During their tonsure (religious profession), Eastern Orthodox monks and nuns receive a prayer rope, with the words: "Accept, O brother (sister) (name), the sword of the spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) in the everlasting Jesus prayer by which you should have the name of the A prayer rope is a loop made up of complex yer Seil is part of the habit of Eastern Orthodox monks and nuns and is employed by monasteries (and sometimes by others) to count how often one has the Jesus prayer or occasionally other prayers. Historically, the prayer cord would typically have 100 knots, although prayer ropes with 50 or 33 knots are still in use today. Hermits in their cells may have prayer ropes with up to 300 or 500 knots in them. The prayer cord symbolises the flock of Christ, although in modern times other materials are also used. The traditional color of the rope is black (symbolizing mourning for ones own sins) with either black or coloured beads. When praying, the user usually holds the prayer cord in their left hand, leaving the right hand free to make the cross sign. When not in use, the prayer ribbon is traditionally wrapped around the left wrist, so it continues to remind you to pray without ceasing. If this is inconvenient, it can be placed in the (left) pocket, but should not be hung around the neck or hung on the belt. The reason for this is humility: one should not be intrusive or flashy when you can see the prayer ribbon for others. Lord in your soul, your thoughts, and your heart, saying always: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have barmercy on me a sinner." Orthodoxy considers the prayer rope to be the sword of the Spirit, because prayer, which comes from the heart and inspired by the grace of the Holy Spirit, is a weapon that conquers the devil.