Twelve Psalms Throughout Egypt

So, as we said, throughout the whole of Egypt and the Thebaid the number of psalms is fixed at twelve, both at the evening office and at the night office. At the close two readings follow, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New. This arrangement was fixed long ago and has continued unbroken to the present day, through so many ages, in all the monasteries of those districts. For it is said that it was no appointment of human invention, but was brought down from heaven to the fathers by the ministry of an angel. [a]