I Need Help Finding A New Chotke!

@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
April 23, 2011 5:32pm CST
My old one is worn out! You Orthodox Christians of all stripes here in MyLot know what a chotke looks like--though I may be misspelling it. It's pronounced CHOAT-ka. It's the Russian word for a prayer rope. made entirely of black & red thread, knotted into little spheres. I'm sure I could probably Google something up, but what I need is to find the least expensive one possible, poor as I am. So, do any of you know where the one I can afford might be? I'm willing to order it over the 'net, if they'll take Visa, or even a check. I'm not even sure what the going rates are for a new one these days; I bought mine well over a decade ago. All help is appreciated! Blessed Lent & Pascha to you all! Maggiepie "Science without religion is lame, & religion without science is blind." ~ Albert Einstein
2 people like this
3 responses
Wendy
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 11
I don't know what kind you're looking for, there are so many different kinds and prices (wristlets, 100 knots, 50 knots, etc.), but here is a link that has so many to choose from. Shipping is $1.00 on all of them. Not sure if they're too expensive, but they're cheaper than some I saw. I like them. They're a lot like rosaries. They're also a lot like the rosaries men in prison make, which I have liked since the first time I saw them...just thicker. Happy Easter, Maggiepie. I hope you have a wonderful day!
2 people like this
Wendy
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 11
OMG - I was doing things like that ALL DAY LONG!!! My ADD was working overtime, it seems. I am so sorry!! http://www.chotki.com/ Other than having to smack my knuckles with a ruler, I hope you have a wonderful Easter day commemorating everyone's hope of new life.
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Apr 11
Ah, de nada, hon! You're forgiven--especially since it's "Bright Week!" This means that all 7 days, Paschal Sunday through the next Sunday, is considered one "day," in Orthodoxy, as it's symbolic of the fact that Time is subject to God. So, no smacked knuckles for you! And thanks for the link! I'm going to check it out right after I send you this! Blessed Pascha! Christ is risen! Maggiepie "The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots & Tyrants." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
24 Apr 11
Thanks, Jerz...but could you please post the link? Christ is Risen! Blessed Pascha! I am having a wonderful day, despite being unable to attend Mass due to illness. (Nothing deadly or contagious; no worries. ) Here's wishing you a wonderful day, as well! Maggiepie "Know the rules first. Then learn when to break them!" ~ C. Crouch, artist, SF writer, poet
2 people like this
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
23 Apr 11
http://www.wattfamily.org/prayerope.html http://orthodoxwiki.org/Prayer_rope if ya wanna try and make one yourself...
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Apr 11
Humm...well...thank you for the links (& I've bookmarked both), but I'm not sure I could manage to make my own--though I will if I can't buy one cheaply enough! But it looks terribly complicated--& that's just the rope part. The cross & tassel look 4 times harder! LOL! You're the craftsy one, here, hon--how about you try to make it if I buy the materials? I am interested to find that not all choki are black & red, & some even use beads! If I have a choice, I want a black & white, or a deep Prussian blue & white one! Thank you! Maggiepie "Science without religion is lame, & religion without science is blind." ~ Albert Einstein
1 person likes this
Bonnie
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
24 Apr 11
Much much too complicated. Even I wouldn't try this one and I've been into yarn crafts for over 40 years. I would order one from somewhere, Maggie.
2 people like this
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
24 Apr 11
maybe we can figure something out...
1 person likes this
writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Apr 11
What are they made of? Is it possible for you to make one? Rosaries can be made out of beads of glass, wood, metal, and even roses and put together with string, wire, etc. A cross and an image of Mary are usually in it, too, but I've seen shortened ones without Mary's image. So we can buy components and assemble ourselves. Then have blessed by a Priest. Of course your religion is different from mine. So not sure about how yours is made or how it goes.
1 person likes this
Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Apr 11
They're made of different strengths & kinds (& colors) of a yarn-like thread, & each "bead" is actually a special sort of knot that creates a 3-D cross. I have a video (online) of how to do it, but it's confusing & very complicated! Ours don't have any images, just a cross made with knots & a bulky tassel ("on which to dry one's tears...") made of the primary color of yarn, positioned at the end of the circle. A priest also blesses our prayer ropes, & they're never to be worn around the neck. I loop mine onto my walker when I leave my apartment, as "one should never travel unarmed." I've created many rosaries, even one that has beads on stiff wires that resembles an abacus since the wires are in a wooden frame, & another kind is created as it's prayed--on paper! Blessed Pascha! Christ is risen! (The traditional response is, "Truly, He is risen!") So, you're feeling a bit better, I gather? I surely hope so! Maggiepie "The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots & Tyrants." ~ Thomas Jefferson