Athonite Prayer Rope – Thin Waxed with Beads – Mount Athos

Description

The Athonite prayer rope for the hand is thin, discreet, and waxed for greater durability, with beads in various colors.

Prayer ropes are woven according to a tradition that dates back centuries. One of the earliest forms of a tool to assist in prayer was the collection of small stones or seeds and moving them from one point or container to another during the “rule” of prayer or the “rule” of small or large prostrations. There is also a story of a monk who thought to make simple knots in a rope and use it in his daily “rule” of prayer. However, the devil would undo the knots from the rope and frustrate the poor monk’s efforts. An angel then appeared and taught the monk a special knot, as is now formed in the prayer ropes, made of successive crosses. The devil could not undo these knots because of the presence of the crosses.

With the help of the prayer rope, short prayers can be said, such as the prayer of the publican: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” the prayer to the Theotokos: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us,” or other short prayers to the guardian angel, individual saints, or the whole assembly of saints. A common form of such a prayer is: “Holy Angel” or “Holy (Saint) intercede for me.” By transforming the words of these short prayers into “Have mercy on us” or “Intercede for us” or including the name or names of people we want to pray for, the prayer rope can also be used for intercessory prayers for others. The same is true for prayers for the deceased: “Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant.