Praying the Orthodox Rosary

In the gospel, it is written: “ I am the way, the truth and the life. (John 14: 6) Orthodox Catholics speak mainly to Christ. One of the prayers to ask for God's help is the rosary. It is also a very simple prayer used by monks and by the faithful. However, there are some discrepancies with the Marian rosary of Catholics.

Origin of the Orthodox Rosary

The Orthodox rosary commemorates the life of Christ. It is composed of 33 beads that refer to the 33 years of Jesus' life. This rosary is commonly called Tchotki. It is most often made of black wool and most often with 33 beads. Wool symbolizes that we are the sheep of God. On several occasions, in the Gospel, we can see Jesus surrounded by sheep. The color black symbolizes contrition for our sins or penance.  We find a brush, a cross and the 33 beads. The brush is used to wipe away any tears that may occur during the recitation of this prayer.

The other name given to this rosary is “the prayer of Jesus.” Indeed, unlike Catholics, the Orthodox rosary is addressed in particular to Christ.

It is also an inner prayer, a heart-to-heart with Jesus. The purpose of this prayer is found in Saint Paul's letter to the Colossians.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Collossians 3:17)

The tchotki is worn by monks, the black color blends with their clothing and thus its presence is discreet. Lay faithful use it by putting it in the pocket or wrapping it around the wrist. The monks of the Patriarchate of Constantinople specify that it is quite possible to make this rosary yourself. This is more than manual work, but also prayer.

The unfolding of the Orthodox rosary

The Orthodox rosary begins by reciting the following Our Father:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The rosary is then punctuated by colored beads and black wool beads. 

• On the black wool grains, we recite the following prayer:
  “Lord Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

• On the colored grains, we recite the following Glory to the Father:
  “ Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen! ” ”

The invocations for the Orthodox Rosary

The prayer of the Orthodox rosary is composed of invocations. It must be specified that this Jesus prayer is voluntary. It does not follow strict rules to meet the desires of the person praying. Above all, it is a prayer recited in solitude, not in groups as is often the case in parishes or within Catholic families. Invocations are voluntary in the Orthodox tradition as the main focus is to preserve the prayer of the heart and the request of Saint Paul: “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians, 5:17).

The Different Rosaries in the Orthodox Tradition

The Rosary to the Holy Spirit

In the Orthodox tradition, there are different rosaries. The best known is the rosary of the Holy Spirit. This rosary counts 50 beads by saying this invocation: “Holy Spirit, I trust in you.”

The Ancient Rosary of the Russians

The other older rosary is called Lestovka which means “ladder.” It is the oldest form of the Orthodox rosary and is used by the oldest of the Orthodox. It is a 100-bead rosary once used by the people of Russia. This prayer, seen as a ladder, is made to get closer and closer to the sky, just like when we use a material ladder. Lestovka is divided into several stages.

• The first 12 beads symbolize the 12 apostles.
• The following 38 beads symbolize the pregnancy of the Blessed Virgin
• The following 33 beads symbolize the 33 years of Christ's life
• The last 17 beads symbolize the 17 prophets of the Old Testament who spoke of the coming of Christ.
• Finally, the triangle represents the Holy Trinity.

The Orthodox tradition leaves the faithful the choice in invocations; this rosary is especially there to support the spiritual life of monks and laity by recalling the great stages of the life of Christ.

 Pray to Christ with Hozana

On Hozana, you can find different communities to help you in your daily prayer. With this community, you can listen to a daily gospel meditation. You can participate in an online retreat to pray with Padre Pio. To be in relationship with a person, it is good to get to know them. Just like our friends, we are called to know Jesus.