How to Tighten a Komboskini Bracelet?

[CuriousityKilledThe]

Hey all, this lent I'm hoping to put extra focus into reciting the Jesus Prayer, and one of the most obvious and helpful steps to take in support of that effort is to get a good komboskini (prayer rope) to take wherever you go.

I've had a komboskini before, a great bracelet weaved by a monk at Mount Athos. Unfortunately, it was small enough that there was a considerable amount of stretch to get it on my wrist. Granted, this is wool we're talking about, no cheap material, but nevertheless overtime the strand between two of the knots got longer and weaker over time. The only time I took it on and off was before and after showering but soon it looked like it was close to breaking. I tried just not talking it off for a while but, again, it's wool, and it's not exactly absorbing crystal-clean water from the shower. Eventually I had to just keep it off.

Anyone have any tips on this little practical problem? One route I'm particularly interested in is getting a very large one, necklace sized, and then wrapping it multiple times around my wrist, as I've seen a friend do. That way there's no stretching involved. Ultimately though I'd like a simple small one that I can work around without a hassle while on the bus or waiting in line; that being said, I imagine many of you have had experiences with reputable places to get durable komboskini. Any advice would help.

Thank you! Forgive me.

 

[E.C.]

Duct tape


I personally like the long ones wrapped around the wrist. I was at a Liturgy in Slavonic once and not knowing a word of it kinda got lost and noticed my mind drifting a bit. So, I had my leather jacket on with my chotki wrapped around one wrist and my hands together in such a way that I was able to make the rounds MANY times without too many people noticing.

Some days I'll walk with the chotki in my pocket and make the rounds with it one handed. That may help.

 

[-Kyriaki-]

I just buy them and use them until they fall apart then get a new one The one on my wrist at the moment has been there for six months or so, and the tassel is almost all gone and there's a decent amount of give in it down at the bottom where it all comes together...

I can understand not wanting to hurt one that came from mt athos, but these things do fall apart eventually due to use. My priest (a monk) approves of the wrist sized ones but thinks they're impractical because they wear out too quickly. My one for my daily prayers is beaded, much more hard wearing.

 

[ChotkiSteve]

I had the same trouble with wool chotkis some years ago, so started making my own chotki beads out of gemstone & metal beads. They may be less traditional, but last much longer.

 

[Michael G]

Duct tape


I personally like the long ones wrapped around the wrist. I was at a Liturgy in Slavonic once and not knowing a word of it kinda got lost and noticed my mind drifting a bit. So, I had my leather jacket on with my chotki wrapped around one wrist and my hands together in such a way that I was able to make the rounds MANY times without too many people noticing.

Some days I'll walk with the chotki in my pocket and make the rounds with it one handed. That may help.

Not to derail the thread, but I believe you owe us a pic! I posted mine on FB!

 

[ChotkiSteve]

I cannot post photos or links yet, but you can google Steve's Chotki's to check my chotki website out.

Thanks!
Steve

 

[E.C.]

Not to derail the thread, but I believe you owe us a pic! I posted mine on FB!

Sorry, my photographer had to go to the Greek church last Sunday

 

[Max Milian]

Wel with regards to servicing the Komboskini, I have the following advice.

When the Komboskini gets too stretched you can fill a cup with warm water 60+ degrees. Put your Komboskini in it and let is soak for 10 minutes. After that leave it to dry, but be sure its a warm place that it can dry quickly. This should fix some of the stretching.

But if its just to worn down, the only thing you can do is get a new one.

With this above method my wrist Komboskini can last up to 9 months.

With regards to where you can buy Komboskinis, Just do a search on google for: Prayer Bracelet or Chotki or Orthodox Prayer Rope.

Hope this helps,

God Bless,

 

[ChotkiSteve]

Great tip - thanks!

 

[Max Milian]

Great tip - thanks!

Your very welcome!

I forgot to mention that some Prayer ropes lose color when you put em in water above 60degrees, you can counter that by adding half a thee spoon of vinegar, which will act as color binder.

 

[musicluvr83]

No matter how big the Komboskini, it's gonna stretch over time (even if it's wrapped around your wrist multiple times) because of it being worked so often. I've made quite a few Komboskini out of both wool & rattail cord &, from what I've seen in general, rattail cord lasts longer than wool. However, nothing beats wool; the wool is just so much nicer (harder to make, but it looks/works wonderful).

I'm not sure of where it can be obtained, but a Lebanese nun gave me a Komboskini one time that wasn't exactly rattail but twas similar, yet "stretchy"...twas awesome 'cause it always fit...lasted a couple of years.