why does the chotki need to be hidden?

[Bessie]

When I attend Quaker meeting with my hubman I bring my prayer rope, Orthodox study Bible, and usually a book of some spiritual value. I carry the rope in my pocket, quietly take it out once meeting has begun, and then quietly put it back in my pocket as meeting ends. I'm sure people have noticed it, but nobody has asked me about it.

Most Quaker meetings I've attended have had a pretty accepting attitude especially when it comes to prayer aids for contemplation and silence. I doubt you'll get any big negative reactions about the rope there.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yeah, I'm honestly not sure if this is right, but I tend to wear a small knot size 33 knot one on my wrist 99% of the time, both you keep it readily available for prayer and to remind myself to pray... but especially in secular society I don't think anyone will know what it is. However, in church, I'm likely to remove it because other Orthodox Christians know what it is and I don't want to show it off. Plus I rarely need a reminder to pray at church itself. Sometimes I forget to remove it and I don't think it's a huge deal, but I do make an effort.

I can understand that.

I felt self-conscious about wearing mine to Church (as you said, people around town won't have any idea what it is anyway) ... but then I realized a huge percentage of people have them in some form, and quite a few wear the bracelet kind as I do, so I don't let it bother me. I put it under a sleeve or something when I remove it to use during the service though.

It's gotten where I feel naked without it, lol. I only take it off when it would get wet - showering, swimming, or doing lots of washing. Several months ago I lost it for a few days ...

I'm thinking of ordering one or two more just like it (wool, no beads) just in case anything happens to it again.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I understand the confusion about images ... they used to come to me very readily as a Protestant, and it was considered a good thing. But, well, it did cause me some problems, and having read about how prelest happens, I understand better why that can happen, and I'm thankful for teaching now to strongly resist it. When I am weak and can't manage, I open my eyes and stare at an icon, and that helps. The visual images in the mind do interact with the intellect, but it is the heart that we really want to engage anyway, and it needs no images. It doesn't even really need words, it seems ...

 

[AMM]

I understand the confusion about images ... they used to come to me very readily as a Protestant, and it was considered a good thing. But, well, it did cause me some problems, and having read about how prelest happens, I understand better why that can happen, and I'm thankful for teaching now to strongly resist it.

Would you mind elaborating on this a bit?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Would you mind elaborating on this a bit?

Well, in a full-blown situation of prelest, in every case I can remember, the person who was deluded saw a manifestation at some point. And these always involved mistaking something that was not - for a Holy angel, or a Saint, or even Christ Himself.

There are steps along the way. But visual impressions (whether from inside the mind or outside) involving Christ, holy angels, or Saints, are strongly associated with the descent into prelest. I am pretty sure this is the reason we are taught to reject them.

Rather than me giving any more details, if you're truly interested, I can find websites with anecdotal stories. But it is rather strange reading.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Praying in public nowadays is almost akin to doing missionary work. People see you do it and ask questions. I've had a lot of people notice our family praying and they tell me how it encouraged them to see it.

Not easy being a Jedi after the fall of the old Republic...

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well, in a full-blown situation of prelest, in every case I can remember, the person who was deluded saw a manifestation at some point. And these always involved mistaking something that was not - for a Holy angel, or a Saint, or even Christ Himself.

There are steps along the way. But visual impressions (whether from inside the mind or outside) involving Christ, holy angels, or Saints, are strongly associated with the descent into prelest. I am pretty sure this is the reason we are taught to reject them.

Rather than me giving any more details, if you're truly interested, I can find websites with anecdotal stories. But it is rather strange reading.

exactly, the enemy can come disguised as an angel of light.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Praying in public nowadays is almost akin to doing missionary work. People see you do it and ask questions. I've had a lot of people notice our family praying and they tell me how it encouraged them to see it.

Not easy being a Jedi after the fall of the old Republic...

yeah, I have had a few come up to me when I have been in a public place in my cassock. especially since we Cross ourselves differently than the West. good point in that it can be an evangelistic witness if we do it right

 

[~Anastasia~]

yeah, I have had a few come up to me when I have been in a public place in my cassock. especially since we Cross ourselves differently than the West. good point in that it can be an evangelistic witness if we do it right

Just wait until they see you out with your wife and kids.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Just wait until they see you out with your wife and kids.

yeah, there is a Greek priest near a Bookstore I like to go to, and he always throws folks for a loop when he talks about Presbytera

 

[AMM]

Well, in a full-blown situation of prelest, in every case I can remember, the person who was deluded saw a manifestation at some point. And these always involved mistaking something that was not - for a Holy angel, or a Saint, or even Christ Himself.

There are steps along the way. But visual impressions (whether from inside the mind or outside) involving Christ, holy angels, or Saints, are strongly associated with the descent into prelest. I am pretty sure this is the reason we are taught to reject them.

Rather than me giving any more details, if you're truly interested, I can find websites with anecdotal stories. But it is rather strange reading.

Huh, that's interesting. I'm very busy as of late and probably should not add yet another thing to read about and research to my plate, but thank you for the offer. I'll just remember to stick with my icons