Wreath of Christ

The Wreath of Christ (Swedish: Frälsarkransen; Danish and Norwegian: Kristuskransen), also known as the Lutheran rosary, are a set of prayer beads developed in 1995 by Swedish Evangelical Lutheran bishop emeritus Martin Lönnebo. The Wreath of Christ contains 18 beads, which are known as "pearls", with many including a crucifix. They are an often used devotion in the Lutheran Church after their popularization through the text Pearls of Life; the Wreath of Christ has been used in ecumenical Christian settings as well.

Bishop Lönnebo of the Lutheran Church of Sweden was stranded on an island in Greece for several days because of a storm. When he saw the Greek fishermen with their kombologia (which are in fact worry beads that have no religious or spiritual function), he was inspired to create the Wreath of Christ. He first developed, on paper, a set of Lutheran prayer beads where he gave all the pearls a specific meaning. After the return home to Sweden, he made the actual pearl ribbon, based on his sketches and started using it in his prayers. The devotion began to spread rapidly in Sweden and to other Lutheran countries.

The order starts at the golden "God" bead and goes counter-clockwise. In this order, the pearls symbolise the course of life, and also represent a catechism.

The following prayers are said on the Wreath of Christ:

1. Golden Bead of God

You are immense, You are near, You are the light and I am Yours.

Silence
At each oblong bead you may either rest in silence, or pray:
I give away my loneliness. I receive that I am Yours.

2. Pearly I-Bead
You created me as Your own image. Let me see Your image in myself.