Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feasts of the Resurrection of the Lord and the Holy Great-Martyr Panteleimon!

Throughout the last six weeks we have discussed separately the psalms that make up the ‘Six Psalms.’ Today it behooves us to focus our attention on this series of psalms as one whole unit, because we listen to them every week as one liturgical unit. According to the opinion of one historian of the Liturgy, the beginnings of the ‘Six Psalms’ are found in the 4th century. The antiquity and immutability of this composition must compel us to consider it especially closely.

The Typikon (the book which lays out in detail the liturgical rubrics) also devotes much attention to these psalms. The liturgical rubrics of the Church indicate that the rector should read the ‘Six Psalms’, that they should be read clearly, calmly, and not quickly, that while they are read there is to be complete darkness in church, that those in attendance stand with complete stillness, that they refrain from all talking and even whispering, that they not cough or blow their noses. The making of the sign of the cross and prostrations or bows are also forbidden during the reading of these psalms so as to preserve complete stillness. The liturgical rubrics go so far as to specify that those who are unable to follow these directions, that is, the elderly or those who have a cold, must exit the church during the reading of the ‘Six Psalms’ so as not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. (If you are interested, you can read these rules yourselves in the short Russian article ‘On the Six Psalms’ by the Holy Priest-Martyr Athanasius, a wonderful 20th century hymnographer and specialist on Liturgics, here:https://azbyka.org/otechnik/Afanasij_Saharov/slavy-bozhija-revnitel-zhi…). In other words, everything is strictly regulated so as to better understand the essence of what is being read.

This raises the question, why do the rubrics of the Church lay out such detailed and strict rules about the ‘Six Psalms?’ The subject matter of the psalms gives an answer to this question. As we mentioned in our past sermons, all of these psalms save the 102nd were composed at very difficult moments and reflect the deeply sorrowful experiences of King David. Even the joyful and hopeful 102nd psalm is not without a hint of sorrow, for in it we read the following words: “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” Psalms 37 and 87 are extremely sorrowful; in them, hope for God’s help is practically not expressed. Although in the other psalms we hear about God’s mercy, a sad undertone is nonetheless present. This melancholy note to a certain degree reflects the condition of mankind. Of course, there are very joyful and wonderful moments in our lives, but they are mixed in with sadness, be it from illness, death, failures in our personal lives, or perhaps even worse, problems in the lives of our children, war, etc. The most awful catastrophe is a spiritual one, that is, sin and its consequences. Even the happiest person will not free himself from this on his own. This sorrow on account of sin was most acutely felt in the Old Testament, before our Saviour came down to earth.

The importance of the ‘Six Psalms’ is tied up in this. On the one hand, the ‘Six Psalms’ reflect that spiritual reality which existed before the incarnation of the Son of God. When we hear in these psalms the sorrowful groans of King David, as well as his hope in salvation, it seems to me that we can remember that dark spiritual reality that existed before Christ, when sin and death truly enslaved the human race and when the only hope was a future one, when God through His wisdom was to somehow free mankind from its spiritual helplessness. Such heavy thoughts about the distant past should lead us to different, brighter thoughts, for we do not live in the Old but in the New Testament. We have deep faith that our Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate God, opened for us the door to a radiant and joyful future. On the other hand, we can remember our personal sinfulness and helplessness in the battle with sins and passions. Who amongst us can say that they were able to completely defeat this or that passion on their own? Probably no one. Remembering this should lead us to feel sorrow. The ‘Six Psalms’ can beautifully express the sorrow for our personal sinfulness and, at the same time, remind us that our only hope for salvation is our loving, patient, and merciful God.

Let us, Brothers and Sisters, not neglect those prayers, particularly the ‘Six Psalms,’ that the Church offers us as healing medicine for our souls which are crippled by sin. Come to the All-Night Vigil more often and delve into the essence of what is read.

priest Alexis