The Rosary within the Orthodox Church

[Christman811]

The Western Rite within the Orthodox Church has embraced using the Rosary as a tool for prayer.

St. Seraphim of Sarov is also known for incorporating the Rosary in his prayer life.

There seems to be a knee-jerk reaction from many Orthodox towards the West, particularly, anything Roman in origin. Let us not be so closed-minded, brethren. Rome was part of the Church for nearly 1200-1300 years.

Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church
Fr. Novak's Blog: HOW TO PRAY THE ORTHODOX ROSARY

I myself do not use the Rosary because I have only recently learned about its Orthodox usage. I personally believe that the Jesus prayer is the supreme prayer within the Church, and indeed, I have read some Fathers teach us that the quickest way to holiness is through the practice of the Jesus prayer, provided that we also descend into the depths of humility and love. Nevertheless, for those who might be interested in using a different tool besides the Jesus prayer and komboskini, I share the above links as resources for you to peruse.

This thread is not meant for a discussion. I really have nothing else to contribute to the topic besides what I have already said. I hope to explore using the Rosary in addition to my komboskini. Perhaps some of you will join me.

 

[buzuxi02]

There is no Orthodox Rosary. It's an Urban legend that sprang up in Russia during the Bolshevik revolution.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I'm not sure it's fair to assume it's a knee-jerk reaction. I've read a good bit from the Philokalia and related writings that warn explicitly against imaginations during prayer, and isn't that what rosary prayers focus on?

If you mean a physical rosary, it doesn't matter. Prayer beads, a wool knotted prayer rope, leather lestovka, or something else - doesn't really matter what tool you use to count. Whatever works.

But the instructions for how to pray the rosary (that I have heard) directly conflict with prayer instructions we are given.

 

[ArmyMatt]

to use a rosary is one thing, to use it as the West has used it to pray is another.

 

[All4Christ]

A big thing to avoid is the visualization found in the RCC rosary instructions.

 

[E.C.]

Using a rosary falls under private devotion. See your spiritual father for more details.

That being said, I have met an ex-Roman Catholic or two who still used the rosary in their private devotions with instructions from their spiritual father. I don't recall the Hail Mary being a prayer that Orthodox would necessarily disagree with, but visualizing stuff, as the Roman Catholic method instructs, does not fall in line with Orthodox theology on prayer.

 

[Glaucus]

There should be no mental imagination when praying, and the Rosary requires it, so no. Just no.

 

[Christman811]

Please, all of you, stop bearing false witness of things you do not know about. Most of you are making baseless assumptions. You assume that when you see the word "contemplation" or "meditation" that it somehow means that you visualize.

That is absolutely a falsehood; a distortion of the truth. There is no mental images of any sort with regards to prayer of any type and that includes the rosary.

Like the first post says: this was meant to share a resource. If almost all of you came here to criticize things unfairly based on misinformed conclusions, know that you are missing the purpose of the thread.

 

[Christman811]

Also, based on most of your posts, it is quite blatant that none of you thoroughly and carefully read the resources I shared.

 

[All4Christ]

Posting a thread invites discussion, even if you say “No discussion intended”.

 

[All4Christ]

And yes, the Western Rite uses a modified version with the exception of visualization, which is the point of what I said.

 

[All4Christ]

There should be no mental imagination when praying, and the Rosary requires it, so no. Just no.

There is practice of private prayer with the rosary in the Western Rite, but no visualization or mental imagination is used. It’s more reading the relevant scripture and saying the prayers rather than mentally imagining it.

 

[Christman811]

And yes, the Western Rite uses a modified version with the exception of visualization, which is the point of what I said.

That was certainly not clear at all until you mentioned it below. Chronology of posts proves this.

This thread is only a discussion now simply because I had to reprove the falsehoods being asserted.

 

[ArmyMatt]

You assume that when you see the word "contemplation" or "meditation" that it somehow means that you visualize.

actually no one said this.

 

[Christman811]

actually no one said this.

It was the only logical inference I could make because otherwise the statements on this thread are perplexing, seeing that the links I provided do not promote visualization whatsoever.

 

[E.C.]

Please, all of you, stop bearing false witness of things you do not know about. Most of you are making baseless assumptions. You assume that when you see the word "contemplation" or "meditation" that it somehow means that you visualize.

That is absolutely a falsehood; a distortion of the truth. There is no mental images of any sort with regards to prayer of any type and that includes the rosary.

Like the first post says: this was meant to share a resource. If almost all of you came here to criticize things unfairly based on misinformed conclusions, know that you are missing the purpose of the thread.

So, as someone who was Roman Catholic until the age of sixteen, attended a predominantly Irish Catholic school from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and was taught how to pray the rosary by a Dominican nun in the second grade, which was reinforced every October and May until leaving that school after eighth grade, I like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the rosary.

Yes, in the Roman Church you are instructed to visualize the events of the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Light Mysteries of the rosary as you pray it. Each decade of the rosary has a specific event from the life of Christ to focus on. That aspect of it does not fall in line with Orthodox thinking on prayer nor meditation nor contemplation. No, I did not read the links because when it comes to the rosary I will forever take the words of a nun who was a Dominican for over fifty years over the words of academics.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Since the OC frowns on imagination during prayer then I’m curious what the OC thinks about praying 10 Hail Marys and 1 Our Father for each bead. In my opinion it seems like a dangerous practice. Could it be considered honoring Mary 10 times more than God by doing this?

 

[Christman811]

So, as someone who was Roman Catholic until the age of sixteen, attended a predominantly Irish Catholic school from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and was taught how to pray the rosary by a Dominican nun in the second grade, which was reinforced every October and May until leaving that school after eighth grade, I like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the rosary.

Yes, in the Roman Church you are instructed to visualize the events of the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Light Mysteries of the rosary as you pray it. Each decade of the rosary has a specific event from the life of Christ to focus on. That aspect of it does not fall in line with Orthodox thinking on prayer nor meditation nor contemplation. No, I did not read the links because when it comes to the rosary I will forever take the words of a nun who was a Dominican for over fifty years over the words of academics.

You know what you're talking about with regards to the RC usage of the rosary. But since you want to dismiss the articles I listed, then your words are irrelevant to this discussion since I have already over-emphasized that no visualization is part of the Orthodox usage of the Rosary.

 

[Christman811]

Since the OC frowns on imagination during prayer then I’m curious what the OC thinks about praying 10 Hail Marys and 1 Our Father for each bead. In my opinion it seems like a dangerous practice. Could it be considered honoring Mary 10 times more than God by doing this?

The OC downright condemns imagination since it inevitably leads to deception and apparitions of the enemy inasmuch as the person is puffed up with pride.

If your prayer is focused on honoring Mary more than God, then yes, you fall into such a trap. But we should never only use the Rosary or an Akathist to Mary while neglecting the other prayers to the Holy Trinity, which are far more important of course. The argument that we are honoring Mary 10x more than God is untrue. If it were, then we should cease from using any Akathists for Mary or any Saint.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Please, all of you, stop bearing false witness of things you do not know about. Most of you are making baseless assumptions. You assume that when you see the word "contemplation" or "meditation" that it somehow means that you visualize.

That is absolutely a falsehood; a distortion of the truth. There is no mental images of any sort with regards to prayer of any type and that includes the rosary.

Like the first post says: this was meant to share a resource. If almost all of you came here to criticize things unfairly based on misinformed conclusions, know that you are missing the purpose of the thread.

My dear brother in Christ - peace to you.

I'm not sure why you would assume that we are jumping to conclusions and assuming that to "meditate" means to "visualize". We use the word "meditate" frequently and it does not mean that to us.

I've never been Catholic, but I've had Catholics explain their prayers to me, I've read online about how to imagine yourself physically present with Christ and seeing various events and trying not only to visualize them but to feel the emotion as well. And a quick online search turned up Catholics discussing that very point - they felt unable to properly visualize. How to meditate when say the Rosary

I'm not sure why you seem to be offended by this, but please, please do not assume everyone is bearing false witness.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ here and should be able to discuss in ways that benefit and edify one another and honor Christ.

My opinion is still that it matters not at all if you choose to use a rosary for the physical counter. But I stand with the Fathers who are far wiser than myself who warn against visualuzations and imaginations and deliberate stirring of emotions.

I am sorry if I offended you or you somehow misunderstood my words, though in afraid I am unable to recant them.

Peace to you.