Waxed Prayer Rope ICXC NIKA in Various Colors – Mount Athos

Description

The Mount Athos prayer rope for the hand is thin, discreet, and waxed for greater durability.

The prayer ropes are woven according to a tradition that dates back to ancient times. One of the earliest forms of an aid to prayer was the gathering 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 the story of a monk who thought to make simple knots in a rope and use it during his daily prayer rule. However, the devil would untie the knots and thwart the poor monk’s efforts. Then an Angel appeared and taught the monk a special knot, as it is now shaped in prayer ropes, consisting of successive Crosses. The devil could not undo these knots due to the presence of the Crosses.

With the help of the prayer rope, short prayers can be said, 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 short prayers to the guardian angel, individual saints, or all saints. The usual form of such a prayer is: “Holy Angel” or “Holy (Name), pray for me.” By turning the words of these short prayers into “have mercy on us” or “pray for us,” or by including the name or names of people we wish to pray for, we can also use the prayer rope for intercessions for others. The same applies for prayers for the deceased: “Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant.”