Prayer Rope

[Mary+Immaculate<3]

Okay, so I don't know much about it, but I'm really interested in the (correct me if I'm wrong) Byzantine Catholic prayer rope. From what I've read, its origin is similar to that of the Rosary (hermits in the early days of Christianity wanted a way of having the psalms, but didn't have the volume or memory to recite them every day). The numbers of prayers very slightly, as does the prayer (it is the Jesus prayer, not the Hail Mary). Please if you are an Eastern Catholic, or know about and/or recite using prayer ropes, please tell me more! Being that I do a Rosary each day (which I find immensely beneficial), this sounds like a similarly beneficial prayer method. Also, where would I get prayer ropes if I decided to recite it? Or could I make them? (I'm relatively adept at string crafts). Anyhow, thanks in advance Pham!

[Groo the Wanderer]

http://www.chotki.com/

 

http://www.wattfamily.org/prayerope.html

[GeorgiiMichael]

Both of those sites that Groo linked to are great. I'm planning on buying a prayer rope from Chotki in the future. I also taught myself to tie the prayer rope knot, and I've become pretty adept at tying it, so if you're good with rope crafts, you could certainly learn to tie one yourself. Like that website says, it's much easier to use rattail cord. Other woven cords work as well, but don't try spun or wound cords, it just doesn't work.  You'll only frustrate yourself if you try using them.

 

The story behind the knot is really cool too. The tradition is that St. Anthony the Great was being attacked by demons at night, and they were untying the knots in his prayer rope, when one night, he received a vision of the Theotokos and she taught him the knot that now is used in prayer ropes. It has 7 little crosses in it, and is extremely complex, both of these factors made it impossible for the demons to untie the knots any longer, and St. Anthony the Great then went  on and taught the knot to his brother monks.

[Anastasia13]

Groo gave good links. Thank you for the story, GeorgiiMichael.

 

Chochki is the Russian work for these prayer ropes.  I got a 33 knot rope from a friend who goes to a local Antiochian church that game them out for free.  I think this is more common in the Eastern European of the Eastern Catholic churches and not as common in some Middle Eastern Eastern Catholic churches.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Light and Truth

[Mary+Immaculate<3]

This is so cool, I know this know thing might take me a while to learn, but it looks fabulous! It is also good because I have 100% wool yarn in 3 different colors (red, black, and golden-yellow), from making my day's Christmas gift. Although my schedule is insane right now, once I catch up I should be able to sit down some time to figure it out.

[GeorgiiMichael]

This is so cool, I know this know thing might take me a while to learn, but it looks fabulous! It is also good because I have 100% wool yarn in 3 different colors (red, black, and golden-yellow), from making my day's Christmas gift. Although my schedule is insane right now, once I catch up I should be able to sit down some time to figure it out.

 

I don't suggest trying to learn the knot with your yarn. I got extremely frustrated when trying to use yarn as I was learning. Now that I've mastered the knot, I've yet to re-try using  yarn, because of the difficulties that I had. I feel like the wool cord that is used in traditional chotki isn't just regular yarn, but I don't know for sure.

[Starets]

I have used Prayer Ropes for about 5 or 6 years now.  Both of mine have 100 knots and have beads after every 10th knot. What I do is pray the Jesus Prayer on the knots and on the beads I pray the Anima Christ prayer.

[BigJon16]

This looks really interesting. This might sound like a stupid question, but can those within the Latin/Roman Rite use it? 

[GeorgiiMichael]

This looks really interesting. This might sound like a stupid question, but can those within the Latin/Roman Rite use it? 

 

It's a devotion of the faithful. While it's mostly found in Eastern Rites, it's perfectly licit to use within the Roman and other Western Rites. Just like how the Rosary is found in the West, but it would be perfectly fine for an Eastern Christian to pray.

[PhuturePriest]

It's a devotion of the faithful. While it's mostly found in Eastern Rites, it's perfectly licit to use within the Roman and other Western Rites. Just like how the Rosary is found in the West, but it would be perfectly fine for an Eastern Christian to pray.

 

Another stupid question: Is there a difference between the Roman and Latin Rite? I sometimes see a distinction, but I always assumed they were the same (Rome + Latin = Roman).

[GeorgiiMichael]

Another stupid question: Is there a difference between the Roman and Latin Rite? I sometimes see a distinction, but I always assumed they were the same (Rome + Latin = Roman).

 

As far as I know, they're two different words for the same Rite. But I'm no expert on Rites within the Church, so I might be wrong.

[Nihil Obstat]

There is a subtle difference in usage, but one which I am not qualified to elucidate. Also it usually leads to debates, if Apo is around. :)