Eastern_Christianity Psalter

the mudil psalter, oldest complete psalter in coptic language (coptic museum, egypt, coptic cairo).

non-illuminated psalters written in coptic include of earliest surviving codices (bound books) altogether; earliest coptic psalter predates earliest western (irish) 1 more century. mudil psalter, oldest complete coptic psalter, dates 5th century. found in al-mudil coptic cemetery in small town near beni suef, egypt. codex in grave of young girl, open, head resting on it. scholar john gee has argued represents cultural continuation of ancient egyptian tradition of placing book of dead in tombs , sarcophagi.

the pahlavi psalter fragment of middle persian translation of syriac version of book of psalms, dated 6th or 7th century. in eastern christianity (eastern orthodox, , in modern times byzantine catholic), book of psalms liturgical purposes divided 20 kathismata or sittings , reading @ vespers , matins. kathisma means sitting, since people sit during reading of psalms. each kathisma divided 3 stases, stasis, stand, because each stasis ends glory father…, @ stands. reading of kathismata arranged entire psalter read through in course of week (during great lent read through twice in week). during bright week (easter week) there no reading psalms. orthodox psalters contain biblical canticles, read @ canon of matins during great lent.

the established orthodox tradition of christian burial has included reading psalms in church throughout vigil, deceased remains night before funeral (a reflection of vigil of holy friday). orthodox psalters contain special prayers departed purpose. while full tradition showing signs of diminishing in practice, psalter still used during wake.