This is my first post on a new WordPress site. I was posting a little on Facebook, but I have been trying to avoid social media. So if I set things up correctly, it should also be automatically shared there.
This image is of some Knotted Rosaries that I made. They are using a knot called “Chotki.”
If anyone is interested in trying to make your own, the video I initially followed to learn how to tie these knots was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lTwPCgwj4c&t=110s.
History
There is a fascinating history and facts about those knots typically used in prayer ropes, which I used for these rosaries.
St. Pachomius, in the fourth century, is believed to be the inventor of the prayer rope. They were an aid for illiterate monks to accomplish a consistent number of prayers and prostrations in their cells. Prevcounteds would count their prayers by casting pebbles into a bowl, but this was cumbersome and could not be easily cd about when outside the cell. The rope made it possible to pray the Jesus Prayer unceasingly: “O My Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner”, whether inside the monk’s cell or outside. Following St. Paul’s injunction to “Pray without Ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), the monks prayed this way.
It is said that the method of tying the prayer rope originated from the father of Orthodox monasticism, Saint Anthony the Great. He started by tying a leather rope with a simple knot for every time he prayed “Kyrie Eleison” (“Lord have Mercy”). Annoyingly the Devil would come and untie the knots to throw off his count. He then devised the way – inspired by a vision of the Virgin Mary Theotokos – of tying the knot so that the knots themselves would constantly make the sign of the Cross. Today prayer ropes are still tied using knots containing seven little crosses tied over and over. The devil could not untie it because the Sign of the Cross defeats the devil.
Bracelets
Since it would be a shame to waste any off-cuts of cord, I have been turning those into rosary bracelets. Not that it costs much from where I have been getting it, which is here https://www.koch.com.au/satin-cord
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