and in the lives of many martyrs. This is why it was also called << The Liturgy of The Desert >>.
[...]
When there is no time to do the Matins and sometimes also the other services, you can read The Rule of the Twelve Psalms, which can keep the place of the whole rule.
_______
The psalms (mixed with a few prayers) are 26, 31, 56, 33, 38, 40, 69, 70, 76, 101, The Prayer of King Manasseh, The Prayer of Saint Evstratios.
This is what I could see from the service.
Hope it helps.

 

[authiodionitist]

What are the Prayers of King Manasseh and St Evstratios?

 

[Andrew21091]

Ah, thank you repentant and ma2000 for the info.

What is the Prayer of King Manasseh?

The Prayer of Manasseh is a short work of only 15 verses that purports to be the penitential prayer of the Judean king Manasseh, who is recorded in the Bible as one of the most idolatrous (2 Kings 21:1-18). However, after having been taken captive by the Assyrians, he prays for mercy (2 Chronicles 33:10-17) and turns from his idolatrous ways. It is in the LXX.

The Prayer of King Manasseh: O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[ma2000]

What are the Prayers of King Manasseh and St Evstratios?

I haven't seen this prayer of St Evstratios anywhere else. I suppose it's a prayer made by him. I've counted the psalms and there where ten. After a group of three psalms, there are some prayers. The psalm 101 is followed by those two prayers and then the usual prayers, so I've considered the prayers among the psalms.
As this is usually done in monasteries, you could probably find this rule in a monastery.

 

[ma2000]

The Rule of the Twelve Psalms is very old within the Eastern Orthodox Church and especially the fathers in the desert of Egypt used it at the time of the morning and evening services. It is mentioned in books of the elders and in the lives of many martyrs. This is why it was also called << The Liturgy of The Desert >>.
Aghios Dorotheus of Pechersk has brought the rule to our lands from Mount Athos and later it spread in all the monasteries from the country.
When there is no time to do the night service (The Compline) and sometimes also the other services, you can read The Rule of the Twelve Psalms, which can keep the place of the whole rule.
The rule has been included in this Prayer Book for both the monks and the diligent and advanced in spiritual life believers in order for them to have it nearby for the occasions when they don&#8217;t have the time to read The Horologion.

The Rule of the Twelve Psalms



After the Midnight Office, without the kathisma, and after the six psalms, we sing: &#8220;God is the Lord&#8221; and the troparions, following the rule. Then &#8220;O come let us worship&#8221; (3 times) and then:

Psalm 26
Psalm 31
Psalm 56

Holy God&#8230; And after &#8220;Our Father&#8230;&#8221;:

Troparia, tone 1

Make haste to open Your fatherly arms
Unto me who have wasted my life like the prodigal.
Despise not a heart now grown poor
O Savior Who has before Your eyes
The boundless riches of Your mercies.
For unto You, O Lord, in compunction do I cry:
O Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before You.

Glory&#8230;

When you, o God, shall come to earth with glory,
All things shall tremble,
And the river of fire shall flow before your judgment seat,
The books shall be opened and the hidden things disclosed;
Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire
And make me worthy to stand at your right hand, righteous judge!

Both now&#8230;

We all know you as Mother of God, and even after giving birth you appeared to us, who eagerly seek refuge in your goodness, as true virgin: For we sinners have you as protectress, and in temptations find salvation in you, the only blameless one.

Lord, have mercy! (30 times)
O come let us worship&#8230; (3 times)

Psalm 33
Psalm 38
Psalm 40

Holy God&#8230; And after &#8220;Our Father&#8230;&#8221;:

Troparia, tone 4

Visit my humble soul, Lord, that has squandered its whole life in sins; receive me as you did the harlot and save me.

Glory&#8230;

O Lord, I have spent all my life in shame with the harlots, the villain. I cry like the prodigal: Heavenly Father, I have mistaken, cleanse me and save me and don&#8217;t cast me away, the one who has gone apart himself from You, and because of the fruitless things I have gone poor.

Both now&#8230;

To the Theotokos, let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall prostrate in repentance, calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, come and help us. Have compassion upon us; hasten, for we are lost in a throng of transgressions; do not turn your servants away with empty hands, for you alone are our only hope.

Lord, have mercy! (30 times)
O come let us worship&#8230; (3 times)

Psalm 69
Psalm 70
Psalm 76

Holy God&#8230; And after &#8220;Our Father&#8230;&#8221;:

Troparia, tone 6

I think about the fearsome day and I cry because of my evil deeds, how will I answer to the One Emperor without death? And with how much boldness shall I look at the Judge? Merciful Father, One born Son and Holy Spirit, have mercy on me.

Glory&#8230;

In the valley of sorrow, in the place that you have set, when you will sit for the right judgment, O Merciful One, don&#8217;t show the things I have kept hidden and don&#8217;t put me to shame in front of the angels; but spare me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Both now&#8230;

Open unto us the doors of mercy, O blessed Theotokos, that we -who place our trust in you - may not perish, but that through you we may be delivered from misfortune, for you are the salvation of Christians.

Lord, have mercy! (40 times)
O come let us worship&#8230; (3 times)

Psalm 101
The Prayer of King Manasseh

The Prayer of Saint Evstratios:

Magnifying I magnify You, O Lord, for You have looked upon my humility and have not enclosed me in the hands of enemies, but have saved my soul out of necessities. And now, O Master, let Your hand shelter me and Your mercy come upon me, for my soul is troubled and in sore distress at its departure from this wretched and defiled body of mine, lest the counsel of the adversary come upon it and hinder it because of the sins I knowingly or unknowingly committed in this life. Be gracious to me, O Master, and let my soul not see the dark infernal faces of the wicked demons, but let Your radiant and luminous Angels receive it. Give glory to Your holy name, and by Your power lead me up to Your divine tribunal. As I am being judged, may the hand of the prince of this world not seize me, to drag me, the sinner, down into the deep of Hades. But, You, stand beside me, and be to me both savior and helper. Lord, have mercy on my soul which has been defiled by the passions of this life, and accept it cleansed by means of repentance and confession; for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy God&#8230;. Our Father&#8230;

Troparia, tone 8

Look at my humbleness with merciful eyes, O Lord, because my life is spent too slowly and I am not saved by the deeds I&#8217;ve done. For this I pray to You: look at my humbleness with merciful eyes, O Lord, and save me.

Glory&#8230;

My time will soon be over and your fearsome throne is being prepared; my life passes away, the judgment awaits me, terrifying me with the punishment of the fire and the inextinguishable flame. Give the rain of tears and extinguish it&#8217;s power, as you want to save all the people.

Both now&#8230;

You, who have been born for us from a Virgin and endured crucifixion, O Kind One, You have trampled down death by death and You, like a God, have shown the Resurrection; do not overlook the ones you have saved with your hand, show to us you love for humans, O Merciful One, greet the Theotokos, who prays for us and, Savior, save your hopeless people.

Psalm 50

It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos,
ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the Cherubim,
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim,
without defilement you gave birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify you!

Glory&#8230; Both now&#8230;
Lord, have mercy (3 times)

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us for the prayers of the Holy Fathers.​

Notes:
* Translated from Romanian from "Prayer Book For Every Christian" - The Metropolitan Publishing Center of Ungrovlahia - Bucharest, 1951.
* I have searched for the translation of the troparia on the internet. I have translated myself the ones with a different color. You are welcome to correct the poor English and maybe show it to someone from the Orthodox clergy. Forgive me for the errors in the translation.
* Please don't pray this unless you have the blessing of your spiritual father and you have shown this translation to him first.
* I have searched over the internet for this rule in both English and Romanian, but I couldn't find it.
* If you find this useful, please pray for Marius, the sinner.

 

[Andrew21091]

Thank you so much Marius for doing this. Greatly appreciated.