Talk:Rosary

The OCA website notwithstanding, I've always understood that the problem with the rosary was not simply that it developed after the Schism, but that the 'meditations' involved an un-Orthodox use of mental images in prayer. On this line of thinking, the recommendation of St Seraphim that one say 'Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice' 150 times does not constitute 'praying the rosary' as it is taught in the RC church.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Aaron (talk • contribs) .

Hi Aaron - In the related article on the Prayer rope, I briefly noted that there are parallels in many other relgions as well. As in many other cases, the "technology" used is the same, or very similar, but the goal and content of the prayer is theologically adapted to each tradition. It seems that the Rosary was introduced to the West by the Crusders returning from the East (particularly Muslim countries). The issue of meditative prayer is interesting and should be taken up elsewhere, I think. I expect that there would be different opinions about this in the Orthodox world.

Also, please sign your comments with a ~~~ after the text. Thanks! — FrJohn (talk)

Fr. John is right about this. While Early Christians, particularly monastics, made prayer ropes from wool, Muslims (perhaps mimicking this tradition) made their tasbih, or prayer beads, from wood, bone, or precious stones in order to meditate on the 99 names of Allah. To me, it would seem that the rosary receives most of its "inspiration" from this. Around the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the practice of repeating the "Hail Mary" prayer on a string of beads came into being, just after the First Crusade. From my understanding as a former Roman Catholic, the intention of the praying the rosary is not in pure devotion, but meditating on the "mysteries" prescribed by the Roman Church, which seems to be similar to the tasbih's purpose of aiding the adherent in the act of dhikhr, or remembrance. Furthermore, one of the benefits in praying the rosary according to the Roman Church is that it is a vehicle towards receiving indulgences - either plenary or partial. If anyone has read about the "Fifteen Promises of the Rosary," you know what I am talking about. Some of these promises make a canon lawyer salivate.

For convenience I have provided a link to them. Rosary Promises

Sorry for butting in. I usually just read Orthodoxwiki, while letting my wife do all the editing. But being a former Roman Catholic, this has piqued my interest. Mike 20:41, July 4, 2007 (PDT)

The source for this article is itself lacking in any scholarly sources

This article asserts that the Rosary was Orthodox in origin. What is the evidence, beyond the fact that prayer ropes have a venerable history in the Church? The claim that praying the rosary with it's repetition of the "Hail Mary..." and its meditations, has an Orthodox origin should be substantiated. Frjohnwhiteford 08:19, July 4, 2007 (PDT)