Lit candles and Icon lamps
(lampadas) have a special symbolic meaning in the Christian Church, and no
Christian service can be held without them. In the Old Testament, when the
first temple of God was built on earth — the Tabernacle — services were held in
it with lamps as the Lord Himself had ordained (Ex. 40:5, 25). Following the
example of the Old Testament Church, the lighting of candles and of lampadas
was without fail included in the New Testament Church's services.
The Acts of the Apostles mentions
the lighting of lamps during the services in the time of the Apostles. Thus, in
Troas, where Christ's followers used to gather on the first day of the week
(Sunday) to break bread, that is, to celebrate the Eucharist, there were many
lights in the upper chamber (Acts 20:8). This reference to the large number of
lamps signifies that they were not used simply for lighting, but for their
spiritual significance.
The early Christian ritual of
carrying a lamp into the evening service led to the present-day order of
Vespers with its entry and the singing of the ancient hymn, “O Jesus Christ,
the Joyful Light...,” which expresses the Christian teaching of spiritual light
that illumines man — of Christ the Source of the grace-bestowing light. The
order of the morning service of Matins is also linked to the idea of the
Uncreated Light of Christ, manifested in His Incarnation and Resurrection.
The Fathers of the Church also
witnessed to the spiritual significance of candles. In the 2nd Century,
Tertullian wrote: “We never hold a service without candles, yet we use them not
just to dispel night's gloom — we also hold our services in daylight — but in
order to represent by this Christ, the Uncreated Light, without Worn we would
in broad daylight wander as if lost in darkness” [ Works, 3rd ed., Kiev, 1915,
p.76]. The Blessed Jerome wrote in the 4th Century that “In all the Eastern
Churches, candles are lit even in the daytime when one is to read the Gospels,
in truth not to dispel the darkness, but as a sign of joy...in order under that
factual light to feel that Light of which we read in the Psalms (119:105): Thy
word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” [Works, part IV, 2nd ed.,
Kiev, 1900, pp.301-302].
St. Sophronius, Patriarch of
Jerusalem, wrote in the 7th Century: “Lampadas and candles represent the
Eternal Light, and also the light which shines from the righteous” [Writings of
the Holy Fathers..., St.
Petersburg, 1855, Vol. I,
p.270]. The Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council decreed that in the
Orthodox Church, the holy Icons and relics, the Cross of Christ, and the Holy
gospel were to be honored by censing and the lighting of candles; and the
Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (15th Century) wrote that “candles are also lit
before the Icons of the Saints, for the sake of their good deeds that shine in
this world” [Works, Moscow, 1916, p. 108].
Orthodox faithful light candles
before the Icons as a sign of their faith and hope in God's help that is always
sent to all who turn to Him and His Saints with faith and prayers. The candle
is also a symbol of our burning and grateful love for God. During the reading
of the Twelve Passion Gospel at Holy Friday Matins, the faithful hold candles,
re-living our Lord's sufferings and burning with love for Him. It is an ancient
custom of Russian Orthodox Christians to take home a lit candle from this
Service and to make the Sign of the Cross with it on their doors in remembrance
of Our Lord's sufferings and as protection against evil.
At Vespers on Holy Friday, when the
Plashchanitsa (Epitaphion) is borne out of the Altar and also during the
Lamentation Matins of Holy Saturday, the faithful stand holding lit candles as
a sign of love for Christ Crucified and Dead, showing their faith in His
radiant Resurrection. On Pascha itself, from the moment of the procession
around the church, in memory of the Myrrh-bearers who proceeded with burning
lamps to the sepulcher of the Lord, the faithful hold lit candles in their
hands until the end of the Paschal Service, expressing their great joy and spiritual
triumph
Since ancient times, at hierarchical
services special candle-holders have been used. The faithful reverently bow
their heads when blessed by the Bishop with the dikeri, representing the two natures
of Christ — His Divinity and His humanity, and the trikeri, representing the
Holy Trinity. Candles are also lit during the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist.
Holy Baptism is celebrated with the
Priest fully vested and all the candles lit. Three candles are lit before the
baptismal font as a sign that the Baptism is accomplished in the Name of the
Holy Trinity; and the person to be baptized (if an adult) and the sponsors hold
lit candles in their hands during the procession around the font as an
expression of joy at the entry of a new member into the Church of Christ.
At the betrothal ceremony, the
Priest hands the bride and bridegroom lit candles before they enter the church
to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, throughout which they hold the lit
candles as a symbol of their profound love for each other and of their desire
to live with the blessing of the Church. At the Sacrament of Holy Unction,
seven candles are lit around the vessel of Holy Oil as a sign of the
grace-bestowing action of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. And when the body of a
deceased person is brought in the church, four candles are placed about the
coffin to form a cross to show that the deceased was a Christian. During the
Funeral service, as well as Memorial services, the faithful stand with lit
candles as a sign that the deceased's soul has left this world and entered the
Kingdom of Heaven — the Unwaning Light of God.
During the Vespers portion of the
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Priest blesses the congregation with a
lit candle and censer, proclaiming, “The Light of Christ illumines all!” On the
Eve of the Nativity of Christ and the Theophany, a lit candle is placed before
the festal Icon in the middle of the church to remind us of the birth and
appearance on earth of Christ Our Savior, the Giver of Light. At all Divine
Liturgies, lit candles are carried in procession at various parts of the
service.
Thus candles and lampadas are lit at
all Church services, all with a wide variety of spiritual and symbolic meanings;
for it is God Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” [and] Who has shone
in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Christ (1 Cor. 4:6). So too, lit candles in the church are also an
expression of the worshippers' adoration and love for God, their sacrifices to
Him, and at the same time of their joy and of the spiritual triumph of the
Church. The candles, by their burning, remind one of the Unwaning Light which
in the Kingdom of Heaven makes glad the souls of the righteous who have pleased God.