A tone is not a psalm number. It is the mode in which that week's resurrection hymns are sung — the whole week's Vespers, Matins and Liturgy are set in one tone.

There are eight tones, and they change each week. The cycle opens with the first tone on Thomas Sunday after Pascha and returns to the first every eight weeks; Bright Week itself has no tone of its own. A new tone begins on Saturday evening, with the new church week.

The Psalter is divided into twenty kathismata and, by the usual rule, is read through once a week. Appointed for this day:

This is the usual rule. In Great Lent the Psalter is read twice a week, and the kathismata are divided differently.

Word of the day

Hear, all you lovers of money who are seized with the sickness of Judas. Hear, and beware of this evil passion. If he, who was with Christ and heard so many teachings from Him and had received the grace of working wonders, for all this, because he did not guard himself against that passion, fell into such a pit — what shall we do, ignorant as we are, who are ever nailed to this world?

— St John Chrysostom · #

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