View source for Prayer rope

{{Short description|Item used in Christianity to assist prayer}}
[[Image:Eastern-Orthodox-prayer-rope 2006-06-02.jpg|thumb|Simple black [[Eastern Catholic Church|Eastern Christian]] prayer rope without tassel]]
{{Eastern Orthodox sidebar|expanded=worship}}
A '''prayer rope'''<ref group="note">{{langx|el|κομποσκοίνι|komboskíni}}; {{langx|ru|чётки|chyotki}} or {{langx|ru|вервица|vervitsa|label=none}} (literal translation); {{langx|ar|مسبحة|misbaḥa}}; {{langx|ro|metanii}} or {{lang|ro|metanier}}; [[Serbian language|Serbian]] and {{langx|mk|бројаница|brojanica}}; {{langx|bg|броеница|broenitsa}}; [[Georgian language|Georgian]]: სკვნილი, romanized'':'' ''skvnili;'' {{langx|cop|ⲙⲉⲕⲩⲧⲁⲣⲓⲁ|mequ(e)taria}}; {{langx|gez|መቁጠሪያ|mequteria}}, or {{langx|gez|መቍጠርያ|mequeteria|label=none}}.</ref> is a [[loop (knot)|loop]] made up of complex woven [[knot]]s formed in a cross pattern, usually out of [[wool]] or [[silk]]. The typical prayer rope has thirty-three knots, representing the thirty-three years of [[Life of Jesus|Christ's life]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Using a Prayer Rope in Prayer |url=https://www.orthodoxprayer.org/Prayer%20Rope.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.orthodoxprayer.org}}</ref><ref>[[Lepavina Monastery]], [http://www.manastir-lepavina.org/duhovnik/?read=1911 ''Duhovni razgovor o.Gavrila sa bratom Mladenom''] (in Serbian)</ref> It is employed by monastics, and sometimes by others, to count the number of times one has [[prayer|prayed]] the [[Jesus Prayer]] (or occasionally other prayers).

Prayer ropes are part of the [[religious practice|practice]] of [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] [[Monk|monks]] and [[Nun|nuns]],<ref name="Monasticism_Orthodox_Churches">{{Cite book|last=Robinson|first=N.F.|year=1916|publication-date=1916|title=Monasticism in the Orthodox Churches|place=[[Milwaukee, WI]]|publisher=Young churchman Company|isbn=0-404-05375-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=raQPAQAAIAAJ&q=Monasticism+in+the+Orthodox+Church+by+N.+F.+Robinson}}</ref> particularly within [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholicism]], and [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodoxy]]. Among the [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]], [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian]], and [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Eritrean Orthodox Churches]], a prayer rope is known by its [[Coptic language|Coptic]] or [[Geʽez|Ge'ez]] name ({{Transliteration|cop|mequetaria}}).

==Description==
[[File:Chotki vervitsa.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Eastern Christian prayer rope with 50 knots and 5 wooden beads]]
Historically, the prayer rope would typically have 100 knots, although prayer ropes with 150, 60, 50, 33, 64 or 41 knots can also be found in use today. There are even small 10-knot prayer ropes intended to be worn on the finger. Hermits in their cells may have prayer ropes with as many as 300 or 500 knots in them.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-02 |title=The Orthodox Prayer Rope - Komboskini |url=https://theholyart.org/blogs/news/the-orthodox-prayer-rope-komboskini |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=TheHolyArt |language=en}}</ref>

Characteristically, the knots of a prayer rope are [[diamond knot]]s ([[The Ashley Book of Knots|ABoK]] #787).

There is typically a knotted [[Christian cross|cross]] where the prayer rope is joined together to form a loop, and a few [[prayer beads|beads]] at certain intervals between the knots (usually every 10 or 25 knots) for ease in counting. Longer prayer ropes frequently have a tassel at the end of the cross; its purpose is to dry the tears shed due to heartfelt [[Repentance|compunction]] for one's sins.<ref name="orthodoxinfo.com">cf. [http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/comboschini.aspx Comboschini (The Prayer Rope) Meditations of a Monk of the Holy Mountain Athos]</ref> The tassel can also be said to represent the glory of the [[Kingdom of God|Heavenly Kingdom]], which one can enter only through the Cross. Additionally, the tassel represents an inherited tradition of prayer. The symbol of tassels as tradition coming from [[Old Testament]] commandments to [[Jews]] to wear [[tzitzit|tassels]] on their garments to keep in mind the received laws.<ref name="orthodoxmomasteryicons.com">[https://www.orthodoxmonasteryicons.com/collections/prayer-rope-filakto cf.]</ref>

The prayer rope is commonly made out of wool, symbolizing the flock of Christ;<ref name="orthodoxinfo.com"/> though in modern times other materials are used also. The traditional color of the rope is black (symbolizing mourning for one's sins),<ref name="orthodoxinfo.com"/> with either black or colored beads. The beads (if they are colored) and at least a portion of the tassel are traditionally red, symbolizing the blood of Christ and the blood of the martyrs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-23 |title=Can Catholics Pray with Chokti Beads? |url=https://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/68701 |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Women of Grace |language=en-us}}</ref> In recent times, however, prayer ropes have been made in a wide variety of colors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BRF {{!}} Leading Christian charity enabling ministry and mission {{!}} Praying with ropes |url=https://www.brf.org.uk/product/praying-with-ropes/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=BRF |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mount Athos Prayer Ropes: Greek Orthodox Komboskini |url=https://www.monastiriaka.gr/en/mount-athos-prayer-ropes |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Monastiriaka |language=en}}</ref>

Among the Oriental Orthodox, the prayer rope is composed of 41, 64, or 100 beads and is primarily used to recite the Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy) prayer as well as others such as the Lord's Prayer and the Magnificat. In regards to the first two numbers, the first number represents the number of lashes inflicted on Jesus (39 according to Jewish custom) alongside the lance wound and crown of thorns, while the latter represents Mary's age upon her Assumption respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The origins of the Catholic Rosary |url=https://aleteia.org/2017/02/11/ever-heard-of-the-orthodox-rosary-called-a-komboskini-or-prayer-rope |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref>

==Use==
[[Image:Komboskini 300 knots.jpg|thumb|Greek ''komboskini'' of 100 knots]]
[[Image:Tikhon of Moscow.jpg|thumb|[[Tikhon of Moscow]] dressed in his monastic habit as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia with a white prayer rope in his left hand]]

When praying, the user normally holds the prayer rope in the left hand, leaving the right hand free to make the [[Sign of the Cross]]. When not in use, the prayer rope is traditionally wrapped around the left wrist so that it continues to remind one to pray without ceasing. If this is impractical, it may be placed in the (left) pocket, but should not be hung around the neck or suspended from the belt. The reason for this is humility: one should not be ostentatious or conspicuous in displaying the prayer rope for others to see.<ref name="Runyon">{{Cite web |last=Runyon |first=Fr Peter |date=2015-06-10 |title=Using A Prayer Rope - Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church |url=https://gabriel.church/using-a-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

During their [[tonsure#Eastern Christianity 2|tonsure]] (religious profession),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orthodoxyinamerica.org/article.php?id=24 |title=The Monastic Tonsure |publisher=Orthodoxyinamerica.org |access-date=2013-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028233425/http://orthodoxyinamerica.org/article.php?id=24 |archive-date=2013-10-28 }}</ref> [[Eastern Orthodox]] [[Monk#Eastern Christianity|monks]] and [[Nun#Eastern Orthodox|nuns]] receive a prayer rope, with the words:
<blockquote>
Accept, O brother (sister) ''(name)'', the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God ([[Ephesians]] 6:17) in the everlasting Jesus prayer by which you should have the name of the Lord in your soul, your thoughts, and your heart, saying always: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."
</blockquote>

Orthodoxy regards the prayer rope as the sword of the Spirit, because prayer which is heartfelt and inspired by the grace of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] is a weapon that defeats the [[Devil in Christianity|Devil]].<ref name="Runyon"/>

Among some Orthodox monastics (and occasionally other faithful), the [[canonical hours#Daily cycle of services|canonical hours]] and preparation for Holy Communion may be replaced by praying the Jesus Prayer a specified number of times dependent on the service being replaced. In this way prayers can still be said even if the service books are for some reason unavailable or the person is not literate or otherwise unable to recite the service; the  prayer rope becomes a very practical tool in such cases, simply for keeping count of the prayers said. However, among some monastics, e.g. [[Hesychasm|hesychast]]s, this replacement is the norm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Believers Eastern Church |url=https://www.bec.org/the-role-of-the-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Believers Eastern Church}}</ref>

One scheme for replacing the [[Canonical Hours#Daily cycle of services|Divine Services]] with the Jesus Prayer and prostrations is as follows:<ref>[http://st-george-church.org/English/Prayer_Rope.htm Orthodox Tradition The Prayer Rope] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213041727/http://st-george-church.org/English/Prayer_Rope.htm |date=February 13, 2011 }}</ref>
:Instead of the entire Psalter: 6,000 Jesus Prayers and prostrations
::One [[kathisma]] of the Psalter: 300 prayers and prostrations (100 for each stasis)
:[[Midnight Office]]: 600
:[[Matins]]: 1,500
:The [[Little Hours|Hours]] without the Inter-Hours: 1000;
:The Hours with the [[Inter-Hours]]: 1,500
:[[Vespers]]: 600
:Great [[Compline]]: 700
:Small Compline: 400
:A [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]] or [[Akathist]] to the Most Holy [[Theotokos]] (Mother of God): 500

Over the centuries, various cell rules<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/cellrule.aspx |title=The Cell Rule of Five Hundred of the Optina Monastery |publisher=Orthodoxinfo.com |access-date=2013-02-08}}</ref> have developed to help the individual in the daily use of the prayer rope. However, there is no single, standardized method in use universally throughout the Church. There may be [[Zemnoy poklon|prostrations]] after each prayer or after a certain number of prayers, depending upon the particular rule being followed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-24 |title=How to use a prayer rope ?? |url=https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12500/how-to-use-a-prayer-rope |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Tasbeha.org Community}}</ref>

Not only is the Jesus Prayer used, but Eastern Christians also have many "[[breath prayer]]s". Contrary to thought, they are not to be said using [[spiritual breathing]], as that can only be determined by a spiritual father. Breath prayers continuously repeated on the prayer rope may include: Lord Have Mercy, Come Lord Jesus, Lord I Believe...Help My Unbelief, Lord Save Me, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=michaelbinkley88 |date=2015-06-09 |title=The Use of the Prayer Rope |url=https://prayerrope.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/the-use-of-the-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=prayerrope |language=en}}</ref>

==Wearing==
Among Orthodox believers, small 33-knot prayer ropes are frequently worn around the wrist. Some Orthodox may wear a large 100-knot prayer rope around their neck,<ref>{{cite web |title=ШТА ЈЕ БРОЈАНИЦА |url=https://sites.google.com/site/pravoslavnaveronauka/brojanica |website=Православље за почетнике}}</ref>
However, this is considered incorrect by the vast majority of Orthodox churches; the rope is to always be worn around the left wrist (sometimes also woven between fingers) when not in use.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to use a prayer rope |url=https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/how-to-use-a-prayer-rope/#h-how-to-use-a-prayer-rope |website=St. John the Evangelist Church}}</ref>

==History==
The history of the prayer rope goes back to the origins of Christian monasticism itself. The invention of the prayer rope is attributed to [[Pachomius the Great]] in the fourth century as an aid for illiterate [[monasticism|monks]] to accomplish a consistent number of prayers and [[prostration]]s in their cells. Previously, monks would count their prayers by casting pebbles into a bowl, but this was cumbersome, and could not be easily carried about when outside the cell. The use of the rope made it possible to pray the Jesus Prayer unceasingly, whether inside the cell or out, in accordance with [[Paul the Apostle]]'s injunction to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wardach |first=Lynne |date=2019-02-05 |title=The Jesus Prayer, making chotki prayer ropes, Sunday of the publican and pharisee |url=https://www.byzimom.com/post/the-jesus-prayer |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=ByziMom |language=en}}</ref>

It is said that the method of tying the prayer rope had its origins from the father of Orthodox [[Monasticism#Christianity|monasticism]], [[Anthony the Great]]. He started by tying a leather rope with a simple knot for every time he prayed [[Kyrie|Kyrie Eleison]] ("Lord have Mercy"), but the [[Devil in Christianity|Devil]] would come and untie the knots to throw off his count. He then devised a way—inspired by a vision he had of the Theotokos—of tying the knots so that the knots themselves would constantly make the sign of the cross. This is why prayer ropes today are still tied using knots that each contain seven little crosses being tied over and over. The Devil could not untie it because the Devil is vanquished by the [[Sign of the cross|Sign of the Cross]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads|last=Winston|first=Kimberly|publisher=Morehouse Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-0819222763|location=New York, NY|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780819222763/page/8 8]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780819222763/page/8}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Hesychasm]]
*[[Lestovka]]
*[[Prayer beads]]
*[[Rosary]]
*[[Tasbih]]
*[[Japamala]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Komboskini}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051208032124/http://www.wattfamily.org/prayerope.html How to tie an Orthodox Prayer Rope knot]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060210163108/http://firebirdvideos.com/videos/videosinenglish/prayerrope.htm How To Make an Orthodox Prayer Rope]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070219225950/http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/comboschini.aspx The Prayer Rope: Meditations of a Monk of the Holy Mountain Athos]
*[http://www.orthodox.net/ustav/the-cell-rule-of-five-hundred-of-the-optina-monastery.html The Cell Rule of Five Hundred of the Optina Monastery]
*[http://www.chetki-chetki.ru/pravoslavnye-chyotki/ Orthodox Prayer Beads] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822011613/http://chetki-chetki.ru/pravoslavnye-chyotki |date=2015-08-22 }}
*[http://www.chotki.com/how-to/ How to tie an Orthodox Prayer Rope] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522143610/http://www.chotki.com/how-to/ |date=2016-05-22 }}

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