A '''prayer rope''' ('''chotki''' in Russian, '''komboskini''' in Greek) is a loop made up of knots, usually made of woolbut sometimes of wood, that is used to keep track of the number of prayers which have been said. It is usually used with the [[Jesus Prayer]]: "Lord [[Jesus Christ]], Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Historically it typically had 100 knots, although prayer ropes with 300, 50 , or 33 knots or, less commonly, 250 or 12 can also be found in use today. There is typically a knotted [[cross ]] at one end, and a few beads at certain intervals between the knots. "The purpose is to help us concentrate, not necessarily to count." [http://www.svots.edu/Faculty/Albert-Rossi/Articles/Saying-the-Jesus-Prayer.html]

Another form of prayer rope was formerly in use in Russia (and beyond?), and Its invention is still preserved among the Old Believers. It is called '''lestovka''' ("ladder"), and is arranged asymmetricallyattributed to [[Saint|St. Whereas ]] [[Pachomius the more common 100-knot prayer rope is divided into four sets of 25 knots each, separated by larger knots or beads (dividers), Great|Pachomius]] in the lestovka consists of counters consisting of loops of cloth or leather often containing short lengths of small-diameter dowel, arranged in groups fourth century as follows: 12 (an aid for the illiterate [[monk]]s to accomplish a consistent number of the Apostles); 39 (for the weeks of the pregnancy of the Theotokos); 33 (for the year's of Christ'prayers and [[prostration]]s life on earth), and 17 (for the number of prophets). These sections are separated by dividers larger than the counters, and there are three further divider-sized counters at each end, for Monks were often expected to carry a total of nine such large counters (for the nine ranks of angels); thus there are a total of 101 counters plus nine large ones. Where the ends joinprayer rope with them, they are sewn to four triangular leaves (for the four Gospels) sewn together two and two, the upper pair overlapping the lowerremind them to pray constantly in accordance with St. The lestovka is used with the Jesus prayer[[Apostle Paul|Paul]]'s injunction in [[I Thessalonians]] 5:17, but also for counting litany responses, which will often total twelve or thirty-three; for this purpose it is better suited than the more familiar variety of prayer rope"Pray without ceasing. "

Its invention is attributed to [[Saint]] Pachomius in In some Russian Orthodox service books, certain services can be replaced at need by praying the fourth century as an aid for illiterate [[monk]]s to accomplish Jesus Prayer a consistent specified number of times, anywhere from 300 to 1,500 times depending on the service being replaced. In this way prayers and [[prostration]]scan still be said even if the service books are unavailable for some reason. Monks were often expected to carry The use of a prayer rope with them, to remind them to pray constantly is a very practical tool in accordance with Saint [[Apostle Paul|Paul]]'s injunction in [[I Thessalonians]] 5:17such cases, "Pray without ceasingsimply for keeping count of the prayers said."

In some Russian Orthodox service booksAnother form of prayer rope was formerly in use in Russia<!-- (and beyond?) --->, certain services can be replaced at need and is still preserved among the [[Old Believers]]. It is called '''lestovka''' ("ladder"), and is arranged asymmetrically. Whereas the more common 100-knot prayer rope is divided into four sets of 25 knots each, separated by praying larger knots or beads (dividers), the lestovka consists of counters consisting of loops of cloth or leather often containing short lengths of small-diameter dowel, arranged in groups as follows: 12 (for the number of the [[Apostles]]); 39 (for the weeks of the pregnancy of the [[Theotokos]]); 33 (for the years of [[Christ]]'s life on earth), and 17 (for the Jesus Prayer a specified number of times[[prophet]]s). These sections are separated by dividers larger than the counters, anywhere from 300 to 1and there are three further divider-sized counters at each end,500 times depending on for a total of nine such large counters (for the service being replacednine ranks of [[angels]]); thus there are a total of 101 counters plus nine large ones. In this way prayers can still be said even if Where the service books ends join, they are unavailable sewn to four triangular leaves (for some reasonthe four [[Gospel]]s) sewn together two and two, the upper pair overlapping the lower. The use lestovka is used with the Jesus prayer, but also for counting litany responses, which will often total 12 or 33; for this purpose it is better suited than the more familiar variety of a prayer rope . <!-- [A description of the lestovka is a very practical tool in such cases, simply for keeping count of included among the appendices to the prayers saidErie prayer book.] --->

==Source==*[A description of the lestovka is included among the appendices to the Erie prayer book.[w:Prayer rope|''Prayer rope'' on Wikipedia]]