Saint Anthony is said to have started by tying a leather rope with a simple knot for every time he prayed Kyrie Eleison (“Lord have Mercy”), but the Devil would come and untie the knots and throw off his count. He then thought of  a way–inspired by a vision he had of Panagia, Mother Mary–of tying the knots so that the knots themselves would constantly make the sign of the cross. This is why the komboskini today are still tied using knots that each contain seven little crosses being tied over and over. The Devil could not untie it because the Devil is overcome by the Sign of the Cross.