Handmade Christian Orthodox Greek Komboskoini,prayer Rope 100knots Pentant Black 100 knots with cross from Mt. Athos Black color A prayer rope (Greek: , komboskini; Russian: , chotki (most common term) or , vervitsa (literal translation); Romanian: metanii / metanier; Macedonian and Serbian: , broyanitsa; Bulgarian: , broyenitsa) is a loop made up of complex knots The prayer rope is part of the habit of Eastern Orthodox monks and nuns and is employed by monastics to count the number of times one has prayed the Jesus Prayer or, occasionally, other prayers. The traditional color of the rope is black (symbolizing mourning for one's sins), with either black or colored beads. The beads (if they are colored) and at least a portion of the tassel are traditionally red, symbolizing the blood of Christ and the blood of the martyrs. In recent times, however, prayer ropes have been made in a wide variety of colors. 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. The color of the bead may slightly vary