The Prayer Rope

Mr. Pablo Cuadra

Religion Class
 What is the prayer rope?
• A prayer rope is a loop
made up of complex
knots.
• It is used in Eastern
Catholic spirituality to
count the number of
times the Jesus prayer is
recited.
• This instrument of prayer
is also used by Orthodox
Christians.
• The prayer rope is known
as Komboskini in Greek.
 What is the Jesus prayer?
• The Jesus prayer:
“ Lord Jesus Christ, son
of God have mercy on
me, a sinner.”

• The Jesus prayer is one

of the most profound
and perhaps mystical
prayers in Eastern
Catholicism.

• This prayer is often called the

prayer from the heart, by some
Fathers of the Church.
 How many knots does a typical
prayer rope has?
• A prayer rope would
typically have 100 knots.
• There are several
variations, as to the
number of knots, some
ropes contain only 50,
others 33 knots.
• Some prayer ropes have
only 10 knots (intended to
be worn on the finger).
 Did you know?
Some hermits have
prayer ropes with as
many as 500 knots in
them.
 What is the general appearance of
a prayer rope?
• The prayer rope has a
knotted cross where the
rope is joined together to
form a loop.
• 10 to 25 beads are
placed at certain intervals
between the knots for
easy counting.
• Longer prayer ropes have
a tassel at the end of the
cross.
 What is the meaning of the tassel
found in some prayer ropes?
• The purpose of the
tassel is devotional.
• To dry the tears shed
due to heartfelt
compunction of one’s
sins.
• It is also a symbol of
the Heavenly
Kingdom, which one
can only enter
through the cross.
 What kind of material is used for
the creation of prayer ropes?
• The prayer rope is
commonly made out
of wool.
• Wool symbolizes the
flock of Christ.
• Materials other than
wool can also be
used.
Why is black the Traditional color of
the prayer rope?
• In Eastern Catholic
spirituality black
symbolizes the mourning
the penitent experiences
for his or her sins.
• The beads use to count
the Jesus prayer are also
black.
• The beads and a portion
of the tassel can also be
red to symbolize the
blood of Christ and his
martyrs.
What is the proper custom regarding
the creation of the prayer rope?
• Prayer ropes are usually
tied by monastics (monks
or nuns).
• Any lay person is
permitted to tie them also.
• The person tying a prayer
rope should be of true
faith, and pious life and
should be praying the
Jesus prayer during the
whole process.
 How is the prayer rope used?
• During prayer, the
prayer rope is:
• A. Held in the left
hand.
• B. The right hand
should be free to
make the sign of the
cross.
 How should one disposed of the
prayer rope when not in use?
• The prayer rope
should be wrapped
around the left wrist
so that it continues to
remind one to pray
without ceasing.
• It may also be placed
in the left pocket.
Why can’t the prayer rope be hung around
the neck or suspended from the belt?
• In Eastern Catholic
piety the reason is
humility.
• One should not be
ostentatious or
conspicuous in
displaying the prayer
rope for others to see.
 When do monastics received the
prayer rope?
• The prayer rope is an
important symbol in
the Eastern Catholic
monastic tradition.
• Monks or Nuns are
given the prayer rope
after their tonsure.
What prayer is recited during the tonsure of a
monastic as the prayer rope is being given?
• “Accept, O brother/sister
(name), the sword of the Spirit
which is the word of God in the
everlasting Jesus prayer by
which you should have the
name of the Lord in your soul,
your thoughts, and your heart,
saying always: “Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have
mercy on me a sinner.”

“The Church must breath with both lungs”

John Paul II
 Did you know?
• In the Eastern Catholic as
well as in the Orthodox
churches some liturgical
services can be replaced
when necessary by
praying the Jesus prayer,
anywhere from 300 to
1,500 times depending on
the service being
replaced.
 What is the origin of the prayer
rope?
• The history of the prayer rope is
rooted in Christian monasticism
which sprung in the deserts of
Egypt and flourished in the
Tradition of the East.
• It was customary for monks to
pray the entire 150 psalms
every day.
• The tradition of the prayer rope
and the recitation of the Jesus
prayer 150 times a day began, in
order to aid the monks, who were
unable to read and memorize all
150 psalms.
 St. Pachomius
• The invention of the
prayer rope is
attributed to St.
Pachomius in the 4th
century.
• St. Pachomius is also
attributed with the
creation of monastic
communities.
 Did you know?
• Prior to the creation of
the prayer rope by St.
Pachomius, monks
would count their
prayers by casting
pebbles into a bowl.
 St. Anthony the Great
• The method of tying the prayer
rope had its origin from St.
Anthony the Great, the father
of monastic life.
• He devised a way of tying the
knots inspired by a vision of the
Theotokos or Mother of God,
the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• In this Vision Mary tied the
knots sot that the knots
themselves would constantly
make the sign of the Cross.
 Did you know?
• St. Anthony’s vision
of the blessed virgin
Mary or Theotokos is
the source of today’s
practice of tying
prayer ropes using
knots that each
contain seven little
crosses being tied
over and over.
 Devotion
• According to Eastern
Catholic devotion, the
devil cannot untie the
knots in prayer knot
because the Devil is
vanquished by the
sign of the Cross.
What happened to the prayer rope
in the West?
• In the western church
the prayer rope
evolved into the
Rosary.
 The Jesus Prayer

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a

sinner.”

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