Prayer Bracelet – A Prayer Rope With Many Names

The Orthodox prayer bracelet a prayer rope with many names, I would like to take this moment and tell the story behind those names.

The orthodox prayer rope is a rope that is used in orthodox religion by monks, nuns and religious people to count the times they are praying the “Jesus Prayer”. You will find these prayer ropes in every countries that has the Christian Orthodox religion as a basis. These country’s are Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

And several countries have a own name for this blessed and wonderful object. In the following list you will find the different names it has.

In Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine its called “Berbica”

In Greece and Cyprus its called Komvhoskhinion / Komboskini or simply Chotki

In Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia its called Brojanica

In Bulgaria its called Broenica

In Romania its called “Matanni”

All these countries consider it to be a blessed and divine object, which it of course is.

In recent times the orthodox prayer bracelet and necklace has become very popular not only as a religious object and treasured gift you give to dear friends and loved ones but also as a fashion accessory. Many young people outside of these countries and nationalities have started wearing them without really knowing the blessed history behind them. I think this is because of its original and natural look, young people find it to be cool and special.

Originally these ropes came only in black but nowadays you can get them in every color with crosses and beads woven into them. Authentic prayer bracelets are handmade by monks and nuns in Christian Orthodox Monastery’s. They mostly come in 33knots (bracelets) 50 knots (larger bracelet) and 100 knots (necklace). Because of the complexity of these knots it is very time consuming to make a prayer rope.

I hope you have found this information to be useful and that I jump started an interest in the orthodox prayer bracelet. You will be seeing more articles on its wonderful history and the story behind them soon.