Rule of the Theotokos
Encyclopedia
The Rule of the Theotokos is an Eastern Orthodox Christian
prayer
based on praying Angelic salutation 150 times. This prayer is similar to the prayer of rosary
in the West.
The Theotokos
showed this rule to people in the 8th century. Later it was forgotten and it was rediscovered for the Orthodox Christian
s by St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The prayer consists of 150 Angelic salutations, which are divided into 15 decades. Each decade focuses on some important event in the life of the Theotokos
. Seraphim Zvezdinsky describes the following structure of the rule:
The rule of the Theotokos, as prayed today, in addition to Angelic salutations usually includes also some other prayers. Thus usually some corresponding church hymn
(e.g. troparion
) is added to each decade. Also some introductory and closing prayers are included.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
based on praying Angelic salutation 150 times. This prayer is similar to the prayer of rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
in the West.
The Theotokos
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
showed this rule to people in the 8th century. Later it was forgotten and it was rediscovered for the Orthodox Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s by St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The prayer consists of 150 Angelic salutations, which are divided into 15 decades. Each decade focuses on some important event in the life of the Theotokos
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
. Seraphim Zvezdinsky describes the following structure of the rule:
- Birth of the Theotokos
- Presentation
- Annunciation
- Visitation to Elizabeth
- Birth of Christ
- Meeting of the Lord
- Flight into Egypt
- Loss of Jesus in Jerusalem
- Miracle in Cana of Galilee
- Theotokos standing by the Cross
- Resurrection of Christ
- Ascension of Christ
- Descent of Holy Spirit
- Dormition of Theotokos
- Glory of Theotokos
The rule of the Theotokos, as prayed today, in addition to Angelic salutations usually includes also some other prayers. Thus usually some corresponding church hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
(e.g. troparion
Troparion
A troparion in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas. The word probably derives from a diminutive of the Greek tropos...
) is added to each decade. Also some introductory and closing prayers are included.