The meaning of the rosary with a cross. A short rosary prayer. How to read the rosary with the rosary
Beads- these are beads strung on a thread or knots imposed on a dense thread, often connected in a ring. By sorting through these beads (knots), it is easier for a person to keep his mind focused on prayer, not to succumb to drowsiness and not to go astray in counting prayers when they are read according to certain rules. Word "beads" comes from the old Russian verb "honour", i.e. read, count. An Orthodox person prays with a rosary, counting the number of Jesus prayers read.
Where did the rosary come from?
Since ancient times, it has been noted that during the repeated utterance of the same prayer, a person should occupy his body with some kind of mechanical activity so that mental stress does not arise. The ancient monks were engaged in some kind of needlework during prayer, sometimes people, while saying a prayer, shifted pebbles from side to side, knitted knots, strung seeds, shells, grains. Subsequently, the rosary was invented, that is, a rope with knots. Rosaries can be found in almost all religions of the world.
It is believed that in Orthodox tradition the first to use the rosary for prayer were the great fathers of the Church of the 4th century, such as the venerable Anthony the Great, Pachomius the Great and Saint Basil the Great.
Can I pray the rosary?
Many people think that the rosary is an attribute only of monks. Indeed, during the tonsure they are given to the monk like a “spiritual sword”, as an instrument in the fight against passions. But a layman can also pray with a rosary, having received the blessing of a priest for this.
Wearing a rosary reminds a person of the need for "continuous prayer," as the gospel says. After all, often in the worldly bustle we forget to pray during the day, and the rosary on the wrist reminds us of this.
What were the rosaries before?
It is believed that it was he who invented the so-called rope(from Old Church Slavonic "rope") - a rosary, which was a rope of tied knots that was not connected into a ring. These ancient rosaries served as a prototype for the modern wicker rosaries used in our time.
In Russia, the rope turned into lestovka(from Old Russian "ladder") - a leather ribbon in the form of a ladder. Inside the ribbon, they usually sewed up a text with the Jesus Prayer. The shape of such a rosary is deeply symbolic, it means a ladder to heaven, along which prayer books mentally ascended to the Lord.
How to pray with the rosary?
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wooden rosary |
Ours come in different sizes and types, but are always connected in a ring. Their main characteristics: the number of beads is usually a multiple of 10. Most often it is 100, 50, 30, but sometimes 33 (according to the number of earthly years of Jesus Christ). After ten beads (or knots) - a separating bead, and in one place instead of a separating bead - a cross. Prayer begins from this cross, and here it ends, having passed the circle.
On the rosary, you can read different prayers. But usually, while sorting through the beads, Orthodox people read the Jesus Prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner (sinner)" or its shortened version "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner (sinner)".
Thus, moving in a circle, a person offers his prayer to God, approaches spiritual joy, improving and purifying himself. The circle is a symbol of infinity, and the rosary is a symbol of a person's spiritual path, which never ends.
India is considered to be the ancestor of the modern rosary. Even in ancient times, believers who could not count helped themselves different ways: they shifted nuts or pebbles from one pile to another, knitted knots on ropes and leather belts, strung shells, seeds, bones or sticks on laces.
This convenient device has become widespread in almost all religious movements, and Orthodoxy was no exception.
Why do Orthodox Christians need a rosary
The main function of the rosary is to count a certain number of prayers that a Christian says. Prayer must be offered sincerely, with a pure heart, without being distracted by extraneous noises and actions. The rosary perfectly helps to focus precisely on the sacred words, without being distracted by counting prayers already said.
Another function is a reminder that the believer must constantly create a prayer shield, cleansing his soul and asking for mercy and forgiveness from God. Many Christians forget to pray during the day, only praying in the morning or evening. If you wear a rosary with you on your wrist, they will remind you of praying during the day.
Why else might they be useful?
The rosary helps to relax and calm down, focusing only on prayer, clearing the mind of worldly thoughts and worries. Touching smooth beads with fingertips, you can relieve a headache, get rid of anger and aggression, learn patience and repentance.
Rosary in the Orthodox religion - types
The Orthodox Church gives permission to use the rosary, which we are used to seeing most often. They are a thread with beads, the ends of which are closed in a circle. At the junction of the two ends of the thread - a cross topped with a tassel. In ancient times they used different types rosary, including the “lestovki”, on which the Old Believers prayed. Such rosaries were knitted from a rope, instead of beads they tied loops into which twisted sheets with written prayers were inserted. Believers saw in such a rosary a "stairway to heaven." In our time, such an accessory is considered obsolete, and is not used by the Orthodox.
Rosaries for Orthodox Christians are made from various natural materials, Christians do not strive for luxury, so wood is most often used to make them. The color and size of the beads does not matter, the main thing is that the rosary sits comfortably in the hand and the rules for the number of grains are observed.
Christian rosaries have a number of beads that is a multiple of 10, or, similar to the number of earthly years of Jesus. For the laity, a rosary is usually made from 10, 30, or, for those who have dedicated themselves to the service of the Lord, the number of grains can be up to 1000 units. The rosary is worn on the wrist, around the neck, or in a special cloth bag.
Each dozen beads is divided among themselves by a small cross, or a bead of a different size. The place where the thread joins into a circle is crowned with a large cross with a tassel. Constantly using the rosary, they absorb the mood and energy of their owner, so this accessory is considered personal. The exception is the ritual of passing or giving the rosary from teacher to student, as well as from father to son.
Rosary in Orthodoxy - how to use it correctly
It is important that the rosary fits comfortably in the hand and is not too heavy. Only the complete consonance of this accessory with the owner will allow the one who prays to completely relax and renounce the outside world.
Any prayers can be read with a rosary, the main thing is that they come from the heart and be sincere. For daily appeals to God, it is recommended to read a prayer to Jesus: "Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner." After reading 10 times, the fingers will feel a jumper on which you can read the prayer to the Mother of God: “ Holy Mother of God pray to God for us."
Every person who has embarked on the path of worshiping the Lord should know why the rosary is needed. This attribute is mandatory in every religion and is of great importance in spiritual practice. Outwardly, they look like a thread with beads closed into a ring. A variety of materials are used for manufacturing: wood, glass or amber. There are Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim rosaries. In Russia, Christian rosaries are common, in particular Orthodox ones. But not even all believers, not to mention the laity, know what they are for and how to sort out the rosary correctly.
Prayer is a common practice of any denomination. It is customary to say sacred words repeatedly, which requires the believer to concentrate and often count repetitions. Going through the rosary, it is easy to track the number of uttered petitions.
One more important point concerning the rosary - how many beads should be in them. Their number varies depending on the religious tradition. Christians most often use a rosary with 100 main beads and three additional ones. The latter are placed under the place where the cross is attached. Such rosaries are sometimes used as decorations, for example by Catholics: they are hung on the statues of saints. In Orthodoxy, the use of 33 beads is more common, symbolizing the number of years of life on Earth of Jesus Christ.
Species in Christianity
There are two types of beads, which are used in Christianity when praying.
The term "lestovka" is translated as "ladder" and symbolizes the ascent to the abode of the Almighty. This variety has the form not of beads, but of a leather belt, along the length of which wide loops (“steps”) are created. The location of the latter is based on an extraordinary system, and in their structure there is a paper roller, in which sacred prayers were written from ancient times. The ends of the ladders are sewn with "babblers"(fixed triangles). Today, this ancient attribute is not actually used.
Rosaries are called ordinary Catholic rosaries, which are also used in Orthodox circles. They are easier to use and concise in manufacturing than ladders. Their origin is connected with the name of the holy ascetic Dominic. Traditions claim that the Mother of God appeared to him, gave him a rosary and ordered him to say prayers for the victory of Western Christianity over heretics.
There is another version: the rosary comes from the tradition of daily reading of 150 sacred psalms . Modern classification these rosaries were found in the 14th century, and in the 19th they spread to the territory of the Russian Empire. The Monk Seraphim of Sarov, being a great ascetic and admirer of the Mother of God, introduced the practice of praying at the rosary into his own communities. This procedure was called the Mother of God rule. Saint Seraphim left the reading schemes, but replaced the church text with a similar Church Slavonic one.
Based on this, it can be argued that both the ladders and the rosaries are Orthodox rosaries.
How to use the attribute
Before starting regular practice, the believer is advised to receive a blessing from the clergy of the church. Prayer appeal is a simple ritual where one bead symbolizes one prayer.
Self-manufacturing
The attribute does not have to be acquired, it can be woven independently, with the blessing of the priest and prayer in the soul, consecrated in the church and used as purchased. There is a very simple scheme, how to weave an Orthodox rosary. For weaving, you will need a long thread and beads of different sizes and shapes. Next, they are strung on a thread according to the following principle:
- 9 small (5-10 mm) beads;
- 9 medium (10-15 mm) size;
- 1 small (5-10 mm) bead;
- the sequence of the largest (15–20 mm) bead ends.
There should be 30 beads in the chain, they need to be closed, passing the ends through the last bead, and stringing three more additional ones (oblong, small and medium). The ends of the thread are fixed, then cut off or cauterized, and a cross can also be attached to them. Instead of beads, you can weave knots, for example, from soutache tape. In the Orthodox rosary, the number of beads can be not only 33, but also another - a multiple of 10 or 12, or 103.
This religious accessory constantly reminds of the importance of saying a prayer service, which is a kind of shield from the harmful results of worldly life. Using the rosary, the mind of the supplicant more easily concentrates on the Supreme Lord, who with great love helps his own creatures.
The rosary is an essential attribute of many religious traditions. At a minimum, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim rosaries are distinguished. Christians are on the same level with them. The latter, in turn, are divided into several types, in accordance with confessional features and device scheme. In this article, we will consider the Orthodox rosary as an object that is most widespread within the borders of the Russian-speaking world.
The purpose of the rosary
The first thing to be said is that the common practice of every religion is prayer. At the same time, it is customary to pronounce some texts many times in a row, which requires a certain system of counting. It is precisely this role that special beads, called rosaries, perform: turning them over in your hands, it is quite easy to track the number of prayers spoken. In fact, this is the only proper religious purpose of this subject. And the Orthodox rosary is no exception.
Sometimes, however, some of their species are used as religious decoration. For example, this often happens in Catholic parishes, where rosaries are hung on statues of saints, especially the Virgin Mary. In addition, in addition to their main function, special beads for prayer are one of the attributes of monastic vestments.
Orthodox rosary: classification
As for the rosary inherent in the purely eastern Christian tradition, there are currently two types. The first can be called primordially Orthodox, since it is the most ancient. This type of rosary is called ladders. However, at present they are preserved mainly by the Old Believers, while in official Orthodoxy they play the role of an outdated relic.
The second type has a more familiar look, similar to beads strung on a thread in a certain sequence. These are the most popular Orthodox rosaries, which are used not only by believers, but also by lay people, for example, as a pendant on the mirror of their car. There is even a brand of wine, to the label of which such beads are attached as a design element.
Lestovki
Lestovka is, as already mentioned, the most ancient Orthodox rosary used in the Russian Orthodox tradition. They come from the so-called rope - a rope with knots, common in Byzantium and performing the same role of counting prayers.
The word "lestovka" means "ladder" - it means a ladder to heaven, to God. This is no coincidence. Orthodox rosaries in the form of a ladder really look like a ladder, since they do not look like beads, but a leather belt, along the entire length of which a kind of steps are made - wide loops called bobs. The location of the latter is based on a rather complex system. The ends of the ladders are sewn together in a special way fastened with triangles, called lapostki. And inside the bobs is a dense paper roller. According to the rules, the words of prayers were written on these pieces of paper, but now this tradition is rarely supported.
This type of rosary is also divided into several types. So, there are men's, women's and children's ladders. There are also everyday, funeral, marriage and holiday options.
As already mentioned, lesovki are Orthodox rosaries that have lost their meaning today. Their photo is located below.
The structure of the ladders
The device of ladders on the move is quite difficult to remember. This is aggravated by the fact that there are several types of them. The classic version is a circle of one hundred and nine beans. It begins with four paws sewn into a herringbone pattern. They symbolize the Trinity, and their number is the number of evangelists. Next, along the ribbon of the ladder, three beans follow, and after them - an empty area. Behind him are twelve more small steps, followed by one large one. Then - another thirty-eight small beans and again one large one. They are followed by another cycle of thirty-three steps of minor elements plus one major one. Then come seventeen small beans, again an empty lot, and finally three more beans.
How to use ladders
So, Lestovki are Orthodox rosaries. How to use them - almost no one knows. Although in fact it is quite simple, if their structure is well understood, which is adapted to the needs of the Old Believer worship. With their help, they determine when, how much and what bows to make, what prayers to say, and so on. In addition, quite a lot of private prayer rules are adjusted to the sequence of steps of the ladder, consisting mainly of short repeated appeals to Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, angels and saints.
modern rosary
The rosary, which is widespread in modern Orthodoxy, represented in Russia mainly by the Moscow Patriarchate, is simpler and more concise than the lestovki. Their origin, however, is Western, that is, Catholic, and is associated, according to legend, with the name of St. Dominic. The latter, according to legend, was awarded a vision of the Mother of God, who handed him a rosary and ordered him to read prayers for the sake of the triumph of Catholicism over heretics.
Historical evidence suggests that the rosary - and this is what these rosaries are called - came from the tradition of daily reading one hundred and fifty psalms, which illiterate peasants replaced with the prayers "Our Father" and "Hail Mary". This practice has also become known as the rosary. By the 14th century, the rosary acquired the modern division into tens and, in this form, spread to Russia in the 19th century. This event is connected with the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The fact is that he, being a great admirer of the Virgin Mary, introduced in the communities under his care the practice of reading the rosary in its Orthodox form, which was called the Mother of God rule. The reading scheme remained the same, only the words of the Latin prayers were replaced by Church Slavonic equivalents.
Initially, from this innovation came a new type of ladder, called the Mother of God and adapted to the reading of the Mother of God rule. However, they were soon superseded by traditional Western cross-pendant beads, known today as the Orthodox rosary.
Rosary structure
Since this type of rosary is intended mainly for reading the Theotokos rule, which is a tracing paper from the Catholic rosary, their structure is similar to the Western prototype. They represent a bundle consisting of fifty small beads, divided through every ten of one large one. These are the classic Orthodox rosaries. The number of beads in this case may be different, for example, one hundred or one hundred and fifty. A small cross is attached to the place where the ends of the thread are tied, which, according to Russian tradition, is often completed with a brush.
There is another option that differs not in structure, but in the manufacturing method. The attribute is woven from one thread, where knots play the role of beads. Thus, they are more like a vervitsa - a Byzantine medieval rosary. Orthodox people often weave these with their own hands, and then give them to each other. This is especially true for monks.
How to use the rosary
We found out that at present, the rosary can be fully called only as an Orthodox rosary. How to use them in the Russian tradition, tells the charter of the Mother of God rule. According to him, the usual introductory prayers are read on the cross - “To the King of Heaven”, etc., followed by the “Symbol of Faith”. Further, on ten small beads, "Theotokos, Virgin" is pronounced, and on the large one - "Our Father". So you should read the whole circle of the rosary. At the same time, a cycle of one hundred and fifty prayers to the Mother of God is considered complete, which is why Orthodox rosaries can have a different number of tens - from one to fifteen, and even more.
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If you are wondering what a rosary is, how to weave it, how many rosaries are in the Orthodox rosary, their meaning, how to pray correctly and more - you can find out from our article.
This kind of beads are a fairly well-known attribute in most religions, including Christianity. There are several varieties of them in total, namely a ladder and a rope, which outwardly look like balls strung on a ribbon / thread, closing in a ring, and those used by believers also have a cross.
As a rule, such an accessory is made of glass, ivory, wood, natural amber stone or other materials.
The number of beads and or knots is also important. In the Christian religion, the number of beads is usually a multiple of 10, with each ten small beads separated from the next by a larger bead (or cross/knot). The number of grains themselves is mainly 10, 30, 40, 50, 100, and in the cell monastic attribute, their number can reach up to 1000.
What do you need
Let's see what the Orthodox rosary is for. First of all, it should be noted that in any religion, a prayer appeal is a common practice, where some texts should be said several times in a row, which in turn requires some kind of counting order.
It is this function that religious beads perform, that is, it is quite easy to track the number of prayer appeals uttered simply by sorting through the attribute in your hands. In principle, from a religious point of view, this is the only purpose of such an object.
How to weave an Orthodox rosary
Weaving such an accessory does not present any difficulties, it will only require a thin long cord and beads of different sizes, and the whole process will be more like threading than weaving.
For this you will need the following materials:
- Beads with a diameter of 5-10 mm - 50 pcs.
- Beads with a diameter of 15-20 mm - 4 pcs.
- Beads with a diameter of 10-15 mm - 36 pcs.
- Bead (preferably long) - 1 pc.
- Cord made of artificial materials.
Manufacturing instructions:
String all the beads and beads on the cord in the following sequence:
- 8 pcs. small beads;
- 1 long bead;
- 1 small bead;
- 9 pcs. medium size beads;
- 1 small bead;
- 1 large bead.
Then a chain of nine small and medium beads, and so on until the end of weaving.
After all the beads have been collected, it is necessary to pass through a long and small bead, so that in the end a loop comes out, and at its base there is a long bead. Then try to tie the ends of the lace so that the resulting knot is not visible, but the excess should be cut off and burned.
An Orthodox accessory is very convenient to just carry in your pocket, and besides, it serves as a constant reminder that you need to offer a prayer.
Naturally, such an object does not contain any magical effect and does not have any specific prayer appeal, however, there are still some traditions of the Christian religion associated with prayers with a rosary.
How to use and pray
If you made your own Orthodox rosary, how to use them correctly? Before you start offering a prayer for a church attribute, you should receive a blessing from the clergyman, this of course is not a mandatory criterion, but it is still recommended to follow this instruction.
The prayer appeal itself is very simple, because in fact each bead is one prayer. The ceremony is performed in this way: hold the bead between two fingers and begin to pronounce a prayer appeal with an open mind and an open heart. You can read any prayer, for example: to the Lord God, the Queen of Heaven, the Guardian Angel, your Saint and not only, because there are quite a lot of options themselves.
If, on the thread of the bracelet between large beads, there are ten small ones, then, accordingly, so many prayers need to be read. And a larger bead should have a special prayer appeal, for example, the Creed, Our Father, or the Fiftieth Psalm.
How to pray with an Orthodox rosary? The whole point of repeatedly saying a prayer is to comprehend its content and touch the Almighty through the spoken prayer text, and constant repetition makes it easier to distract from vain or possibly harmful extraneous thoughts.
Prayer for the Christian rosary is a kind of protective shield against pernicious thoughts that want to put down their rotten roots in the mind of an Orthodox person, and a prayer service is exactly that protector that not only fights against weeds, but also makes it easier to engender something in the heart useful, sincere and kind.
May the Lord keep you!
It will also be interesting for you to watch a video on how to use the rosary correctly: