Why read the Psalter for the dead?

First of all, let's define the meaning of this term. The Psalter is the Holy Scripture of the Psalms (in other words, the Divine Hymns). It is believed that they were recorded there by King David on the instigation of the Holy Spirit. Reading this book is aimed at attracting angels, for the eradication of sins. To read the Psalter for the departed is an Orthodox custom practiced on the body of the late monk, layman or deacon before his funeral and after burial. At the same time, the Gospel is read over the bodies of priests and bishops. The psalter for the deceased, which the priest reads, is a prayer for the departed soul, which is called to console the hearts of the grieving relatives and native people. Divine hymns are recited continuously until the burial of the deceased person and, as already mentioned, after the funeral. Pauses are made only during the requiems and liturgies. Let's talk about all this in more detail.

How to read the Psalter?

1. You need to do this with affection and heartbreak. Do not hurry. It is necessary to understand the texts read. It is believed that reading the Psalms directly by remembering people brings much more benefit than reading it by the priest. This suggests that living people are very fond of and remember the deceased, because they want to personally work hard in memory of him. Of course, this is their plus from God.
2. Since the Psalter is read by the deceased continuously, this procedure is performed by several people succeeding each other. By tradition, for this purpose invite those who are able to cope with this task. It is interesting that close people of the deceased person can distribute the reading of the Holy Book at home by the clock. Each of the contractors reads a certain kathism at home, remembering the names of their "colleagues" (those who took up this matter with him). This is necessary when there is no possibility to carry out the procedure directly over the body of the deceased.
3. The Psalter for the deceased is read standing. You can sit down, but only if necessary. The first and last prayers of the Holy Scripture are read only standing. It is necessary to look attentively at accentuations in words, as mistaken pronunciation will change or distort the meaning of a word or integral phrases, and this is already a sin!
4. Psalms are pronounced only monotonously and slightly singsong. No expression! The hymn whose hymns are read dispassionately is a Divine book, and the sinful feelings of mortals are unpleasant and unpleasant to the Lord, therefore the pronunciation of prayers with a theatrical tint equates a person to a demon!
5. The meaning of many of the prayers of the Psalter will not be clear to you. However, you do not need to be embarrassed and discouraged. It does not matter whether we understand them or not, the main thing is for demons and other evil spirits to absorb them! The essence of Divine hymns will be revealed to the person as he develops and grows up to his own level (if he so wishes).
6. As it was said above, reading the Holy Scripture (or the Gospel for deacons) near the coffin should not be interrupted. The exception is the funeral procedure.
7. After the funeral the reading of the Psalter must be continued until the fortieth day. This procedure ends with a special prayer, published at the very end of the "Canon of the Exodus of the Soul from the Body."