How to pray on this?

[The Nikonian]

 

[~Anastasia~]

View attachment 248153

Hello and welcome to CF and to TAW!

That is often called a prayer rope or chotki or kombuskini. It looks a little different in arrangement from my long one, but they come in all kinds of configurations.

Most often they are used for the Jesus Prayer. One prayer for each regular knot/bead, and sometimes a different prayer or just counting by the spacer beads. But this is something that you should be in contact with a priest or spiritual advisor about. A few repetitions of the Jesus prayer without any effort to go into any technique is usually approved for anyone, but in order to keep you safe spiritually, ongoing and regular oversight is definitely needed to do more than that. There are some common pitfalls and once a person falls into them, they can be very hard to recover from.

To say it basically - laypeople shouldn't attempt the prayers of monks without the protection and knowledge the monks would have.

Again, welcome to CF and to TAW! We are very glad to have you with us!

 

[ArmyMatt]

ask your spiritual father, then do what he says. he will hopefully tell you how to incorporate a prayer rope into your prayer rule.

 

[nutroll]

'round and 'round you go. Where you stop, no one knows! Or what others said...

 

[The Nikonian]

I forgot to add:


How would you pray on this Orthodox Rosary?

it seems to be exactly like a Catholic rosary But with a Orthodox cross and a icon were the medallion would be

 

[The Nikonian]

I forgot to add:


How would you pray on this Orthodox Rosary?

it seems to be exactly like a Catholic rosary But with a Orthodox cross and a icon were the medallion would be

 

[ArmyMatt]

I forgot to add:


How would you pray on this Orthodox Rosary?

it seems to be exactly like a Catholic rosary But with a Orthodox cross and a icon were the medallion would be

with each knot, you say, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

 

[~Anastasia~]

I forgot to add:


How would you pray on this Orthodox Rosary?

it seems to be exactly like a Catholic rosary But with a Orthodox cross and a icon were the medallion would be

That's actually how it's different from mine. There is no icon/medallion. I don't normally see one on a prayer rope. But it's no big deal either way. A prayer rope is just a tool to aid with prayer.

 

[The Nikonian]

That's actually how it's different from mine. There is no icon/medallion. I don't normally see one on a prayer rope. But it's no big deal either way. A prayer rope is just a tool to aid with prayer.

yes Because this is not a "Chotki" but rather a Roman Catholic rosary with Orthodox Cross and small Icon rather then medallion

 

[Spherical]

As a Catholic, I love using those prayer ropes. There is just something in the slow repetition of the Jesus Prayer; I always have it on my night stand, ready to pray it before going to sleep.

Just a question for my Orthodox brothers: do you also use it to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother (like "Holy Mary, pray for us"), or do you only use it in ejaculatory prayers to Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Just a question for my Orthodox brothers: do you also use it to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother (like "Holy Mary, pray for us"), or do you only use it in ejaculatory prayers to Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit?

it's not as common but you can. usually, "Most Holy Theotokos, save us!" or "Holy Father/Mother (name), pray to God for me!" for a saint.

 

[~Anastasia~]

yes Because this is not a "Chotki" but rather a Roman Catholic rosary with Orthodox Cross and small Icon rather then medallion

It's also apparently beads instead of knots? Though I've seen a few with beads for sale. (My SF directed me to use knotted ones.)

So it's basically some kind of merging of Catholic and Orthodox styles?

My main concern has been the intervals (which vary and which people use different ways). One I requested with no interval and no decoration, since it distracts me sometimes.

 

[ArmyMatt]

It's also apparently beads instead of knots? Though I've seen a few with beads for sale. (My SF directed me to use knotted ones.)

So it's basically some kind of merging of Catholic and Orthodox styles?

My main concern has been the intervals (which vary and which people use different ways). One I requested with no interval and no decoration, since it distracts me sometimes.

I had a set of Orthodox prayer beads when I went to Afghanistan. they were more practical than a knotted rope, and I used them the same as a prayer rope. one of the monks at St Tikhon's uses beads, so provided you use it properly, it should not be an issue. although you are right to avoid anything that distracts in prayer.

 

[Anhelyna]

My Ukrainian Chotkis have always been wooden beads - 3 sets of 10 with a larger slightly bigger bead between each set - but no other beads between them . Where they joined there was 1 of the bigger beads [ starting and ending a set of 10 ] and then from that single bead was a small plain cross. Nothing else at all. A total of 33 beads used.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I had a set of Orthodox prayer beads when I went to Afghanistan. they were more practical than a knotted rope, and I used them the same as a prayer rope. one of the monks at St Tikhon's uses beads, so provided you use it properly, it should not be an issue. although you are right to avoid anything that distracts in prayer.

When I first started I wanted to use beads because I've made beaded jewelry and could easily make up any kind of prayer rope I wanted for minimal cost. I made one, and then mentioned to my SF. He said in no uncertain terms - No! He was willing to buy a traditional knotted one for me, but a friend kindly made me one.

I had the one I'd made hung in my car for a day or two. This never happened any other time with anything I'd made like that, but the cording just burst on that one and beads flew everywhere. There are probably still a few rolling around in the recesses of my car. Guess there was no way I was going to use that prayer rope if I ever got it in my mind to do so.

 

[RobNJ]

This monastery has a large selection of prayer ropes, including the 50 bead olive wood one, I use (I like the option of being able to get larger sized beads... my clumsy fingers appreciate that! ).
About Our Prayer Ropes

 

[~Anastasia~]

This monastery has a large selection of prayer ropes, including the 50 bead olive wood one, I use (I like the option of being able to get larger sized beads... my clumsy fingers appreciate that! ).
About Our Prayer Ropes

That's where I like to order mine.

The sisters are so kind and happily accommodated my special orders at no extra charge even. They have some good books on Lives of Saints that were available last time I ordered for only a couple of dollars each too - worth checking that section as well.

 

[Anhelyna]

I like this comment from the link provided by Rob

<< Some of our customers who have lost some feeling in their fingers find the wooden beads much easier to distinguish, and the large beads are sometimes preferred by those with large hands.>>

I've damaged sensation in both hands - which is why I prefer either my little Lestovka or wooden beads

 

[RobNJ]

I like this comment from the link provided by Rob

<< Some of our customers who have lost some feeling in their fingers find the wooden beads much easier to distinguish, and the large beads are sometimes preferred by those with large hands.>>

I've damaged sensation in both hands - which is why I prefer either my little Lestovka or wooden beads

As you can see, my wood prayer rope has much better "definition" between the beads, than the knots, on the other. It's beads are also larger diameter, than I've found on a wool, or satin knot rope.



BTW... I DID risk life, and limb , for the third pic.... The cat wasn't happy being moved!

 

[Anhelyna]

Your 50/55 bead one is as my little 33bead ones were [ yes were - there's a long story how my last ones found new homes ] . I always found I could feel the start and finish of each bead - I couldn't with knots. This is also why I like my 'mini' Lestovka - I can feel each step on it