Editing Prayer rope (section)

==Use==
[[Image:Komboskini 300 knots.jpg|thumb|Greek ''komboskini'' of 100 knots]]
[[Image:Tikhon of Moscow.jpg|thumb|[[Tikhon of Moscow]] dressed in his monastic habit as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia with a white prayer rope in his left hand]]

When praying, the user normally holds the prayer rope in the left hand, leaving the right hand free to make the [[Sign of the Cross]]. When not in use, the prayer rope is traditionally wrapped around the left wrist so that it continues to remind one to pray without ceasing. If this is impractical, it may be placed in the (left) pocket, but should not be hung around the neck or suspended from the belt. The reason for this is humility: one should not be ostentatious or conspicuous in displaying the prayer rope for others to see.<ref name="Runyon">{{Cite web |last=Runyon |first=Fr Peter |date=2015-06-10 |title=Using A Prayer Rope - Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church |url=https://gabriel.church/using-a-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

During their [[tonsure#Eastern Christianity 2|tonsure]] (religious profession),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orthodoxyinamerica.org/article.php?id=24 |title=The Monastic Tonsure |publisher=Orthodoxyinamerica.org |access-date=2013-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028233425/http://orthodoxyinamerica.org/article.php?id=24 |archive-date=2013-10-28 }}</ref> [[Eastern Orthodox]] [[Monk#Eastern Christianity|monks]] and [[Nun#Eastern Orthodox|nuns]] receive a prayer rope, with the words:
<blockquote>
Accept, O brother (sister) ''(name)'', the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God ([[Ephesians]] 6:17) 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."
</blockquote>

Orthodoxy regards the prayer rope as the sword of the Spirit, because prayer which is heartfelt and inspired by the grace of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] is a weapon that defeats the [[Devil in Christianity|Devil]].<ref name="Runyon"/>

Among some [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] monastics (and occasionally other faithful), the [[canonical hours#Daily cycle of services|canonical hours]] and preparation for Holy Communion may be replaced by praying the Jesus Prayer a specified number of times dependent on the service being replaced. In this way prayers can still be said even if the service books are for some reason unavailable or the person is not literate or otherwise unable to recite the service; the  prayer rope becomes a very practical [[tool]] in such cases, simply for keeping count of the prayers said. However, among some monastics, e.g. [[Hesychasm|hesychast]]s, this replacement is the norm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Believers Eastern Church |url=https://www.bec.org/the-role-of-the-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Believers Eastern Church}}</ref>

One scheme for replacing the [[Canonical Hours#Daily cycle of services|Divine Services]] with the Jesus Prayer and prostrations is as follows:<ref>[http://st-george-church.org/English/Prayer_Rope.htm Orthodox Tradition The Prayer Rope] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213041727/http://st-george-church.org/English/Prayer_Rope.htm |date=February 13, 2011 }}</ref>
:Instead of the entire Psalter: 6,000 Jesus Prayers and prostrations
::One [[kathisma]] of the Psalter: 300 prayers and prostrations (100 for each stasis)
:[[Midnight Office]]: 600
:[[Matins]]: 1,500
:The [[Little Hours|Hours]] without the Inter-Hours: 1000;
:The Hours with the [[Inter-Hours]]: 1,500
:[[Vespers]]: 600
:Great [[Compline]]: 700
:Small Compline: 400
:A [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]] or [[Akathist]] to the Most Holy [[Theotokos]] (Mother of God): 500

Over the centuries, various cell rules<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/cellrule.aspx |title=The Cell Rule of Five Hundred of the Optina Monastery |publisher=Orthodoxinfo.com |access-date=2013-02-08}}</ref> have developed to help the individual in the daily use of the prayer rope. However, there is no single, standardized method in use universally throughout the Church. There may be [[Zemnoy poklon|prostrations]] after each prayer or after a certain number of prayers, depending upon the particular rule being followed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-24 |title=How to use a prayer rope ?? |url=https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12500/how-to-use-a-prayer-rope |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Tasbeha.org Community}}</ref>

Not only is the Jesus Prayer used, but Eastern Christians also have many "[[breath prayer]]s". Contrary to thought, they are not to be said using [[spiritual breathing]], as that can only be determined by a spiritual father. Breath prayers continuously repeated on the prayer rope may include: Lord Have Mercy, Come Lord Jesus, Lord I Believe...Help My Unbelief, Lord Save Me, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=michaelbinkley88 |date=2015-06-09 |title=The Use of the Prayer Rope |url=https://prayerrope.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/the-use-of-the-prayer-rope/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=prayerrope |language=en}}</ref>