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How candles are lit in church. How to properly light candles in church

The custom of lighting candles in churches came from Byzantium, but it arose in Old Testament times. In the Tabernacle of Moses, lamps were a necessary accessory to the priestly service: they were lit in the evening before the Lord and served as a symbol of God’s guidance, that the Law of God is a lamp for man in his life.

“We never perform divine services without lamps,” said the teacher of the Church Tertullian, “but we do not use them only to disperse the darkness of the night—our Liturgy is celebrated in daylight; but in order to depict through this Christ - the uncreated light, without which we would wander in darkness even at midday.” Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

Gradually, rules for lighting candles in churches were developed. First, a burning candle preceded the bringing out of the Gospel, and during the reading, all the candles were lit. Subsequently, candles began to be placed in front of other sacred objects, in front of the tombs of martyrs, in front of icons. The custom of lighting candles has survived to this day. Moreover, it has become so familiar to us that when lighting a candle, many do not think about what this action means?

A candle lit in front of an icon is a symbol of prayer, a sign of spiritual aspiration towards God. Pure wax, from which candles are made, is a symbol of the fact that a person repents of his sins and is ready for obedience before the face of God. Speaking about how to place candles correctly, it is worth starting with the fact that this should not be done automatically, but with awareness and with a feeling of love in the heart for the one to whom the candle is placed. When you buy a candle in a temple, it becomes your voluntary offering, a symbol of your faith and love.

External action is accompanied by internal action - prayer. A praying person often cannot find words to accurately convey his state, to express everything that he wants to say to the Lord, especially when he is surrounded by other people. And here a candle helps him, the flame of which is a symbol of this prayerful feeling that is inexpressible in words.

How many candles to place and in front of which icons depends on the desire of the believer. But they always light a candle with a prayer. If this is an icon of our Lord Jesus Christ or the Crucifixion, then you can say: “Lord, have mercy on Thy servant (name)” or “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.” Or you can also read this prayer: “Lord, accept this sacrifice for Your servants (for whom you put your name).”

If this is an icon of the Mother of God, then with the words: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us, Thy servants (names),” before the icon of the saint: “Holy servant of God (name), pray to God for me (or for us and list the names).”

It is very good to add to these prayers a prayer in your own words, expressing your request and thanksgiving.

Approaching the candlestick, you need to light a candle from other candles or from a lamp on the candlestick (if there are no burning candles around), then put it on a free place (or, if all the places are occupied, just put it next to it - they will definitely put it on the vacant place). After this, you should cross yourself twice, venerate the shrine, cross yourself again and bow.

Questions also arise: Why can’t you light a candle from a lamp in order to place it on a candlestick? There are no religiously or theologically explainable prohibitions on lighting candles from lamps, and any discussions on this matter do not go beyond the scope of “grandmother’s folklore,” which is very common among non-church people, and sometimes, alas, is found inside the temple. We see the only reasonable reason for the ban on the issue under discussion is that when lighting a candle from a lamp, it is very easy to drip wax into it, which is then very difficult to clean off. Perhaps it is precisely this struggle for purity that forces the keepers of the candlesticks to pull back the worshipers.

The candles that believers buy in church have another very important spiritual meaning: they are a person’s voluntary sacrifice to God and the Church. This has been the case since ancient times: at first, believers themselves donated wax for candles, then the production and sale of candles became one of the income sources for monasteries and churches. The proceeds from the sale of candles are spent on the maintenance, repair and decoration of the temple, on the maintenance of the choir, Sunday school, on the salaries of clergy and workers. Therefore, candles should be purchased only in the temple where a person came to pray. You cannot bring candles purchased outside the walls of the church with you and place them in front of icons, because they may not be consecrated.

Since the level of well-being of believers is different, they can donate different funds. An expensive large candle is not at all more beneficial than a small one. It is better to put down a small one with humility and pray fervently than to put up an expensive one with grumbling and regret. And remember at the same time that the most important thing is the burning of a believing heart. If we do not have ardent love and reverence, then the candles have no meaning, our sacrifice is in vain.

So, where and to which of the saints to put candles is up to you to decide for yourself. But it is advisable to maintain order. If you are going to light several candles, then the first one should be placed to the Lord Jesus Christ and in front of the holiday icon (usually it is always located in the center of the temple on a lectern). Then a candle is lit for the Mother of God, then for the Archangel and the saints, to whom the Lord has given special grace to heal illnesses and help us in various needs.

It is customary to light candles for the saint whose name the person bears and for the Guardian Angel.

To commemorate the repose of the deceased, a candle should be placed on the eve - a special rectangular candlestick with a Crucifix.

If the required icon is not in the church, then you can put a candle in front of any image of the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, or in front of the icon of All Saints and say a prayer. And pray in your own words, as long as they are sincere. Let the clear fire of candles help build a warm, bright prayer in your heart!

It is good to light church candles and at home in the red corner, in front of the icons. Candles and lamps are lit not only while reading the morning and evening prayer rules, but also when solving important life problems (choosing a life partner, choosing a profession, getting a job, purchasing a house, car, etc.), when we are overcome by illness, grief, sadness, or with the obvious action of demonic forces on a person.

During the Six Psalms (when the reader comes out into the middle of the temple and all the lamps in the temple are extinguished), the candles are extinguished. But after finishing this reading, the candles are lit again. Therefore, having lit your candle during this period of time, there is no need to look for any bad sign in this, much less swear.

ABOUT CANDLES IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

How to place a candle correctly?

The candles are lit one from the other, burning, and placed in the socket of the candlestick. The candle should stand straight. It is PROHIBITED to use matches and lighters in the temple if there are already burning candles in the temple candlesticks. You should not light a candle from a lamp, so as not to drip wax into the oil or accidentally extinguish the lamp.

Who should light candles and how many?

There are no mandatory rules about where and how many candles to place. Their purchase is a voluntary sacrifice to God. First of all, it is good to light a candle to the “holiday” (central analogue) or to a revered temple icon, then to the relics of a saint (if they are available in the church), and only then - about health (to any icon) or about repose (on the eve - square or rectangular table with a Crucifix).

Is it possible to put a candle on a candlestick if there is nowhere to put it?

That's how it should be done. As a last resort, you can light the candle wick, extinguish it and place it on the candlestick. Those who put two candles in one cell or remove someone else's candle to put their own do it wrong.

Is it possible to hold a burning candle in your hand and stand with it?

It is customary to stand with lit candles at a memorial service during the service of Great Heel Matins. Candles are also lit on polyeleos, but this tradition is mainly preserved only for clergy. A burning candle must be handled with care: make sure that the wax does not drip onto the floor, and that the clothes and hair of the person standing in front do not accidentally ignite. The rest of the time, it is more correct to place the candle on a candlestick that is specially designed for this purpose. In the temple one must follow the established order, and not do as one pleases.

Who should I light a candle for remission of sins and what should I read?

— Sins are forgiven only at Confession after a sincere, detailed confession of all of them in the presence of a priest and the reading of a prayer of absolution to him. A candle is a symbol; in itself it does not free one from sins and does not connect one with God.

Is it possible to light a candle for an unbaptized newborn baby who is sick?

You can pray for the unbaptized with your personal prayer and light candles for them, you just cannot write their names in church notes, since the Church does not pray for the unbaptized. A sick child should be baptized as soon as possible. If the child is seriously ill, you can call the priest home or to the maternity hospital. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the child will receive a special grace that will help him. If a child dies unbaptized, the parents will bear the sin. And a baptized child can be given communion, order magpies, prayers for health - this is first aid in illness.

Is it possible to light a candle for yourself?

Of course, you can light candles and pray for your health. A candle is a symbol of prayer to God. And most prayers are written in the first person.

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to light candles for her repose?

Everyone can and should light candles and pray for the departed.

Is it possible to light a candle for the tragically deceased and, in general, for the repose of the unbaptized?

You can light candles and pray for the unbaptized yourself, but you cannot give notes in church with the names of the unbaptized.

Is it possible to light candles for health and repose on Easter?

You can always light candles for health and repose, but the Church does not perform prayers for the departed on Easter and Bright Week; they are transferred to Radonitsa - the second Tuesday after Easter.

Is it possible to put candles purchased in another temple?

Candles are usually purchased in the temple where they come to pray - this is a small sacrifice to this particular temple.

What to do with a candle after blessing Easter cakes and eggs? Can I take it home?

You can take it home and light it during home prayer, or you can put it in a church in front of any icon.

When is incense used and can it be used at home?

Incense is used in the Church during divine services, as well as during funeral services for the dead, and during the consecration of dwellings by the priest. You can also use incense during home prayer.

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All people need amulets and talismans. Even skeptics, non-believers, acquire talismans, investing them with sacred meaning. An important attribute of the Orthodox are candles, the fire of which symbolizes spiritual cleansing. In spiritual practice, fire has powerful energy. So, what do Jerusalem candles mean?

Every year a large number of worshipers come to Jerusalem to receive the sacred fire. Here the monks make special candles from bees' wax. They have a subtle honey aroma. On the Saturday before Easter, the blessed fire descends, and people perform a special service.

Sometimes, when the holy fire rises, strange events occur - luminous balls and flashes reminiscent of lightning. At some point, the luminous ball lights one torch and disappears. The appearance of the sacred flame is considered one of the wonders of the world. On this day, a lamp and candles are brought into the cave.

How many candles are in the Jerusalem candle: the number corresponds to the number of years lived by Christ, there are 33 of them in a bunch. The candle itself, scorched by the sacred radiance, has the most beneficial meaning and carries great power. The colors of the sacred attribute are of no small importance. The wax absorbs information and the color adjusts the power to attract well-being and relieve loneliness.

Why are torches lit? What can you pray for? With the torch burning, you can ask:

about getting rid of grief and sadness;
about mercy and indulgence;
about getting rid of loneliness, poverty, illness;
about good work and prospects in business;
for the good health of children and parents;
for getting rid of alcoholism and drug addiction,
about salvation from evil people and enemies;
about the health of the unborn child;
about happiness in your personal life and a successful marriage;
about profitable trading.

The meaning of the colors of Jerusalem candles

On sale you can purchase an important attribute in various shades. The color and characteristics of the fulfillment of desires depend on the color of the main attributes. What do the colors mean:

Black color

If a person has been damaged, the evil eye, or a curse, then it is imperative to pray with black candles. This color relieves despondency, blues, and loss of strength.

Red color

This is a sign of love. The red attribute will help you get rid of the crown of celibacy and loneliness. Protects your home and loved ones. If there are conflict situations and betrayals in the family, then prayers in front of a red candle will restore good and harmonious relationships.

Green coloring

This shade is responsible for your financial condition, will help you find a job and bring good luck to your family. Green also means good health and freedom from alcoholism and drug addiction. You can pray for the health of a conceived but unborn baby.

Yellow color

The yellow color has a powerful meaning. They pray with candles of this color before making important decisions or business meetings.

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White color

This color is considered loyal and protects people from negativity, bad slander, and unkind guests. A white candle brings harmony of peace and tranquility. Praying at a white candle gives prudence and patience. They pray to give strength in difficult everyday situations.

How to use Jerusalem candles

Receiving Jerusalem candles as a gift is a priceless gift. With them you can cleanse the room of negative energy and place it at the head of the patient. After the candle is scorched by sacred fire, you can extinguish it with a special cap or your hands, but do not blow it out.

All 33 pieces of the bundle cannot be separated. How to light Jerusalem candles: you need to light it at the Jerusalem candle. They place the attribute in the location of the icons, wrapped in linen or cotton material. They should not be kept on cabinets or sideboards.

When they're lit

Candles are lit not only for the celebration of Great Easter:

On church holidays.
For self-cleansing of the soul from sins and doubts.
On days of remembrance of deceased loved ones with a request to grant them peace.
Before starting important matters, moving into a new home, to highlight acquisitions.
To attract peace, goodness and spiritual harmony.

How to formulate a request correctly

How to light Jerusalem candles correctly: light 33 torches at the same time and, without being distracted by other thoughts, ask the Lord God with faith in your soul.

If the desire will not harm anyone and is aimed at a good and sincere deed, with faith in fulfillment and truthfulness, then it is necessary:

in your thoughts, concentrate on your dream and imagine that it has come true;
pray in front of the candles every day for 5-7 minutes for 7 days;
at the end, thank the Lord God for hearing and helping in making your dreams come true;
desires should not be material in nature, you can only ask for help, for example, to earn money, to find personal happiness.

Jerusalem candles have powerful energy, they provide an opportunity to feel the divine spirit in the home.

There are several rules for using Jerusalem candles:

Candles can be given as gifts.
You can use them to highlight the acquisition, birth of a child, newlyweds.
Light an ordinary Jerusalem candle.
Light one torch or all at once.
Extinguish only with a special cap.

Jerusalem candles are not lit on Good Friday and Christmas. The blessed power of Jerusalem candles gives faith and strength, fills the home with positive energy.

The Lord is always with you!

How do you light a candle and handle it while it burns? Ever wondered? Many people do not have the slightest idea how to make the most of the purchased candle. It turns out that all you need to do is follow just five simple tips.

1. Trim the wick

First of all, do not forget to trim the wick, as on the right candle
Don't be lazy, do this every time you are going to light a new candle.
How to do it?
Trim the wick so that the length of its visible part is no more than 6 millimeters. To do this, you can use regular scissors, nail clippers, or a special trimmer to trim the candle wick. It doesn't matter what exactly you choose.
By the way, it is most convenient to light a candle with long matches.
Why do this?
Firstly, the candle flame will be much brighter and more beautiful. If you don't trim the wick, the flame will likely take on a weird mushroom shape, which will make it look dimmer and fuzzier.

The difference is immediately visible
Secondly, an overly long wick is the main cause of those disgusting soot stains that are clearly visible on glass candlesticks. Shortening the wick will help keep the flame under control and prevent these spots from appearing.

Don't want your candlestick to look like this? Trim the wick!

2. Allow the wax to completely melt

Once you have lit the candle, do not extinguish it until the top layer of wax has completely melted. This may take several hours. If you are not willing to wait that long, it is better not to light the candle at all.
Why is this necessary?
If you don't let the wax melt completely, it will create a hole or a crater. The wick will drop lower and lower, as if a tunnel is forming in the center of the candle. This is what it looks like.

Eventually the hole will be so deep that you will hardly be able to light the candle again. It will be too difficult to reach the wick. More importantly, all this unmelted wax on the walls of the candlestick represents several hours of enjoying the pleasant aroma and light from the candle flame, which you paid for, but will no longer be able to use.
Yes, this requires patience. But if every time you light a candle, you allow the wax to completely melt, then the surface of the candle will remain smooth and the walls of the candlestick will remain clean. And they will be like this all the time until the candle is actually used up.

And appreciate the difference again

3. Buy candles with multiple wicks

It is quite difficult to find time for the candle to melt as described in the previous paragraph.
What to do?
Buy a candle with two or three wicks. The more flames, the more heat and the faster the candle will melt.
Pay attention to one fact. Very wide single-wick candles should be avoided. The heat from one wick is clearly not enough to completely melt the entire candle.

4. Protect the candle flame from air currents

Try your best to ensure that the burning candle is far enough away from fans, air conditioners, open windows, or areas where large numbers of people frequently pass by.
Air currents can affect the candle flame, causing even more unsightly dark marks to appear on the walls of the glass candle holder.

On the left side of the candle the wall is dirty due to flame fluctuations

5. Don't blow out the candle.

To put out a candle, cover it with some kind of lid, but do not blow it out (unless, of course, it is a candle from your birthday cake). This way you can avoid unpleasant odors.
Now you are ready. Use candles like the professionals do, save money and effort, and fully enjoy the candles you purchase.

Every year the number of people turning to the church and God for help is growing. When asking for help from the church, it is important to know the texts of the prayers, how to light candles, and how to dress before visiting the church.

Candles in the church, placed in front of the icons, are of great importance. Every person, lighting a candle in church, necessarily believes in something or hopes for something. People often think that God will notice their prayers and help or at least give some kind of sign. Therefore, it is very important to know how to light candles in church. When going to church, you can light candles for health or peace. Every church calendar has special days for remembrance of the dead. As for candles for health, they are usually placed in front of the icon; the candle must first be lit. The Church explains the meaning of a candle as follows: pure wax denotes the purity of people, the softness of the wax shows the readiness to follow God, and love for God is hidden in the burning of the fire. Fire is a symbol of eternity and appeal to God and the saints. So, how to light candles in church?

It is important to remember that candles should be lit before the service begins. Passing candles during a service or distracting people praying by walking towards a candlestick is considered bad manners. If a person is late for a service, he should wait until it is over and only then light a candle. There are two ways to light candles in church. The first option on how to light candles correctly is to use the fire from nearby candles, that is, light a candle from another that is already burning. Then you need to place the candle directly in the candlestick. The second method is lighting from a lamp. True, church employees do not always allow this, fearing that the wax from the candle will fall into the lamp, which is then difficult to wash. But if this is not the first time a person has performed such a procedure, then there should be no comments. The most important thing is not to use lighters or matches in the church; this is considered as fire brought from outside the church. In front of the place where the candle is lit, there will always be a burning lamp, which is installed by church ministers, or candles left by other church visitors who have already read their prayers. It is the use of a church lamp or fire from other candles that is the way to light your own candle.

It is also important to know that after the candle has been placed, you do not need to leave immediately. You should stand in front of the icon, read a prayer, think about what you want, ask for something. It is important to address the saint in your own words, as if he were here and now. You should speak in a half whisper or even mentally. You need to make sure that the candle burns out completely, or at least most of it. To make candles burn out faster, it is better to take small candles. It is important to know not only how to light candles, but also how to enter church correctly. Most believers go to church on an empty stomach; for women, having a headscarf to cover their hair is a must. The body should be covered with clothing as much as possible; T-shirts or skirts should not be worn, thereby exposing parts of the body. When entering church, you should start reading a prayer. Beggars sit in front of the church entrance and ask for alms; it is better to give them at least a few coins before entering the church. When entering a church, the first thing you should do is cross yourself. All these features are important to know for everyone who is going to visit the church and light a candle in front of the icons.

The church is a special place that plays an important role in the life of a believer. It is important for everyone who turns to the help of the church to know about the existing methods of lighting a candle, as well as about the manners of behavior in the church.

1. Trim the wick

First of all, do not forget to trim the wick, as on the right candle

Don't be lazy, do this every time you are going to light a new candle.

How to do it?

Trim the wick so that the length of its visible part is no more than 6 millimeters. To do this, you can use regular scissors, nail clippers, or a special trimmer to trim the candle wick. It doesn't matter what exactly you choose.

By the way, it is most convenient to light with long matches.

Why do this?

Firstly, the candle flame will be much brighter and more beautiful. If you don't trim the wick, the flame will likely take on a weird mushroom shape, which will make it look dimmer and fuzzier.

The difference is immediately visible

Secondly, an overly long wick is the main cause of those disgusting soot stains that are clearly visible on glass candlesticks. Shortening the wick will help keep the flame under control and prevent these spots from appearing.

Don't want your candlestick to look like this? Trim the wick!

2. Allow the wax to completely melt

Why is this necessary?

If you don't let the wax melt completely, it will create a hole or a crater. The wick will drop lower and lower, as if a tunnel is forming in the center of the candle. This is what it looks like.

Yes, this requires patience. But if every time you light a candle, you allow the wax to completely melt, then the surface of the candle will remain smooth and the walls of the candlestick will remain clean. And they will be like this all the time until the candle is actually used up.

And appreciate the difference again

3. Buy candles with multiple wicks

It is quite difficult to find time for the candle to melt as described in the previous paragraph.

What to do?

Buy a candle with two or three wicks. The more flames, the more heat and the faster the candle will melt.

Pay attention to one fact. Very wide single-wick candles should be avoided. The heat from one wick is clearly not enough to completely melt the entire candle.

4. Protect the candle flame from air currents

Try your best to ensure that the burning candle is far enough away from fans, open windows, or areas where large numbers of people pass frequently.

Air currents can affect the candle flame, causing even more unsightly dark marks to appear on the walls of the glass candle holder.

On the left side of the candle the wall is dirty due to flame fluctuations

5. Don't blow out the candle.

To put out a candle, cover it with some kind of lid, but do not blow it out (unless, of course, it is a candle from your birthday cake). This way you can avoid unpleasant odors.

Now you are ready. Use candles like the professionals do, save money and effort, and fully enjoy the candles you purchase.

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