Prayer Rope – 33 Beads – Mount Athos

Description

Prayer Rope with 33 Beads in Black and a Cross with a Blue Bead

This particular prayer rope is a genuine monastic handiwork. It consists of 33 black beads, and at the end, there is a black braided cross decorated with a blue bead. It is crafted by the monks of Mount Athos as part of their monastic duties, with great care and love. Prayer ropes are the most famous monastic craft, in accordance with the tradition of Mount Athos. The monks use the income from these prayer ropes and other monastic crafts to cover their livelihood or maintain the cells and sketes.

Prayer Rope: Usage

The prayer rope typically consists of 33 or 100 beads, but it can also be larger, with 200 or 300 beads.

It is an essential tool for prayer for monks, clergy, and laypeople alike. Specifically, each time a prayer is recited (usually a short prayer), a bead is counted. This way, one can monitor the number of repetitions or track the passage of time.

According to Christian tradition, prayer ropes originated with St. Pachomius in 320 AD. St. Pachomius sought a way to help the monks focus during their prayers. One night, the Archangel Gabriel visited him in a dream and showed him how to create this tool, which would aid the prayer needs of the monks. Thus, the prayer rope was created as a gift from God to the people.

Length: 32.5 cm

Origin: Mount Athos