Prayer Rope in Public

[OIT]

Is it permissable to wear a prayer rope in public on one's wrist? Or would this be seen as a form of "showing off" in some sense?

Thanks in advance.

[gzt]

i for one think it should be worn discreetly, but if you're somewhere where nobody will know what it's there for or where enough people have them taht it's not a big deal, it doesn't matter if it shows. and if you wear it all day but never use it, there's no point in wearing it.

[Dewi Sant]

With the amount of string bracelets going round I don't think anyone is going to think anything about a prayer bracelet for the reason that they won't know what it is.

[eoe]

I don't think anyone would know what it is. Just don't go announcing "Hey look at my prayer rope! I am so pious and good!"

You should be fine.

[gzt]

yeah, in yr normal daily life, nobody would know what it is, but if you drop by a fellow parishioner's house for dinner and the tassle of yr hundred knotter is flapping out of yr cuff, it's just ridiculous.

[Theophorus]

I would not presume to say how much one should be used.

I have had a couple of people during the nativity ask about mine. I simply reply that it's an Orthodox thing. Then I get the proverbial, "Oh, are you Jewish?"

[Dewi Sant]

I would not presume to say how much one should be used.

I have had a couple of people during the nativity ask about mine. I simply reply that it's an Orthodox thing. Then I get the proverbial, "Oh, are you Jewish?"

^_^ I've never got that before.

I wouldn't wear a prayer rope with a tassle. I think the tassle makes it look too obvoius. I like the little black ones to be worn round the wrist. Otherwise I just carry my Anglican rosary which I keep in a tiny black bag.


Unless you knew me you would'nt know that I carry a bible and prayer beads with me at all times.

[repentant]

You can wear one whenever or whereever. But like someone said, there is no point if you don't use it.

Wearing a prayer rope in public whether it be around Orthodox Christians or not, is as "show offish" as going to Church...

[Akathist]

The little black ones with the bead instead of a tassel is not more obvious than wearing a cross and while I don't have a little prayer rope without a tassel, I do wear my cross constantly.

I think that most people don't pay as much attention to such things for the most part.

If they ask about it, it would give you a chance to share your faith.

I think about crossing myself when saying grace when I eat at resturants and used to be self conscious about it. But now I just do it without being self conscious and I notice that the only time anyone comments it is my mother who sighs deeply with disappointment. (I don't even realize I have done it anymore or I would avoid it for her sake.)

I think about the athletes in the Olympics that cross themselves before their skating, for example or if they win, etc. I bet it is just a habit for them. It doesnt' make me think: "Oh they are showing off how pious they are." I think: "Cool, they are not hiding their faith."

[InnerPhyre]

I know what our Lord said about not praying public, but He also said that sinners would see our good deeds and give glory to God in heaven. When I was Catholic, I would pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary out in public on campus. I didn't do it so that everyone would see what a good Christian I was. I did it so that people in a liberal anti-Christian environment might see that it is ok to be unashamed of worshipping God and might follow the example......and it really did make a difference. Amazing the good looks people give you like "Right on, brother" when you do something like that. I think intent has a lot to do with the acceptability of such a thing. I'm a newbie and don't know much about anything, but that's my two cents.

[JustinHesychast]

I have thought about wearing my 100-knot prayer rope around my neck when/if I get it as a sort of necklace. This way it is always handy to pray with.

This would be all right, wouldn't it? As long as I am not doing to look pious and whatnot, as mentioned above.

[SeraphimSarov]

I have a semi-related question... are lay men supposed to wear their cross under their clothing? A Bulgrarian friend told me the other day that usually only priests wear their crosses over their clothing, and I've never heard that before.

[RobNJ]

I have a semi-related question... are lay men supposed to wear their cross under their clothing? A Bulgrarian friend told me the other day that usually only priests wear their crosses over their clothing, and I've never heard that before.

At vespers & church activities, I've seen most men with chains around their necks & occasionally a glimpse of a cross. At DL, only two men in the congregation wear their crosses on the outside of their shirts. I always wear mine under my shirt too.

[JasonV]

At vespers & church activities, I've seen most men with chains around their necks & occasionally a glimpse of a cross. At DL, only two men in the congregation wear their crosses on the outside of their shirts. I always wear mine under my shirt too.

Rob when I attended DL, I was told it was the size of the Cross, not whether it was outside your shirt, that mattered. Small crosses are fine, but larger "pectoral" ones are reserved for the Clergy.

No?

[Tsarina]

If it makes you prideful, don't wear it, and work on diminishing your pride.

Other than that, i think it's fine to wear the prayer rope in public. Whenever i feel it on my wrist as i walk outside, it reminds me to pray. Which is a good thing. :)

I see Orthodox people and Priests walking outside with their prayer ropes and actually using them as they are walking under their long sleeves.