"The Orthodox Way of Praying the Holy Rosary"
Dr. Alejandro Cañadas
Workshop No 4: April 13, 2021
How do we pray 150 Hail Marys?
The Rosary => 15 decades of Hail Marys (that is 15x10 = 150 Hail Marys)
Easter Orthodox tradition:1
4th-century monks of the Egyptian Thebaid were praying 150 Angelic
Salutations (Hail Marys) grouped into 15 decades, following the pattern of the 150
Psalms.
The Egyptian tradition is the Easter Orthodox Rule of the Theotokos, which
consists of 150 Hail Marys with 15 corresponding mysteries.
We have historical evidence from the 4
th Century Angelic Psalter and the 8
th
Century from the Easter Orthodox priest, Father Zosima, who was the
spiritual son of Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1754 or 1759-1833) who said:
“I forgot to give you a piece of advice vital for salvation. Say the Oh Hail,
Mother of God, and Virgin one hundred and fifty times, and this prayer will lead
you on the way to salvation. This rule was given by the Mother of God herself in
about the eighth century, and at one time, all Christians fulfilled it.
We Orthodox have forgotten about it, and Saint Seraphim has reminded me of
this Rule. In my hands, I have a hand-written book from the cell of Saint
Seraphim, containing a description of the many miracles which took place
through praying to the Mother of God and especially through saying one
hundred and fifty times the ‘O Hail, Mother of God and Virgin.’
If being unaccustomed to it, it is difficult to master one hundred and fifty
repetitions daily, say it fifty times at first. After every ten repetitions, say the ‘Our

1 Adapted from Taylor Marshall, PhD, The Rosary in 50 Pages: The Layman’s Quick Guide to Mary’s Psalter
(Rockfort, IL: Saint John Press, 2020).
2
Father’ once and ‘Open unto us the doors of thy loving kindness.’2 Whomever
he spoke to about this miracle-working Rule remained grateful to him.”
Saint Seraphim of Sarov gave one of his spiritual children the task of copying
a plan that included his prayer to the Ever-Virgin Mary. Here are the
mysteries as presented in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century:
1) First Decade: Let us remember the Birth of the Mother of God. Let us
pray for mothers, fathers, and children.
2) Second Decade: Let us remember the feast of the Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin and Mother of God. Let us pray for those who have lost
their way and fallen away from the Church.
3) Third Decade: Let us remember the Annunciation of the Blessed
Mother of God. Let us pray for the smoothing of sorrows and the
consolation of those who grieve.
4) Fourth Decade: Let us remember the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to
her cousin Elizabeth. Let us pray for the reunion of the separated, for
those whose dear ones or children are living away from them or
missing.
5) Fifth Decade: Let us remember the Birth of Christ. Let us pray for the
rebirth of souls, for a new life in Christ.
6) Sixth Decade: Let us remember the Feast of the Presentation of the
Lord and the words uttered by Saint Simeon: “a sword shall pierce
through your own soul also” (Luke 2:35). Let us pray that the Mother of
God will meet our souls at the hour of our deaths, contrive that we
receive the Holy Sacrament with our last breath, and lead our souls
through the terrible torments.

2 The full text of the prayer is: “Open unto us the door of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Mother if God, in that
we set our hope on thee, may we not go astray; but through thee may we be delivered from all adversity, fix
thou art the salvation of all Christian people.”
3
7) Seventh Decade: Let us remember Saint Joseph, the Mother of God,
and baby Jesus running into Egypt. Let us pray that the Mother of God
will help us avoid temptation in this life and deliver us from
misfortunes.
8) Eighth Decade: Let us remember that twelve-year-old boy Jesus was
lost in Jerusalem. Let us imaging the terrible sorrow of Saint Joseph
and the Mother of God for three days until they found him in the
Temple. Let us pray, begging the Mother of God for the constant
repetition of the Jesus Prayer.
9) Ninth Decade: Let us remember the Miracle performed in Cana of
Galilee when the Lord turned water into wine at the words of his
Mother: “They have no wine” (John 2:3). Let us ask the Mother of God
for help in our affairs and deliverance from need.
10) Tenth Decade: Let us remember the Mother of God standing at
the foot of the Cross of the Lord when grief pierced through her heart
like a sword. Let us pray to the Mother of God to strengthen our souls
and the banishment of despondency.
11) Eleventh Decade: Let us remember the Resurrection of Christ
and ask the Mother of God in prayer to resurrect our souls and give us
new courage for spiritual feats.
12) Twelfth Decade: Let us remember the Ascension of Christ, at
which the Mother of Christ was present. Let us pray and ask the queen
of Heaven to raise our souls from earthly and worldly amusements and
direct them to strive for higher things.
13) Thirteenth Decade: Let us remember the upper room and the
descend of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God. Let
us pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
4
within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy
Spirit from me” Psalm 51).
14) Fourteenth Decade: Let us remember the Assumption of the
Blessed Mother of God and ask for a peaceful and serene end at the
hour of our death.
15) Fifteenth Decade: Let us remember the glory of the Mother of
God, with which the Lord crowned her after her removal from earth to
Heaven. Let us pray to the Queen of Heaven not to abandon the faithful
who are on earth but to defend them from every evil, covering them
with her honoring and protecting veil.
Here is how the Russian Rosary compares to the Traditional Rosary of Saint
Dominic:
Angelic Psalter of Saint Dominic
(13th century)
Rule of the Theotokos of Saint
Seraphim (9th century)
1) Annunciation to Mary 1) Nativity of Mary
2) Visitation of Mary to
Elizabeth
2) Presentation of Mary in the
Temple
3) Nativity of Christ 3) Annunciation to Mary
4) Presentation of Jesus in the
Temple
4) Visitation of Mary to
Elizabeth
5) Finding Jesus in the Temple 5) Nativity of Christ
6) The agony of Jesus in the
Garden
6) Presentation of Jesus in the
Temple
7) Scourging of Jesus 7) Flight of Holy Family to Egypt
8) Crowning with Thorns 8) Finding Jesus in the Temple
9) Carrying the Cross 9) Turning water into wine
10) Crucifixion and Death 10) Crucifixion and Death
11) Resurrection of Christ 11) Resurrection of Christ
12) Ascension of Christ 12) Ascension of Christ
13) Descend of Holy Ghost
13) Descend of Holy Ghost
14) Assumption of Mary ’14) Assumption of Mary
15) Crowning of Mary ‘15) Crowning of Mary
5
Modern Rosary:
Day Rosary
Mystery
Sunday Glorious
Monday Joyful
Tuesday Sorrowful
Wednesday Glorious
Thursday Luminous
Friday Sorrowful
Saturday Joyful
"Joyful Mysteries" (Monday and Saturday):
1) The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
2) The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
3) The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
4) The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-40)
5) The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
"Luminous Mysteries" (Thursday):
1) The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark
1: 9-11; Luke 3:21-22)
2) The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15; Matthew
6:25-27; Luke 15:11-24)
4) The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9: 2-10; Luke
9: 28-36; 2 Peter 1:17-18)
6
5) The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Matthew
26: 17- 29; Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-
26)
"Sorrowful Mysteries" (Tuesday and Friday)
1) The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56; Luke 22: 39-
46)
2) Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:15-26)
3) Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
4) Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26-31)
5) The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-66; Mark 15: 25-47; Luke
23:33-56; John 19: 18-42)
"Glorious Mysteries" (Wednesday and Sunday)
1) The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16: 1-
49; John 20:1-29)
2) The Ascension of Our Lord (Acts 1:1-11; Mark 16 19-20; Luke 24:36-
53)
3) The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)
4) The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Psalm 132:8; Luke 1:28;
Revelation 12:1)
5) The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (Luke 1:43;
Revelation 12:1)
The 15 Promises that Mary made to those who pray the Rosary:
The Blessed Virgin Mary promised to Saint Dominic and to all who follow,
"Whatever you ask in the Rosary will be granted." She left for all Christians
Fifteen Promises to those who recite the Holy Rosary.
Imparted to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan
1) Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall
receive signal graces.
2) I promise my special protection and the most extraordinary graces to all
those who shall recite the Rosary.
7
3) The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, and it will destroy
vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4) The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for
souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men
from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire
for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5) The soul, which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary,
shall not perish.
6) Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to considering
its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not
chastise him in His justice, and he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if
he is, he shall remain in the Grace of God and become worthy of eternal
life.
7) Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without
the sacraments of the Church.
8) Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at
their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment
of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9) I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10) The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory
in Heaven.
11) You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12) I shall aid all those who propagate the Holy Rosary in their
necessities.
13) I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the Rosary advocates
shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and
at the hour of death.
14) All who recite the Rosary are my sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters
of my only Son Jesus Christ.
15) The devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
8
Our Lady of Fatima and the importance of praying the Rosary3
May 13thth is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
She is a powerful intercessor and model, especially when sins of the flesh and sins
against humanity dominate the culture.
Our Lady of Fatima appeared six times to the three shepherd children (Lucia,
Jacinta, and Francisco) from May 13, 2017 – October 13, 1917.
Throughout her apparitions, she stressed prayer, fasting, and sacrifice to obtain
peace for the world and the conversion of sinners. She particularly encouraged
daily devotion to the Rosary.

3
See https://www.churchpop.com/2019/05/13/7-powerful-messages-our-lady-of-fatima-gave-to-the-threeshepherd-children-pray-much-sacrifice-for-sinners/
9
Here are seven powerful quotes from Our Lady of Fatima’s Apparitions:
1) Our Lady: “Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the
sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for
the sins with which He is offended and an act of supplication for the
conversion of sinners?
Lucia: Yes, we do.
Our Lady: Well then, you will have much to suffer. But the grace of God will
be your comfort.
(First Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima –May 13, 1917)
2) ‘Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the
war.’
(First Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima –May 13, 1917)
3) “[Jesus] wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world.
I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and these souls will be beloved of
God like flowers arranged by me to adorn His throne.”
(Second Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – June 13, 1917)
4 ) “…Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in
order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, for she alone can
be of any avail.”
(Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – July 13, 1917)
5) “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say many times, especially when you
make a sacrifice, ‘O Jesus, this is for love of Thee, for the conversion of
sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate
Heart of Mary.'”
(Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – July 13, 1917)
10
6) “Pray, pray much, and sacrifice for sinners, for many souls go to hell
because there is no one to sacrifice and pray for them.”
(Fourth Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – August 19, 1917)
7) “I wish to tell you that I want a chapel built here in my honor. I am the
Lady of the Rosary. Continue to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going
to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.”
Lucia: I have many things to ask you: if you would cure some sick persons, and if
you would convert some sinners…
Our Lady: “Some yes, others no. They must amend their lives and ask
forgiveness for their sins.”
Becoming sadder, she added, “Let them offend Our Lord no more, for He is
already much offended.”
(Sixth and Last Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – October 13, 1917)
Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolas (Argentina, 1983)4

4 https://www.virgen-de-san-nicolas.org/
11
How do we finish the Holy Rosary?
After praying the 5 decades, let us make an act of Consecration to Jesus
through Mary:
“This devotion consists then in giving ourselves entirely to the Blessed Virgin, in
order to belong entirely to Jesus through her.”
-St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort (True Devotion to Mary, No. 121).
These words by St. Louis de Montfort, the great promulgator of Marian
consecration, well sum up the means and the goal of consecration to Jesus through
Mary. Far from being simply an added or isolated Marian piety, consecration to
Jesus through Mary represents a crowning of Marian devotion, a new and dynamic
Marian dimension of the Christian life that has been enthusiastically encouraged by
the Church through both invitation and example
What Is Marian Consecration?
Marian consecration is fundamentally a promise of love and a gift of self that gives
all that the Christian is and does entirely and directly to the Mother of the Lord,
thereby allowing her to unite us to her Divine Son in ways simply not possible
without her powerful maternal intercession. Consecration to Jesus through Mary is
to give oneself entirely to Mary in a self-donation of love that enables the
Mediatrix of all graces to use her full intercessory power to keep a person faithful
to his or her baptismal promises to Jesus Christ. 5

5 To read more about the importance of the Marian consecration see:
https://www.motherofallpeoples.com/post/consecration-to-jesus-through-mary
12
CONSECRATION PRAYER
My Queen, my Mother, I give myself
entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you,
I consecrate to you this day
my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart,
my entire self without reserve.
As I am your own, my good Mother,
guard me and defend me
as your property and possession. Amen.
THE ANGELUS
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary...
And the Word was made Flesh:
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary...
13
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom
the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit,
you are the soul of my soul.
I humbly adore you.
Enlighten me, strengthen me,
guide me, comfort me.
Reveal your wishes to me
as far as this is in accordance
with the will of the Eternal Father.
Show me what Eternal Love wants of me.
Show me what I should do.
Show me what I should suffer,
Show me what I should humbly and
thoughtfully accept, bear, and endure.
Holy Spirit, show me your will
14
and the will of the Father,
for I want my whole life to be nothing else
than a continuous, an everlasting yes
to the wishes, to the will of God,

the Eternal Father.