Description
The Prayer Rope – A Timeless Tradition from Mount Athos
The prayer ropes are woven according to a tradition that dates back to ancient times. One of the earliest forms of a prayer aid may have been the gathering of small stones or seeds, which were moved from one place or container to another during the “rule” of prayer or the “rule” of small or great prostrations.
There is also the story of a monk who thought to make simple knots in a rope and use it during his daily “rule” of prayer. However, the devil would undo the knots, thwarting the efforts of the poor monk. Then, an angel appeared and taught the monk a special knot, like the one we now find in prayer ropes, consisting of repeated crosses. The devil could not untie these knots 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, be merciful to me, a sinner”, the prayer to the Theotokos: “O Most Holy Theotokos, save us”, or other short prayers to one’s guardian angel, to specific saints, or to all saints. The typical form of such a prayer is: “Holy Angel, or Holy (Name), pray for me.” By changing the words of these short prayers to “Have mercy on us” or “Pray for us”, or by including the names of individuals for whom we wish to pray, we can also use the prayer rope to intercede for others. The same applies for prayers for the departed: “Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant.”
Origin: Mount Athos
