Traditional Orthodox Christian hand-made braid Orthodox Bishop prayer rope (chetki). Braid, German silver, 100 knots. Broyanica (Bronica - Serbian Orthodox rosary) (Serb. brojanica ? designed for counting ? from broj ? number) is a special kind of beads, common in the Orthodox countries of the Balkans, primarily Serbia and Montenegro. Bracelets of similar design called "komboskini" (gr. ???????????) are also manufactured by the monks of the monasteries and sketes on Mount Athos. Unlike the Catholic rosary, Broyanica is not a sort of beads, but a braided bracelet. The legend says that a monk who first came up with a wicker Bronica, could not finish the work: all he did in the evening, was unbraided during night by the devil. And then in a dream an Angel appeared to him, who taught him a special method of weaving broinizi, which applies to this day. Each node of brojnice has seven twisted crosses. There are 30 or 33 knots. There are large ones, which can be worn around the neck or as a rosary in the hand (50, 100, or 300 knots). Brojanica ropes are most often black, but also cyan, blue and red. Bronica is considered a great gift, especially if you want to show a person that you care for him. Brojnice-bracelets are popular among believers not only in Serbia but also in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, i.e. throughout the Orthodox Balkans. |
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