The bracelet is handmade. It consists of small knots, into which two seed bead inserts are woven. The bracelet also contains a sterling silver icon depicting the Abbess of Mount Athos, which makes it not just a piece of jewelry, but a Christian symbol of faith. Thanks to a special braiding technique, the bracelet can be easily stretched by increasing the distance between the knots. This means it's is suitable for different wrist sizes.
Komboskini bracelets
Greek komboskini bracelets are woven by the monks of the Mount Athos monasteries with prayer and for prayer. The name of the bracelet reflects its essence and purpose: in Greek, kombos (κόμπος) means "knot", and skini (σχοινί) is a rope or cord.
The weaving of the komboskini bracelets is always accompanied by continuous prayer. Tying each knot, the monk says: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." Due to this, Greeks believe that komboskini bracelet protects the person who wears it. But the bracelets also have a more practical use: like prayer ropes, they are used by the prayers to go through the knots and thus count the number of prayers uttered.
Bracelets are braided in a special way: each knot consists of 9 crosses of cord, symbolizing the nine crosses, or nine angelic ranks. Often seed beads, little crosses or icons are woven into the bracelet. Komboskini bracelets are usually worn on the wrist of the left hand, as it's closer to the heart. Believers often give such bracelets to their family and friends to remember and pray for them.
The Abbess of Mount Athos
The icon of the Abbess of Mount Athos is considered to be one of the newest among the famous icons of Holy Mount Athos. It depicts the Mother of God full-length, with her arms outstretched in a gesture of blessing.
The icon was painted by Russian monks at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Later on, our contemporary, the monk Arseny of the Belozerk cell on Mount Athos, added to it, depicting at the feet of the Mother of God all the monasteries of the Holy Mountain. The founders of the Athos monasteries were added along the perimeter of the icon.
Now the icon of the Abbess of Mount Athos is considered to be a symbol of the Holy Mountain. That is why her image is so often found in the handicrafts of the Athos monks.
Characteristics
Length: 16 cm
Weight: ~4 gr
Beads volume: ~3.5 mm
Material: weaving cord, seed beads, sterling silver
