Phillip Rolfes a truly Masterful Beadsman!

[ConstantineTG]

Good to hear. What is a good length for a dainty woman to start with?

Well, not that dainty.

Any would do. The ropes are shorter than rosaries which has quite an amount of space between beads. So a 50-knot rope has about the area of less than half a standard rosary. A 100-knot rope would be easier to tie to the wrist though because of the length, there would be several ways to tie it up there.

It also depends which rule you will follow or how you will generally use it in prayer. I use mine to pray during transit so a 50-knot is fine if I’m between short transfers I can finish fairly quickly. But if you’re the type who takes one bus for an hour or more going to work, then a 100-know rope would be better as you have more time to pray. Although a 50-knot can also substitute as a rosary.

Ultimately, its up to you

I might get a 100-knot one some time in the future. I currently have 2 50-knot prayer ropes.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Adding my voice to the throng.

I, too, recently received a prayer rope made by the hand of our Master Beadsman. It is truly a thing of exquisite beauty. There really is nothing like it.

If you are looking for a prayer rope, Master Phillip is da man!

Tim,

I’m glad you’re enjoying your rope. How is it holding up for you? How are you holding up?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I might get a 100-knot one some time in the future. I currently have 2 50-knot prayer ropes.

I’m always willing to oblige!

But seriously, I’m glad you get such great use out of your ropes. I typically use mine while commuting as well. It helps me hold my temper against these crazy Washington D.C./Northern Virginia drivers.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I’m always willing to oblige!

But seriously, I’m glad you get such great use out of your ropes. I typically use mine while commuting as well. It helps me hold my temper against these crazy Washington D.C./Northern Virginia drivers.

Yes, it helps me keep my sanity with all the crazy people that walk into public transit here in Vancouver.

 

[futureKC123]

+JMJ
I cannot agree with Dr. Roman more when I say our Master Beadsman’s work is the best I have ever seen. I have a prayer rope made by him and I absolutely love it!
FKC :byzsoc:

 

[WetCatechumen]

I do not see why not. At worst he would think its a rosary.

I had mine blessed by our Bishop.

They’re very often called that in translation. Even “The Way of a Pilgrim” translates it as a rosary.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Pictures don’t do justice as to just how beatiful Phillip’s work is.

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/rope1.jpg

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/rope2.jpg

-Tim-

That’s the one I just received! What is truly remarkable is how the rope feels in one’s hands.

Alex

 

[Alexander_Roman]

That is a 100 knot Russian style rope that goes for $30 plus shipping. Tim was kind enough to barter with me (something I enjoy doing).

I should point out that since all of my ropes are hand-tied by myself, no two are ever exactly the same.

I would love to be able to simply give these ropes away to everyone who is interested in the Jesus Prayer, but sadly, the economy being what it is, I am prevented. Perhaps one day I’ll win the lottery and be able to retire at a young age and dedicate myself full-time to making and giving away prayer ropes. Hey, if I’m going to dream I might as well dream big!

Dear Master Beadsman,

Or just “Master” since I can call you by your first name! Your money order is on its way to you sir!

Alex

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Anyone know if a Roman Catholic priest would bless a prayer rope?

Just tell him that it is a devotional used by “Roman Catholics of the Byzantine Rite” and I’m sure you won’t have any problem! You can also say it is the ancient Dominican rosary . . .

Alex

 

[Alexander_Roman]

+JMJ
I cannot agree with Dr. Roman more when I say our Master Beadsman’s work is the best I have ever seen. I have a prayer rope made by him and I absolutely love it!
FKC :byzsoc:

When it comes to “tying one one,” the Master Beadsman does it best!

Alex

 

[5Loaves]

Phillip made us a 40 knot rope for the 40 Gospodi pomilui/Kýrie, eléison/Lord, have mercy, during the Office before and after Divine Liturgy. I love it. It seems to help me breath more comfortably during the long sequences of 10.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

You bring up an excellent point - how the prayer rope is used during the liturgy!

The Lestovka, which the Master Beadsman also makes, has a section of 38 "steps between two larger ones. One begins on the larger step and goes to the next one and this comes out to 40, of course (my artihmetic isn’t that bad!).

There is a 17 step section at the end and the prayers and bows of the prayer of St Ephren, said during Lent, are done on those, at the end of each prayer rope as well during Lent.

The Ethiopian Mequteria, which the Master Beadsman also makes, is divided in between larger beads into seven, 12 and 41 smaller bead sections. The Copts and Ethiopians say the Lord have mercy 41 times and also other prayers seven (like the Magnificat), twelve (Our Fathers) and 41 times. They say 64 Hail Mary’s for the 64 years the Ethiopians believe the Mother of God lived on earth and you get this number by saying the three sections (seven, twelve and forty-one) altogether, including the four divider beads which comes out to 64 (it took me a while to figure this configuration out . . .).

The Greek prayer rope, divided every 25 with a divider bead or knot is the original “Rosary (Vervitsa) of St Basil the Great.”

Alex

 

[Alexander_Roman]

The Master does it again!

I just received my latest order from Master Rolfes, an Ethiopian style Mequteria prayer rope that is incredible!!!

He also sent me a couple of examples of an Ethiopian mequteria designed for use with seven, 12, 41 and 64 groupings - which are the main groupings used in saying the Ethiopian rosary.

I didn’t understand what this was about at first until I counted the beads and realized that that Genius, Mr. Rolfes had just created something very special.

His work is very beautiful and, once again, his prayer rope just glides through your fingers.

I choose one of his prayer ropes (don’t want the others to feel “left out”) and then carry it with me all day.

“Praying always” is easy with “Rolfes Ropes.”

Seriously though, he has a special Gift and just like we honour iconographers for how they bring people closer to God through their work, so too is the Master Beadsman deserving of honour for how his prayer ropes and rosaries bring us closer to God as well!

Alex

 

[ConstantineTG]

Seriously though, he has a special Gift and just like we honour iconographers for how they bring people closer to God through their work, so too is the Master Beadsman deserving of honour for how his prayer ropes and rosaries bring us closer to God as well!

Alex

AXIOS! (He is worthy of this honor)

 

[TrueLight]

Have most of you purchased the Greek or Russian ropes? I didn’t know which one to choose. They look the same to me.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Ukrainian

 

[Alexander_Roman]

The Master Beadsman has, to date, made me:

Old Believer beaded Lestovka

Old Believer beaded Lestovka (150 beads divided every ten) for the praying of the Rule of the Theotokos (A Rosary by any other name . . .)

A Greek prayer rope divided every 25

A Russian one divided every ten

Ethiopian divided after the first seven, then after the next twelve, then after the next 41.

Alex

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Have most of you purchased the Greek or Russian ropes? I didn’t know which one to choose. They look the same to me.

TrueLight,

The best way to tell the difference between the Russian style and the Greek style is that the Russian more closely resembles a Roman Rosary with a tassel on the Cross. The rope will be divided up into “decades” with a bead at the end/beginning of each decade. Whereas the Greek ropes have no tassel on the cross and a bead is placed every 25th knot (replacing the 25th knot). Whereas in the Greek rope the bead is counted as part of the 50 or 100 repetitions, in the Russian rope the bead is not counted. The Russian/Slavic practice is to pray, “Most holy Theotokos, save us,” or some other such prayer on the beads and the Jesus Prayer on the knots.

So far all of the pictures posted to this thread have been of Russian style ropes. My own personal rope currently has no beads on it at all except a decorative bead between the joining knot and the Cross. But that is subject to change… simply because I can.

ICXC + NIKA,
Phillip

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Alex and Constantine,

Thank you so much for your kind words. And certainly keep me and my work in your prayers.

ICXC + NIKA,
Your humble Beadsman

 

[Diak]

Philip - I have a 33-bead chotki made by the Studites in Ukraine that goes around the wrist with the cross weaved horizontally between two wooden beads and not hanging down. I sometimes have to be around heavy equipment where things dangling are a safety concern. Have you tried something like that? Mine is getting worn.