Athonite Prayer Rope, Thin and Waxed with Beads – Mount Athos

Description

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

The prayer ropes are woven according to a tradition that dates back centuries. One of the earliest forms of a prayer aid may have been the collection of small stones or seeds, which were moved from one point or container to another during the “rule” of prayer or the “rule” of small or large prostrations. There is also the story of a monk who decided to tie simple knots on a rope and use it in his daily prayer rule. However, the devil would undo the knots and thwart the monk’s efforts. An angel then appeared and taught the monk a special knot, which is now formed in the prayer ropes, consisting of repeated crosses. These knots the devil could not undo due to the presence of the crosses.

With the help of the prayer rope, short prayers can be recited, such as the prayer of the tax collector: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” the prayer to the Theotokos: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us,” or other brief prayers to the Guardian Angel, individual Saints, or All Saints. The usual form of such prayers is: “Holy Angel – or Holy (such and such) intercede for me.” By changing the words of these short prayers to “have mercy on us” or “intercede for us,” or by including the name(s) of the people we wish to pray for, the prayer rope can also be used to pray for others. The same applies for praying for the deceased: “Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant.”

*The colors of the beads may vary and are selected randomly.