www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Chotki, Rosary, and Prayer Beads

We know that the Chotki was developed in the East probably either by St. Gregory Palamas or at least was popularized by him. We also know that shortly thereafter in came into widespread use in the West as the Rosary. Can we trace the exact or more nearly exact connection between the two? Is there evidence to assume that the use of hand held Bibles and later things like the WWJD beads used by Protestants function for similar reasons? Can this connection help us teach Protestants that all true faith comes through the ancient Church?

WWJD beads... What are those?

Bless Father!

WWJD beads, would, I think refer to things like this bracelet [amazon.com] that are used (commonly by Evangelicals) as a reminded to keep in mind the spiritual principle "What Would Jesus Do?". They're not generally prayer beads per-se and are more related to medals or amulets (in a technical sense) that use lettering, like the Jubilee St. Benedict Medal with it's C.S.P.B. (Crux Sancte Patris Benedicti) and C.S.S.M.L. (Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux), etc. abbreviated inscriptions (apologies for the Latin example, I'm sure there's some kind of Eastern counterpart, but none springs immediately to mind.)

To the original question, I think this apologetic strategy will be made more difficult by the fact that the use of beads in worship is, like the use of images in worship, likely older than Christianity (e.g. in Hinduism).

The Lord bless!

Yes, I have seen those bracelets, but why we should connect them with prayer beads escapes me.

Here in Wales most protestants have no interest in early Christianity. I think it throws up too many inconvenient practices. Those that do talk about the early Church have a false construct that is a figment of their own imagination.

Slava Isusu Khrestu

This term "What Would Jesus Do? scare me for I think that it is very misleading. Perhaps it should be, " What DID Jesus do?" It seems to me that one could very easily rationalize a response and say something to the effect of " Well, Jesus would be very kind and say that is OK for this or that reason to happen. It would be OK if she/he did this or that action". In listening to some young people, I have heard comments like,.." He/the Lord Jesus would say that an abortion would be OK in this situation because Suzie is so traumatized already.

Perhaps that bracelet thing should be called" RTSSAHT"...."Reference to Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition". The answers are there and not in some sentimental and personal musing about "would do " for it leaves too much for personal interpretation.

Unworthy
Kolya

I don't think you are quite getting my point. I'm not suggesting that the WWJD bracelet is all that helpful but only that Protestant use reminders to prayer and the Chokti and Rosary are reminders to pray. They are much more than that but a bridge could be built I should think. John Cardinal Newman's dictum about going deep into history is surely true but one needs to try to get Protestants to go into history before one can get them to go deep into history.

Protestants are searching for the Truth which alone satisfies. That carrying the Bible around and having a wwjd bracelet is really not complete at least it shows a desire to follow Christ in a fuller way. That has at least been my experience. Teachings about the fuller meaning of the Chotki and Rosary may be a touch of refreshing water to them that can be used by the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ's Church.

Truth and perceived truth are sometimes not the same thing.

Here in Wales we can see the fruit of various protestant searches for the 'Truth' and 'primitive' Christianity.

Some Presbyterians and Congregationalists became Unitarians, rejecting the Trinity and the divinity of our Lord. We have an area here in West Wales still referred to as y smotyn du (the black spot): a concentration of Unitarian meeting houses.

Some Methodists and Baptists embraced Predestination and Double-Predestination.

Some Nonconformists became Quakers, rejecting all sacraments.

All of these groups would claim Truth and orthodoxy.

Yes, there are those really seeking Truth, but we must beware of vague generalisations.

As for Bibles, I would say that the present spiritual state of Wales reflects centuries of some Nonconformist Protestants using the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) as a bludgeon to beat and rule through fear. People are afraid of God!

Chotki, i.e prayer rope, is neither popularized in East by Palamas nor widespread in west from eastern 13 th century.
It was in use well long before Palamas, actually centuries before him. Among slavs, specifically among Bulgars, in form of hesychastic prayer, is introduced before Palamas by Gregory of Sinai and later on by Pais Velichkovski.

Arbanon,

Thank you for the historical insight.