Description
The prayer ropes are woven according to a tradition that dates back to ancient times. Perhaps one of the earliest forms of a prayer aid was the collection of small stones or seeds and their movement from one point 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 untie the knots from the rope, thwarting the poor monk’s efforts. An angel then appeared and taught the monk a special knot, as it is now formed in prayer ropes, consisting of consecutive 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: “O Most Holy Theotokos, save us,” or other short prayers to the guardian angel, individual saints, or all the saints. The usual form of such a prayer is: “Holy Angel – or Holy (name) – intercede for me.” By turning the words of these short prayers into “have mercy on us” or “intercede for us,” or by including the name or names of people for whom we wish to pray, we can also use the prayer rope for prayers for others. The same applies to prayers for the deceased: “Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant.”
Origin: Mount Athos
