The meaning of the red thread on the wrist in Christianity and other religions

I consider myself an Orthodox person. But last year my friend brought a red thread from Israel - a talisman. It was inconvenient to refuse the gift, but the question arose: is it possible for people of the Christian faith to wear this amulet, does this not go against the biblical commandments and is not considered a sin?

Many women, children and men now wear such talismans, but do not think that they may be violating Christian customs. Let's take a closer look at what this red thread means and what the priests say on this topic.

Origin

However, the most curious ones have logical questions: why the thread, why red, why on the hand, etc.

Let's start with the fact that red has long been considered a protective color. People have also long loved to protect themselves from problems with the help of thread. In the popular Chinese philosophical teaching of Feng Shui, this attribute is used as part of various protective symbols; Bulgarians have a tradition of tying a red thread around a gift bottle of raki, etc. And among our ancestors, the ancient Slavs, the color red and threads were held in high esteem as powerful magical tools.

But the significance of the red thread that specifically interests us can be understood if we follow the one who became, so to speak, a “trendsetter.” These were famous personalities who were also famous for their unusual hobbies. For example, by following the teachings of Kabbalah.

On the right hand

As a rule, those who wear it on their right hand do not know that its place is on the left, or do not pursue the goal of protecting themselves. When worn on the right hand, the owner will not receive protection from evil.

The thread on the right hand is considered an accessory.

Indian unmarried girls are known to wear the thread on their right hand. In this way, they made it clear to men that they were free and worth taking a closer look at as brides.
The ancient Slavs also wore a thread on their right hand, who believed that this way good events would happen in their lives.

Kabbalists about the history of the red thread

Kabbalah fans believe that the thread was salvation for Rachel, the foremother, symbolizing the physical world. Praying to God to grant her the happiness of motherhood, she received a hint from an angel who advised her to wear a red thread, after which the woman was able to give birth to two sons.

Among fans of this teaching, there is an opinion that the thread should be wrapped around Rachel’s grave in Israel, and only then tied on your wrist. However, this is not so easy to do, so this step is simply skipped and only a special prayer is read to empower the talisman.

Proper wearing of the amulet

There are several recommendations on how to properly wear an amulet against the evil eye. In order for the amulet to correctly perform its functions, it should be remembered that only a red wool thread can be used as a talisman. Other material is not suitable.

Of course, it is best if you charge your amulet in Israel, at the grave of the foremother Rachel. To do this, you need to wrap red woolen thread around her grave. It is believed that when touching the monument to Saint Rachel, she is charged with divine power, which brings love and creation. After this, the thread is torn into several pieces and tied on the hands of family and friends.

Wearing a talisman on the left hand provides protective energy, which is inextricably linked with the divine power transmitted through the red thread.

The left hand is a conductor of any energy into our body, so by tying a thread on your left hand, you put a powerful block and protect yourself from blackness entering your body.

Red thread for Orthodox people

The relationship of Christianity to Kabbalah

Orthodox priests most often speak critically of Kabbalah, considering it an esoteric teaching that does not recognize a single Creator, uses magic, astrology, etc. for knowledge and development. It is also called an artificially created phenomenon that resulted from the failure of some people to accept the commandments of the New Testament.

Accordingly, the church does not accept any Kabbalistic symbols, attributing them to objects originating from evil spirits and contradicting the concepts of Christianity.

Should Orthodox Christians wear a thread?

As a result, the topic “can Orthodox Christians wear a red thread” and how correct it is can become the subject of long discussions, because for different people it has different meanings.

ordinary decoration;
copying the style of your favorite singer, actor, model, etc.;
amulet of unknown origin;
and, in the end, one of the symbols of Kabbalah (subject to a clear understanding of the purpose and principles of this movement).

In the first two cases, this seems to be a harmless detail. A person simply decides to tie a wool or silk thread on his hand. Without observing any rituals, without placing high hopes on her. Whether it makes sense or not, he is not interested.

By the way, talismans and amulets extremely rarely work if they are not sincerely believed in.

A thread can also be something special to a person. In this way, he may be trying to protect himself from problems, envy and unhappiness, without wishing harm to others. This can well be interpreted as an appeal to pagan Slavic traditions, i.e. to the beliefs of their ancestors, because in the same way the ancient Slavs protected newborns from evil spirits and damage by tying a red woolen thread with seven knots on their left wrist.

Naturally, in Orthodoxy such use of the red thread is no longer welcomed. As well as the meaningful tying of a thread on the wrist in the form of a Kabbalistic amulet. Wearing it means not believing in the great power of God and joining the ranks of people with different faiths, views and principles, thereby creating an idol for yourself and trusting magic. This is alien to true Christians and goes against the biblical commandments.

Cup of Lord or Demon

Many people who wear the Kabbalah thread every day believe that the flow of energy emanating from the thread actually protects them from demons and the “evil eye.” Other Slavs try to justify this with historical facts, talking about the red thread of Rachel (the mother of the world), which supposedly brings good luck in love.

The red thread, which is a symbol of parareligious affiliation, should not be worn by Orthodox Christians. The evil spirit is the source of energy that powers you along with wearing the thread.

The red thread, which is a symbol of parareligious affiliation, should not be worn by Orthodox Christians

It is worth noting that you may not know about the power of the Devil over you, but betray the Lord God, who wants to be trusted unconditionally. It is not possible to “drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).

In Orthodoxy, a red wool or silk thread on the left wrist is a self-deception that the first commandment is not broken. Orthodox Christians must remember that Christians are not idolaters, and magic and witchcraft contradict the true faith.

The introduction of completely non-Christian concepts into our worldview, which include superstitions, allows for the existence of amulets, the influence of otherworldly energy, is a gradual departure from faith, albeit very slowly, in small steps. Such people over time begin to have a positive attitude towards many beliefs, which is false. The Orthodox Church clearly warns against such practices and prohibits any participation in them.

Orthodox Christians should not wear it. The evil spirit is the source of energy that powers you along with wearing the thread.

Tips for those who want to wear thread

If you still have a strong desire to wear a thread on your hand without betraying your religion, you need to know what else turns this amulet into such a powerful thing from the point of view of Kabbalists. Roughly speaking, go the opposite way, learning what not to do.

We have already spoken about the ritual performed at Rachel’s grave in Israel. However, not even every Kabbalist has the opportunity to conduct it. Also, when tying a thread on the wrist, special prayers are read. It is with the help of prayers that people appeal to the power of magic and charge the amulet with a certain energy, programming it for protection. Tying an amulet to yourself means depriving it of its power; usually this is done by a loved one or spiritual mentor.

Red thread around the wrist and Orthodoxy: attitude, opinion and answers to frequently asked questions

It is believed that the red thread as a talisman originally appeared among the Jews. In ancient pagan times, the Slavs began to use this amulet, believing in its protection from damage and the evil eye.

the red thread creates a placebo effect, knowing about its meaning, a person begins to feel safe and secure;
the brain begins to sincerely believe in the power of the amulet;
a person develops a strong belief in everything occult and magical.

Addiction to all kinds of amulets and talismans is a pagan heritage that needs to be moved away from.
This path deprives the soul of God's grace. The red thread and its wearing, from the point of view of Orthodoxy, is religious worship of Satan. Psychology calls this fashion trend the method of transference, when a person begins to shift his problems onto some object and expect help from it. The red thread is considered a strong amulet that helps in the fulfillment of your most cherished desires. Amulets that are brought from Israel are considered the most valuable among connoisseurs, since according to some legends this occult bracelet originates in Jerusalem.

Is it possible for Orthodox Christians to wear a red thread and a cross?

We must remember that the devil can indeed do certain miracles, but he is not omnipotent. But he can make us believe in his omnipotence. This temptation especially destroys restless people. It’s not difficult for him to send illness to us, and then let him go a little, just so that we accept him as our personal god. Let’s say, when the Church says that you cannot “bewitch” or “cast off the evil eye” because this is a mortal sin, but we still allow it, it means we are not Christians at all. In fact, this is not empty fun, not worth attention, but a long-standing tradition of adherents of Kabbalah - the religion of secret Jewish knowledge, as well as some Hindu beliefs. According to popular belief, this amulet has the ability to protect a person from evil negative energy, or, as we say, “from the evil eye.” Therefore, it is not surprising that not only older people are subject to this monstrous prejudice, but they often tie it even to their children and relatives, wanting to protect them from some “evil eye.”

There is one very smart tactical principle during war. Never underestimate your own enemy. If you are too frivolous and safe, the enemy will definitely find a way to use this to his advantage. For some, a simple thread will be just a thread, and someone, violating the very first Commandment of God, will attribute to it divine traits inherent in physical objects. The Apostle Paul says that: “an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except God alone.” (1 Cor. 8:4)

Is it possible for Orthodox people to wear a red thread?

“The one who walks on the earth - in the heart, all of them - in the heart, and their star in the sky, they shoot from me (name). In the name of the race, manifested in the native gods! (repeat 3 times). I'm calling it a day! May my (name) health be stronger than good! Have it my way! So it was, so it is, and so it will be!”

By purchasing “sacred” threads, Christians unwittingly become adherents of Kabbalah, thereby committing a grave sin. If an Orthodox Christian puts a Kabbalistic sign (red thread) on his body, then he betrays his faith and God. The Satanic symbol cannot protect against Satan.

“And no one will be able to get those keys. And the one who is pleasing to Svyatogor will get those golden keys, but the one who is not pleasing to Svyatogor will not be able to get those keys: neither the sorcerer, nor the sorceress, nor the witch, nor the witch, nor the monk, nor the monk, nor the youth, nor the maiden, nor to every wicked man who walks on the earth.”

Christians have a red thread, can it be worn and on which hand?

Despite the fact that the modern Christian church is against all kinds of amulets and amulets, tying a thread around the wrist can be interpreted as an appeal to one’s roots. Since ancient times, Slavic peoples have used red thread as protection for babies, tying a woolen thread into seven knots on the wrist of a newborn.

They are committed to the teachings, confident that it was the red thread that became salvation for the foremother Rachel. In Hinduism, Rachel is considered the mother of the earth. According to an ancient legend, a woman could not get pregnant for a long time and, praying to the Lord to grant her the happiness of becoming a mother, she saw a wonderful dream.

If you ask an Orthodox clergyman whether a Christian can wear a red thread, you will most likely hear the following words: Where faith is weak, there is sin and all kinds of evil spirits roam.

Why Orthodox Christians cannot wear a red thread

The red thread is used in the practices of eastern peoples. There it is used in the teachings of Feng Shui. In these countries, coins and banknotes are tied with red thread to attract greater wealth. In the age of technology, people do not stop believing in the supernatural - witchcraft and magic. People often use superstitions in everyday life, sometimes without even realizing it. You can often meet a person who knocks on wood three times and spits over his left shoulder to avoid the evil eye. If a person leaves religion and takes the path of paganism - amulets and amulets, he begins to commit sins. He creates a new idol, which he worships and believes in, even if he himself does not realize it. If you continue to trust various magical things, this can lead to the influence of the devil on the weakened faith of the Slavs, and this is a direct path to hellish torment.

Deterioration in health - frequent headaches, dizziness, nausea.
Depressed mood, often leading to depression.
Development of mental illness.

The descendants of the Slavs also preserved this. These include small pieces of rock and stone, pieces of twigs, animal body parts, and bird feathers. It is common to wear a red thread, although many of its owners cannot explain exactly why they need this Slavic amulet.

Can Orthodox Christians wear a red thread?

If because this is often a different culture (although the red thread was also known in Rus'), then it turns out that Orthodox Christians are not allowed to enter mosques or Buddhist temples? This is also part of another culture... A scarlet rope is tied on the wrist against the evil eye, if it is real and brought from Israel. An ordinary scarlet rope is tied to wish, to attract money or love, and even to lose weight. In essence, this is simple pampering. Can an ordinary bracelet somehow diminish faith in the Lord, if it is true? God's commandments are simple postulates for the correct life of people. A wise person will reach them himself, at a certain level of his development, even if he has never read the Bible. Love your neighbors, don't steal, don't kill, honor your parents, don't return evil for evil, help the weak as much as you can - any sane person will do all this anyway. And fear and guilt, which the church so often likes to inflict, are needed in order to keep people under control; this is another unifying institution designed to preserve the integrity of the state mechanism. If you are an Orthodox believer, no one forbids you to wear a red thread like a bracelet like a regular decoration. You don't take off your earrings when you go to church, do you? Take it more simply, faith is always within us and such a simple attribute as a thread on the wrist cannot shake it.

Every country has its own story about the red thread and the evil eye. For example, in America it is “Stinking Eye”, in Hebrew this evil is called “ain hara”, in Spain it is called “small eye”, etc. In India, a red string is tied to girls on their wedding day, and in Bulgaria they give wine tied with a string of this color.

Is the red thread worn on the arm by Orthodox guards or superstition? Can Christians wear it?

Among the Slavs today, dual faith has become fashionable, going to church at the same time and combining them with various occultism, paganism, and belief in amulets. In Orthodoxy, such dual faith refers to unforgivable sins, as well as wearing a red thread and believing in its omnipotence. In our society you can find many more paraphernalia from the pagan past, these are various amulets and amulets, talismans and those objects that supposedly protect a person from all sorts of dangers and protect from unpleasant surprises, from bad influences and the evil eye. Many Slavs have retained such a superstitious way of thinking because it has been immortalized in our consciousness, about which we do not know much and it has not yet been studied. Stones, pieces of leather, a rabbit's foot and a red wool or linen thread on the left hand are used as amulets. We must remember that Christians do not recognize idolatry, sorcery, sorcery, fortune telling and witchcraft. Consciously wearing a red thread, believing in its power and authority is nothing more than idolatry, and by believing in a red thread, the first commandment “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” is violated and this is a serious sin when communicating with God. Before you succumb to this bad fashion for the red thread, think, Slavs and all the Orthodox peoples of Russia - who do you trust, some piece of red thread or Jesus Christ? The red thread itself does not carry any information when it is on the hand of an Orthodox Christian , and as an occult amulet cannot bring him any harm, since it has no power or influence over a Christian. And you shouldn’t consider it a sin, seeing something that isn’t there. Sin is to believe in all superstitions associated with the red thread, in damage and the evil eye and to follow them.

The red thread is safety. Have you heard that it helps against the evil eye? In Colonial America, the evil eye was called the “stinking eye.” In Hebrew “ain hara”, Spanish - “small eye”, etc., in all languages of the world, in these and other cultures there is a specific name for this. What's really going on? And what is the difference between pagan amulets and Christian shrines?

What is the meaning of the red thread in Christianity?

The attitude of a Christian towards a ritual amulet on his wrist is important. If for him the product does not carry symbolism of the fight against the forces of evil, demonic manifestations, one cannot talk about his spiritual fall, renunciation of God's commandments. You can wear red amulets if you endow the thread not with esoteric meaning, but with psychological attitudes. At moments when a person feels vulnerable, during active cooperation with a psychologist or psychotherapist, you can look at your wrist and reinforce your internal resources. The clergy recommend Christian methods: regular communion, attending church, traveling to the Holy Land of Israel, wearing a cross.

The answer to the question whether Orthodox Christians can wear a red thread was voiced by the priests. In the text of the Old Testament there is not a single mention of the fact that a red item on the wrist exists and is associated with Jerusalem, the Bible, or Christianity.

Is it possible for Orthodox Christians to wear a red thread as a talisman or talisman?

Whether this is good or bad, only you can judge. Isn't it better to rely only on yourself? Although faith in God presupposes a search for support not within, but in external circumstances. But everything in Christianity is done with God’s help. And only by the hands of the person himself. Reciting prayers over the red thread and then placing it on the wrist by the church is equivalent to practicing magic. And this, undoubtedly, is a sin. Moreover, it is a grave sin, which will then take a long time to atone for. There are special church rituals for prayers, and deviations from the canons are not encouraged.

The clergy have an extremely negative attitude towards various talismans and special protections. They claim that wearing a red thread on your wrist means shaking your own faith. A Christian should not rely on the power of the amulet. Such behavior is strongly condemned. And it may cause resentment from other Christians.