Prayer Craft – Ionian Prayer Rope – 33 Knots – Mount Athos

Description

Athonite Prayer Craft with 33 Beads of Grey Amber

A beautiful handmade prayer craft with 33 knots made of grey amber, also known as Sea Amber. Among the grey amber beads, there are scattered metallic beads in gold color, and it ends with a small metallic cross.

Grey amber, also known as amber, ambergris, or ambar, is a solid, waxy, flammable substance with a dull grey or black color, produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Although its scent is initially not very pleasant, over time it develops a sweet, earthy aroma similar to that of pine or smoke. Grey amber is rare and takes many years to form. For this reason, sea amber beads are extremely valuable.

The prayer craft is an integral part of the Athonite monks’ daily life. In fact, one of the most widespread activities of the monks is the creation of prayer crafts, which are made of knots or beads of wood or semi-precious stones. In this way, they create useful aids for the time of prayer.

Athonite Prayer Craft – Use

This particular Athonite prayer craft consists of 33 beads made of grey amber. The prayer craft greatly helps in the concentration of the mind during prayer. For each knot or bead that a person passes between their fingers, they say a prayer, with the most common being: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” According to Christian tradition, prayer ropes and generally prayer crafts originated with Saint Pachomius in 320 AD. Specifically, Saint Pachomius began searching for a way to help monks concentrate during prayer and count their prayers. It was then that Archangel Gabriel visited him in a dream and showed him how to make the tool that would serve the needs of prayer.

Origin: Mount Athos

Beads: 33