In order to understand how to use the rosary in Orthodoxy, it would be good to know what a rosary is, why and to whom they are needed, how long they have been used. Important questions: do you need the blessing of the confessor to use the rosary in prayers, what kind of rosary is better to buy and how to keep them. And it’s just interesting to know in which religions rosaries are used, what they are or were, whether it is allowed to make them with your own hands. Let's try to answer these questions in this article.
What is a rosary?
The word "rosary" is derived from the Old Russian "count", "read". Outwardly, they look like this: a cord closed in a ring, on which objects (beads), plates or knots are strung. They are used in many beliefs: in Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism from the 2nd millennium BC. The oldest rosary found in India.
Into Christianity theycame in the 4th century, put into practice by St. Pachomius. The rosary is of great importance in monasticism; they are handed to the monk at the tonsure, calling them the "spiritual sword." The monks do not part with the rosary, which helps them to strengthen the connection of the soul with the Lord.
Why do Christians need a rosary?
The purpose of the rosary is approximately the same in all religions of the world. Something like:
- Repeatedly repeated prayer is a symbol of faith, a person's appeal to God, to saints and angels, expressed in petition, thanksgiving and doxology. Often prayer is accompanied by bows or other ritual actions. Thanks to the simplest counting device, which is the rosary, a believer can count the prayers or actions performed by sorting through the beads.
- Turning to the Lord requires maximum concentration and focus from the believer. The rosary helps to gather and not be distracted from prayer.
- The rosary, stored in an easily accessible place, on the wrist, belt, in a case, falling on the eyes, is a reminder of prayer. The lace connected in a ring symbolizes continuous prayer that serves to purify the soul.
- The use of a rosary allows you to maintain a certain rhythm by touching the beads. In some ritual activities, this is important.
- The rosary in religion is endowed with symbolic meanings. In Orthodoxy, a rosary is a ladder from earth to heaven; beads are stones against which sinful thoughts are broken; the circle of the rosary is the fortress walls that protect a person. The rosary is a spiritual journey that never ends.
- Each denomination has its own distinctive rosarysigns that allow to draw conclusions about the belonging of their owner to any religion or the degree of his training. There are such features in Orthodoxy. At present, only monks should use the rosary as an obligatory attribute. Laity, who were previously required to pray with a rosary in their hands, are now free from this, and rarely use this accessory.
Types of Orthodox rosaries
In Orthodoxy, several variants of the rosary were used. Over time, new ones were added to them, and some became obsolete and became a thing of the past. Orthodox rosaries can be distinguished in appearance from rosaries of other faiths. For example, the Rosary beads used in Catholicism have a different number of grains and their division into groups.
Orthodox rosary "lestovka" is one of the earliest options, used in pre-schismatic Russia. Later they were forced out of use by other types, but remained in the use of the Old Believers. Lestovka, which means a ladder, a rosary and resemble it in their appearance. Steps are fixed on it along the length, that is, loops, which are called bobs. They are located and divided in a certain system. Rolls of paper with different prayers are laid inside the beans. The edges of the ladders are connected and sewn up with triangles, lapostniks or petals. Creed - prayer in different services can have different purposes. That is why different ladders were made: festive, everyday, wedding, funeral, and so on. Now genuine ladders can be seen extremely rarely: onphotographs, from the Old Believers or in museums. In Orthodoxy, they were once replaced by ropes.
Vervitsa is a traditional type of knotted rosary. It got its name from the word "rope", since at first it did not close into a ring, but looked like a belt with knots tied on it. A knitted rope at the junction of the edges ends with a brush or a cross. It is this type that can most often be seen among Orthodox monks or parishioners. The very name "string" has almost gone out of use, replaced by the general concept of "rosary".
How many beads can a rosary have?
In the classic Orthodox rosary, the number of beads can be dialed based on two principles. In the first case, there are 33 of them, which indicates the amount of the earthly age of Christ. The most popular are the ropes with the number of beads, a multiple of ten. In the monastic "spiritual sword", the number of beads is most often 100, but it can reach a thousand.
Each dozen beads are divided by a separator different from the main set. It can be a bead of a different size or shape, or another object that will stand out from the general row by touch.
How to use the rosary in Orthodoxy?
You can read any prayers on the rosary. The reading of the prayer is accompanied by the countdown of one bead after its completion.
For example, a daily appeal to the Lord is recommended to be carried out as follows: the main prayer is read ten times, after each time the fingers move on the rosary one bead sandwiched between the thumb and forefinger. after the tenth timethe turn comes to the separator, which means it's time to read the prayer to the Virgin.
In prayer, do not forget to make the sign of the cross, the rosary can also help with this. At the end of the thread, "Our Father" is read. You can combine the reading of prayers, based on each specific case.
How long should prayer last?
Next question: “How long to pray with a rosary in Orthodoxy, how to make sure that prayer is enough?” Everyone determines the duration of prayer for himself. For the laity, there are no instructions in this regard. The main thing in turning to God is sincerity, and over time, you can decide experimentally.
Spend morning and evening prayer according to the needs of the soul, noticing for yourself how much time has passed by the clock, and how many times you have passed the circle of the rosary. The comparison of these initial data will determine the further duration of your prayer.
What is the difference between purchased and self-made rosaries?
The rosary bought in the church shop is a consecrated item, made in accordance with all the rules applicable to the Orthodox rosary. As a result, needlewomen will have a secular product (before it is consecrated in the temple). On the other hand, a thing made according to your taste, vision, comfortable just for your fingers, is more pleasant to hold.
As grains (beads), you can use knots on a rope and other items that are pleasant for you. Most often round in shapeballs of various materials. In ancient times, even dried berries were the first grains.
Making a rosary with your own hands
- You should decide on the size of your rosary. The smallest, which are worn on the finger, have ten beads. Thirty-three is the age of Christ. Fifty knots or beads symbolize Pentecost. Seventy grains - a reminder of the seventy apostles. A rosary of one hundred beads is used by monks.
- Prepare the required number of beads of the same size. For every nine pieces, you need one separator - a bead of a larger or smaller size. A cord is also required.
- The rosary is assembled in a simple sequence: each bead is fixed on both sides with knots, and the assembled thread is connected into a ring and fixed with a brush or a cross.
Choosing beads
Having understood how to use the rosary in Orthodoxy, it remains only to pick up such a rosary that will be convenient and pleasant to hold in your hand for a long time. This is a very personal item, it should evoke only positive emotions. You need to hold the rope in your hands, sorting through the grains, listen to your feelings.
It is most pleasant to hold a wooden product in your hands, which is why Orthodox rosaries are most often made from this material. The rosary quickly gains the energy of its owner, so only new products are suitable as a gift. The exception is the gift of a mentor to his student.
