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[[Image:J019.jpg|right|thumb|A 100 knot prayer rope.]]A '''prayer rope''' (''chotki'' in Russian, ''komboskini'' in Greek) is a loop of knots, usually made of wool but sometimes of wood, that is used during praying to keep track of the number of prayers [[prayer]]s which have been said. It The rope 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]
Its invention is attributed to [[Saint|St.]] [[Pachomius the Great|Pachomius]] in the fourth century as an aid for illiterate [[monk]]s to accomplish a consistent number of prayers and [[prostration]]s. Monks were often expected to carry a prayer rope with them, to remind them to pray constantly in accordance with St. [[Apostle Paul|Paul]]'s injunction in [[I Thessalonians]] 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."
