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The Prayer Rope
The Orthodox prayer rope, like prayer and fasting, can be considered an implement in our personal spiritual
toolboxes to help us experience spiritual growth, develop our prayer life and, ultimately, grow closer to
God. St. Pachomius, in fact, is acknowledged as the creator of the prayer rope in the fourth century. He
developed it as an aid for illiterate monks to keep track of their prayers and prostrations.
But, in another perspective, these tools become like arrows in a quiver or a sword in a sheath, used to
defeat temptation, evil and attacks by the Devil. Indeed, a monk — some say it was St. Anthony the
Great — is credited with developing the method of tying the prayer rope in knots, each containing seven
small crosses. It seems the Devil would untie his first knots every time the monk recited "Lord have mercy",
throwing off the monk's count. The monk — taught by an angel or inspired by a vision of the Theotokos,
depending on the account — devised a knot the Devil could not untie, because the Devil is vanquished by
the Sign of the Cross. Thus, the prayer rope is considered by some to be a sword used in spiritual warfare,
because it continues to defeat the Devil to this day.
Although The Jesus Prayer is the primary prayer used with the prayer rope, other
prayers may be used, especially those for the Holy Theotokos. We must always remember, however, that a prayer
rope is not a piece of jewelry, nor is it to be handled or displayed carelessly. In addition, we should pray
"in secret, alone and in silence", and not make a public spectacle of our devotions, like the Pharisee in the
Parable with the Publican.
The usage of the prayer rope, then, is twofold: To serve as a tool for continual prayer, remembering St. Paul's
words to "pray without ceasing." It is used to count, but more so to help concentrate and develop our prayer
life. Finally, the prayer rope reminds us to always call on the Most Holy Name of Jesus, as there is power in
His Name.
Several varieties of the prayer rope are available in our parish source for Orthodox Christian religious
materials, The St. Nectarios Bookstore. For information about the
prayer rope and its use, please visit the following links:
What is a Prayer Rope
(Comboschini) — including two videos
Comboschini (The Prayer Rope):
Meditations of a Monk of the Holy Mountain Athos
The Orthodox Prayer Rope and The Jesus
Prayer — 7 links/articles
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