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.