Prayer rugs

[Generic_Name]

Please forgive my ignorance, but I saw something after a Roman daily Mass today that was new to me. I’m traveling, so this is not my usual church.

Immediately after Mass, a man started chanting and was seated and sometimes prostrated on a rug, shoes off, similar to how I’ve seen Muslims pray. I don’t know a better way to describe it than that. The chanting was not familiar to me, and I can’t really say what language it was but sounded like Arabic or a related language.

I’m not familiar with this town, so I do not know the actual compass direction he was facing, but it was toward the front of the chapel. Liturgical East, for us Latins.

The priest was aware of his presence there.

Are there any Eastern Catholic churches who pray in this manner? I have little exposure to traditions outside the Roman church, so again please forgive my ignorance.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

This actually sounds like a Muslim who was being permitted by the priest to pray in the church. Some priests permit this, especially if there is not another suitable space in the area for Muslims to pray.

 

[Generic_Name]

This actually sounds like a Muslim who was being permitted by the priest to pray in the church. Some priests permit this, especially if there is not another suitable space in the area for Muslims to pray.

That was my suspicion, but I thought there might be a rite/tradition that had some of these elements and was intrigued. Figured this would be the place to ask.

 

[Casilda]

Maronites tend to quiet prayer, usually standing in front of an icon. I agree that this sounds like a follower of Islam.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Please forgive my ignorance, but I saw something after a Roman daily Mass today that was new to me. I’m traveling, so this is not my usual church.

Immediately after Mass, a man started chanting and was seated and sometimes prostrated on a rug, shoes off, similar to how I’ve seen Muslims pray. I don’t know a better way to describe it than that. The chanting was not familiar to me, and I can’t really say what language it was but sounded like Arabic or a related language.

I’m not familiar with this town, so I do not know the actual compass direction he was facing, but it was toward the front of the chapel. Liturgical East, for us Latins.

The priest was aware of his presence there.

Are there any Eastern Catholic churches who pray in this manner? I have little exposure to traditions outside the Roman church, so again please forgive my ignorance.

Could possibly be an Eastern Christian, either Catholic or Orthodox, or even SouthernBaptist converts from West Africa:

silkroadcollections.com/featured_rugs/christian_orthodox_prayer_rug.php

byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/41742/Prayer%20Rugs

christianitytoday.com/ct/1997/may19/7t6004.html