A prayer rope (Greek: κομποσκοίνι, komboskini; Russian: чётки, chotki (most common term) or вервица, vervitsa (literal translation); Romanian: metanii / metanier; Macedonian and Serbian: бројаница, broyanitsa; Bulgarian: броеница, broyenitsa) is a loop made up of complex knots The prayer rope is part of the habit of Eastern
Orthodox monks receive a prayer rope, with the words: Accept, O brother , the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God in the everlasting Jesus prayer by which you should have the name of the Lord in your soul, thoughts, and heart, saying always: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." 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 is a weapon that defeats the Devil.
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 pr
