Lestovka

[Nick Moser]

A lestovka is a prayer band — a kind of rosary or vervitsa used throughout Russia in whilom times. A similar instrument existed in the days of Basil the Great. Today, the lestovka is widely used on a daily basis by old-believers. It is a plaited leather band (sometimes made of cloth) sewn into a loop. It signifies both a ladder (lestvitsa) to Heaven and the unceasing prayer of man; it facilitates the counting of prayers and bows, allowing one to concentrate on prayer.
Apart from the usual 109-step lestovka, one may come across a lestovka of 150 rungs. Such 150-step lestovkas are called, virgin-mother lestovkas. They are of later origin, made to imitate a catholic rosary; old-believers rarely use such prayer beads. The manufacture and art of decorating lestovkas had always been a popular trade among them, and lestovkas made in monasteries are preferred.

CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL SOURCE
​

 

[ArmyMatt]

very nice. St Seraphim of Sarov used one as well.

but FYI, I think that's a schismatic site. there are canonical Old Believers.

 

[Nick Moser]

very nice. St Seraphim of Sarov used one as well.

but FYI, I think that's a schismatic site. there are canonical Old Believers.

How many members do you think are still left? A few thousand? I hope many young people will become Old Believers

 

[AMM]

How many members do you think are still left? A few thousand? I hope many young people will become Old Believers

Isn’t most of the orthodox world besides (parts of) America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Old Calendar?

Is that different from old believers?

 

[Nick Moser]

Isn’t most of the orthodox world besides (parts of) America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Old Calendar?

Is that different from old believers?

Not sure about calendars but most of the different between Nikhon Church and Old Believers is liturgical

 

[ArmyMatt]

How many members do you think are still left? A few thousand? I hope many young people will become Old Believers

not that many relatively. I hope young people become canonically Orthodox, Old Believer or not.

 

[RobNJ]

Isn’t most of the orthodox world besides (parts of) America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Old Calendar?

Is that different from old believers?

Yes that's different.
I'm no expert, on the Old Believers, but from what I've read, the Old Believers split from their Canonical Orthodox jurisdiction, in the 1600's, making them schismatic. I believe this was long before the calendar became an issue. In the 1900's some Old Believer groups were welcomed back into legitimate canonical Orthodox jurisdictions. Some stayed apart, ergo, still schismatic.

Old Calendar/ Old CalendarIST is a different matter
There are legitimate canonical Orthodox jurisdictions that never adopted the New Calendar. Old CalendarISTS are groups that walked out on their legitimate canonical jurisdiction, and formed their own illegitimate non-canonical sects, using the calendar as an excuse to act like protestants, and say "we don't like this! We're forming our own church! Nyah, nyah!!"