Comparing Orthodox Prayer Rope & Catholic Rosary

[SingleMomMonica]

I’m not sure if what I have is the same as your prayer rope - a plain wooden cross with seventeen wooden beads on each side of the chain with a larger wooden bead in the middle - but it was given to me at a Byzantine Catholic church; I’ve been using it for the Jesus Prayer and therefore have been referring to it (probably incorrectly) as a kombologion. Some of the Orthodox people on this thread can probably tell me if it’s any different than their prayer ropes; anything the Orthodox have the Byzantine Catholics will use as well.

So I don’t think it’s a proper comparison between “Orthodox Prayer Rope” and “Catholic Rosary”, but rather between “Byzantine Prayer Rope” and “Dominican or Latin Rosary”.

It’s called a either a Komboskini or Prayer Rope or Chotki in Russian.

Traditionally, the cross is generally knotted wool not wooden, but then I’ve even seem some with a medal/platic cross like the one shown on this site: greekshops.com/Food_and_Cookware/Religious_Supplies/Komboskini_Religious_Bracelet_in_Black.html?pdi=BBB3&ug=137

I’ve seen them small like the one on the above site - the one I wear on my wrist has a knotted cross rather than a plastic one, but in between the prayer knots and the cross are purple beads. These bracelets with 33 knots are meant to be worn to remind us to pray in all situation and to help us pray using it. 33 stands for the # of years Christ lived on earth - sometimes the makers accidently add a 34th knot?

I Komboskini that I keep at home and use for my Prayer Rule is a hundred knot rope with the large knotted cross hanging from it with tassles. The tassles are for wiping away the tears of repentence. Here is a link I found on Google which shows a picture of one that looks like it: ecrater.com/product.php?pid=414064

 

[peary]

My questions are:

1. What is it called?

It is called, in eastern orthodoxy, a "prayer rope."

1. How is it prayed? Are there traditional prayers?

What is prayed on the beads or knots is the “Jesus Prayer” for the most part.

1. Who ‘invented’ it? Who does tradition assign as the source of this devotion?

Its origin is from ancient monasticism. It was the custom of monks to recite the Psalter - the 150 Psalms. Later, it became a pious practice of saying 150 Jesus Prayers. It is said that the method of tying the prayer rope had its origins from the Father of Orthodox Monasticism, Saint Anthony the Great. He started by tying a leather rope with a simple knot for every time he prayed Kyrie Eleison (“Lord have Mercy”), but the Devil would come and untie the knots to throw off his count. He then devised a way–inspired by a vision he had of the Theotokos–of tying the knots so that the knots themselves would constantly make the sign of the cross. This is why prayer ropes today are still tied using knots that each contain seven little crosses being tied over and over. The Devil could not untie it because the Devil is vanquished by the Sign of the Cross.

1. Do Eastern Catholics also pray it or just the Orthodox?

Some of them do, but most Eastern Catholics pray the Rosary, as far as I know. Not only is the Jesus Prayer used, but Eastern Christians also have many “Breath Prayers”. Contrary to thought, they are not to be said using spiritual breathing as that can only be determined by a spiritual father. Some breath prayers that are continuously repeated on the Prayer Rope are: Lord Have Mercy, Come Lord Jesus, Lord I Believe…Help My Unbelief, Lord Save Me, etc. It’s really a form of meditation.

1. Are there any special Feast Days when it is custom to pray it?

There might be in the Eastern orthodox churches, but I am not aware of them.

1. Is it a private devotion or public prayer?

Both.

1. Does it sometimes have a crucifix or beads or medals?

It has beads and some have knots.

I hope someone is interested in teaching me about this Prayer Rope, for some reason, I kept contemplating it…even when the Icons were so beautiful!

Thanks!
Maria