Orthodox Prayer Ropes

Komboskini or Chotki

Eastern Orthodox Christians use knotted ropes rather than strings of beads for counting their prayers. The prayers ropes (called komboskini in Greek and chotki in Russian) have 100, 50, or 33 knots, and the 100 knot ropes sometimes have a bead every 10 or 25 knots to aid in keeping count. There is usually a cross made of knots where the loop begins and ends, and tassels at the end of the cross are common in longer ropes.

The use of prayer ropes is believed to have begun with St. Pachomius, an Egyptian monk, in the 4th century. He invented the ropes to enable illiterate monks to say a consistent number of prayers.

Materials used to prayer ropes

Prayer ropes are traditionally made from wool, to symbolize Christ's flock, though in recent times other fibers, such as hemp or acrylic, are sometimes used. If beads are present, they are usually made of wood, but beads of all kinds have been used. Traditionally, the wool is black, to symbolize mourning for ones sins. The beads are either black, or if colored, red, symbolizing Christ's shed blood.