The Chotki Rosary or Prayer Beads The Chotki is an ancient chaplet from the Eastern Orthodox tradition. It has many variations from the Greek, Russian and Romanian Churches including: Vervitza (string), Liestovka (ladder), Matanie (reverence), Komboskini or Komboloi (worry knots), and Chotki (chaplet).

In answer to the Scriptural precept to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) the monastic brothers of the Eastern Churches were presented with this chaplet so they could pray while they worked. The simplicity of the Jesus prayer, (the origins of which can be found in St. Luke 18 10-14), becomes a litany woven into the day’s tasks. The mantra prayer is drawn from the Gospel story of the tax collector who throws himself into the arms of God’s mercy.

“Sacraments and sacramentals are structured as a series of rites which bring into play all the dimensions of the person. The same applies to non-liturgical prayer. This is confirmed by the fact that, in the East, the most characteristic prayer of Christological meditation, centred on the words ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’ (34, Catechism of the Catholic church, 2616.) is traditionally linked to the rhythm of breathing; while this practice favours perseverance in the prayer, it also in some way embodies the desire for Christ to become the breath, the soul and the ‘all’ of one’s life.” Rosarium Virginus Mariae

The number of beads on a Chotki can vary greatly. The most common numbers of beads are 33, 100 and 300. The Chotki historically made from knotted black wool, can also be made from many different kinds of beads, for example, Haematite, ebonised wood, Swarovski ® Crystal, or glass beads for example.

The 33 bead arrangement is the most common, and is in remembrance of the years Jesus was on the earth. The 100 and 300 bead arrangements allow the counting of many multiples of the 'Jesus Prayer'.