History

                             

Κombolói,(Greek: κομπολόι)

​Plural: Kombologia (Greek: κομπολόγια)

​​The origins of the komboloi date back to when the monks of Mount Athos began making strands of beads by tying knots on a string for the recital of their prayers.

​The komboloi evolved from the komboskini (κομποσκοίνι), which is what the Greek’s called a Prayer Rope.

​In Modern Greek, komboloi is derived from kombos  (κόμπο "knot") and (λέω "say") :  κόμπο-λέω becoming komboloi (κομπολόι).

​It is said that the above is an abbreviation of the phrase:

​With every knot I say a prayer – (σε κάθε κόμπο προσευχή λέω).

​The modern komboloi is used as a pastime rather than having any religious purpose.