Filakto?

[Coemgenus_O]

I just got back from a brief visit to Athens, during which I bought a small crucifix at a (presumably Orthodox) religious articles store. After buying it, the store owner gave me, as a gift, a filakto (phylakto?) or however you want to transliterate it- I believe the Greek is φυλακτό or φυλαχτό. Does anyone know anything about these? I was told to wear it pinned on the inside of my shirt next to my heart. My main concern is how the use of this item lines up with Catholic practice and whether wearing it can (from a Catholic perspective) be considered along the same lines as wearing some other religious article (scapular, etc.). Thanks!

 

[Pilgrim1701]

Don’t know, maybe some of our Eastern Catholic brethren would be better placed?
Or maybe if you ask your priest/deacon to bless it for you, as a sacramental, they would be able to keep you on the straight and narrow. Looked at these on google and don’t see any problem:shrug: (But I’ve no expert knowledge on it)

 

[Ruprecht]

Hi C/O:
From babylon.com (don’t ya love the name of this site??!!) come two translations of the related words:
φυλαχτό
n. charm, talisman

φυλακτό
n. amulet, talisman, phylactery

Not that the Greeks would ever carry a talisman (!) like an Evil Eye or such, the last meaning - phylactery- does carry a lot of weight. Just as observant Jews wear phylacteries containing phrases from the Torah, we Christians can carry the full truth of our faith pinned close to our hearts. An in the same way that we wear a cross or patron saint medal around our necks.
God bless us all.

 

[Aramis]

I just got back from a brief visit to Athens, during which I bought a small crucifix at a (presumably Orthodox) religious articles store. After buying it, the store owner gave me, as a gift, a filakto (phylakto?) or however you want to transliterate it- I believe the Greek is φυλακτό or φυλαχτό. Does anyone know anything about these? I was told to wear it pinned on the inside of my shirt next to my heart. My main concern is how the use of this item lines up with Catholic practice and whether wearing it can (from a Catholic perspective) be considered along the same lines as wearing some other religious article (scapular, etc.). Thanks!

In English, Phylactery. A religious amulet of some kind.

It’s the English and Greek for the Jewish Tefillin, which is a pair of small boxes containing select passages of the Torah.

ISTR it can be used for scriptural quotation medals, or more loosely, any sacramentals worn.

The only orthodox mentions I’ve seen have been dismissive…

 

[PatrickC]

They’re just small pouches containing incense and/or cotton dipped in oil from a saints lamp or something generally considered “holy” like that. It’s essentially the same as any other sacramental and keeps something holy close to you.