Editing Prayer rope (section)

==History==
The history of the prayer rope goes back to the origins of Christian monasticism itself. The invention of the prayer rope is attributed to [[Pachomius the Great]] in the fourth century as an aid for illiterate [[monasticism|monks]] to accomplish a consistent number of prayers and [[prostration]]s in their cells. Previously, monks would count their prayers by casting pebbles into a bowl, but this was cumbersome, and could not be easily carried about when outside the cell. The use of the rope made it possible to pray the Jesus Prayer unceasingly, whether inside the cell or out, in accordance with [[Paul the Apostle]]'s injunction to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wardach |first=Lynne |date=2019-02-05 |title=The Jesus Prayer, making chotki prayer ropes, Sunday of the publican and pharisee |url=https://www.byzimom.com/post/the-jesus-prayer |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=ByziMom |language=en}}</ref>

It is said that the method of tying the prayer rope had its origins from the father of Orthodox [[Monasticism#Christianity|monasticism]], [[Anthony the Great]]. He started by tying a leather rope with a simple knot for every time he prayed [[Kyrie|Kyrie Eleison]] ("Lord have Mercy"), but the [[Devil in Christianity|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|Sign of the Cross]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads|last=Winston|first=Kimberly|publisher=Morehouse Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-0819222763|location=New York, NY|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780819222763/page/8 8]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780819222763/page/8}}</ref>