A candle went out at the funeral service: what does this mean? Signs associated with funerals

Funeral candles are lit at every stage of the funeral process. The use of a ritual attribute is accompanied by superstitions and associations with human earthly and afterlife.

In Christianity, a candle is identical to human existence, which takes place in love for God, prayers, and good deeds. The light of the sacred attribute is considered as a voluntary sacrifice to the Almighty.

Wax products for funerals in the church are placed as a memory of a person, a manifestation of warm feelings for him, a wish for a speedy resurrection and an expectation of a meeting at the Last Judgment.

A funeral candle that stood at the feet of the deceased is considered special along with a wedding or Easter candle.

It is believed that fire sanctifies a person’s path and helps to find the way to the Kingdom of God. Lamps were lit during the agony of the dying person and placed in the hands so that the soul could resist the darkness.

The remains of funeral candles were not thrown away. They were placed in a coffin and used in ritual and magical actions. It was believed that fire prevented the soul of the deceased from wandering restlessly in the world of the living in the form of a ghost, a restless spirit, which did not frighten relatives.

How to hold a funeral candle correctly

There are no specialized rules on how to establish and maintain funeral attributes in Orthodoxy. You can use your right or left hand. The main thing is to do this sincerely with prayer, without haste, expressing respect for the deceased.

There are no specialized candles for funerals with strictly defined sizes, weight, color, or shape. The church views them as a donation. How much money a person can spend is his personal matter.

During the funeral, those present hold candles in their hands during the funeral service of the deceased, farewell at the cemetery. In Orthodoxy, they are distributed with scarves to those present. The number of attributes is 12. They are called guides, the task is to light the path of a deceased person during a service or funeral service. Relatives walk by the coffin, illuminating the path for the deceased.

There are a number of requirements and customs in Judaism:

A funeral church candle is different from ordinary ones. It should burn in the house, in the room of the deceased, for a week.
Anyone can light a lantern at a funeral, preferably one of the children of the deceased.
The holy books indicate that it is advisable to use ritual accessories based on olive oil for the spirit of the deceased. If it is impossible to get them, you are allowed to light a wax or electric lamp.

In Islam, candles with fire are not used during preparations for funerals. In Buddhism - a lamp, flowers are placed on the bedside table of the deceased, and incense is lit as a sign of grief.

A candle went out at the funeral service: what does this mean?

Among all the folk signs, superstitions associated with the church are considered especially important. Thus, people attach tragic meaning to the fate of a person whose candle in his hands went out during a funeral service. It is believed that this person will die soon.

In a sacred place, in the house of God, when reading prayers in a person’s hand, the symbol of the triumph of the Higher Powers over the evil cast into the abyss goes out. At the same time, the person turns pale, confident in his own demise. Such a turn is possible in the only case: somehow the forces of evil managed to break into this world and desecrate the first temple that came along the way.

Before discussing how to get rid of a peculiar curse and eliminate the negative effect of a sign, you should understand what the funeral rite is. This is a prayer ritual specially established by the Church to facilitate a person’s transition to another world. The funeral service is carried out only for a baptized person who has not forgotten to periodically visit the temple.

A funeral service is not a passport to a better world. The prayers said during the service are simply intended to alleviate the suffering of the soul and share its sadness among those gathered to see off the person on his final journey. Also, a funeral service does not rid the soul of sins. However, it is worth considering that this is a holy action, during which the priest directly addresses higher powers. The funeral service should only take place in the church. Praying for a person’s soul in unlit places is permitted as a last resort, for example, during military operations.

During the funeral service, those present hold lighted candles in their hands, which symbolize love for the deceased. In addition, church candles always serve as a reminder of Christ's Resurrection. This is also a kind of sign of the victory of the forces of light over the forces of darkness. Now, we should generalize all these ideas and try to combine them with superstition. This is the only way to determine how true the folk sign is and whether it is worth fearing.

In this case, the only thing that interests the evil spirit is the extinguishing of a candle in someone’s hand. Doesn't the person rate himself too highly in this case? And aren’t such thoughts too offensive for God, who must keep order in his own house? By the way, the Church has a sharply negative attitude towards such superstitions, since it does not find any practical confirmation for them.

However, logic and common sense are not as interesting for the average person as the opportunity to get rid of the “candle curse.” Most often, to reduce the negative effect, they use special spells or order a magpie about the health of all people present at the funeral service.

During the service, the person with the extinguished candle is recommended to take the coins that cover the eyes of the deceased, add two more gold coins to them and take this gift to the nearest grave in which the person of the same name is buried. The ransom is left on the tombstone and a special conspiracy is read, the words of which vary at will. You should leave the cemetery without looking back. Another way is to read the plot by first drawing a circle around yourself using an aspen stake.

An attentive person will notice that in order to purify himself, he should steal from the temple and use weapons aimed at destroying vampires in the fight against evil! One involuntarily recalls the vampire sagas and immortal works of Gogol. One gets the impression that all superstitions come from fiction.

If a candle goes out during the funeral service, you should simply exchange it for another candle and continue to participate in the mournful ritual. A person’s thoughts at this moment should be turned to God and the soul that has left this world, and not to superstitions that distract from prayers.

The clergy have repeatedly urged parishioners not to pay attention to superstitions, since this is incompatible with the actions of a truly religious person. If for someone signs are more important than church services, his faith is not sincere.

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What to do with candles

After the funeral service and funeral, relatives must collect the remaining wax products. The cinders are placed under the back of the deceased, in the jacket pocket. If they are buried in a closed coffin, they leave the attributes on the lid and lower them into the grave with them.

If the candle from the funeral remains intact and has not been used for its intended purpose, it is recommended:

Periodically light a lamp at home.
Use for prayer to remember the deceased.
Take it to the temple, place it for the repose of the deceased. There is a separate place in the church with a cross and a special candlestick. Check with the workers and the priest where you can put the candle.
Burn it on the ground and leave the cinder there.

Do not use funeral paraphernalia at home. Energy is aimed at accompanying the deceased to the afterlife. It is forbidden to use candles in spells, rituals for good luck and health. Leaving funeral attributes at home means bringing a piece of the dead world, holding the soul of the deceased.

Superstitions associated with fire

Before the invention of the electric lamp, a candle was the only way to illuminate a home. The fire bewitched, giving rise to faith in the irrational. A number of signs and superstitions associated with wax objects have formed.

The crackling of a flame is a bad sign that warns of damage directed at a person. If candles crackle during a funeral and go out as they approach you, there is a high probability of death.
Blue flame means the imminent death of one of the household members. The color of the light warns of the presence of the spirit of the deceased in the room at the wake.
Do not light more than 2 funeral attributes from a cinder - it will lead to poverty and illness. Do not use fire from the stove.
It is forbidden to blow out candles. You can extinguish it with caps or your fingers.
If the products go out on their own for no reason, this is a bad sign. If the candles go out at a funeral, it is believed that they have fulfilled their purpose and the soul has found peace in the afterlife.
Dropping the lamp from your hands means a quick wedding. If a ritual object falls in a church, it means trouble.
Do not light a fire for the health of the deceased.
If in a temple a flame accidentally spreads to a person’s hair or clothes, a strong love spell is cast on him.
It is forbidden to give wax candles from funerals. They accumulate negative energy.
If you see a paraffin product on the ground, do not pick it up. The attribute was used in magical rituals. The one who dropped used the services of a magician, a witch.

Funeral, wedding, baptismal, aromatic candle is a symbol of light, hope, faith in any religion. People awarded them magical abilities and came up with superstitions. The priests insist that the task is to illuminate the path for the living and the dead.

Candles are a human invention that is thousands of years old. Once upon a time, these fire sources were incredibly expensive and were lit only in the homes of rich people.

If a candle goes out in a church...

Summary of the article:

A candle is the oldest symbol of approaching God; according to beliefs, it is a conductor to the Almighty, with it there is a greater likelihood that prayers will be heard. This attribute is used in most religions, including Orthodoxy. Any divine service and prayers are accompanied by its burning; not a single church or temple can do without candlesticks. In this connection, people attach too much importance to candle fire and worry if something goes wrong during the combustion process: the match goes out, the candle falls, breaks, goes out, cracks. Is there any reason to worry here? Let's find out.

The opinion of clergy

Staying in a church church is a very important event for a true Orthodox believer; at this time he approaches God and has the opportunity to turn to the Almighty with a request for the health of loved ones or for the repose of departed relatives and friends. For the well-being of the living and the dead, it is customary to light a candle in the temple. But it happens that various embarrassments occur, for example, a candle goes out, and the parishioner experiences awkwardness. What do the clergy say about this?

Church ministers report that our faith, as a rule, does not recognize superstitions and signs, and the extinguished flame of a candle does not carry a secret meaning, and the reasons can be the most explainable:

A banal draft. This is the most common reason for this phenomenon;
You yourself could accidentally blow out the flame with your breath, or people standing nearby could do it;
A damp wick, the candle could be lying in a damp place;
Poor quality wax. The wax itself is bad and extinguishes the flame.

An extinguished flame is not a reason to panic; before you start worrying, rule out all of the above factors, and in most cases they are the cause.

If it happens that the candle goes out or falls, then you need to ask for forgiveness from the Lord and cross yourself three times according to Orthodox traditions, then light it again and return to prayer. But if the flame goes out again without explicable reasons, then there really is reason to be wary, perhaps the Almighty is really trying to warn you about something in this way.

A candle in the church has gone out: a sign

If, for example, you light a candle for repose, and it constantly goes out, this may mean that this person is trying to tell you something, especially if at the same time this person comes to you in your dreams, to calm his soul you need to do the following steps : visit his grave, bring flowers, water or an object that belonged to him during his life, pray at the grave for his repose, after which the flame will burn evenly and you will feel calm.

If you light a candle for health and it goes out, this means that the person is at risk of serious health problems. In this case, you need to pray for him and ask God to help him.

You stand and pray with a candle in your hands, and it constantly goes out, this may mean that you may have problems with your health or in your family, in your personal life, at work, it is better not to ignore such a sign from above. Pray more and ask God for forgiveness, he is known to be merciful and will certainly grant you his forgiveness.

Why do you dream of an extinguished candle?

In a dream, an extinguished candle can mean a lot; it depends on other details of the dream and can be either a good sign or a bad sign.

Let's look at specific situations:

If you dream of celebrating someone’s birthday, there is a joyful atmosphere around and the birthday person is blowing out the candles - this is a good sign, meaning imminent good news regarding the people present in the dream, for example, someone’s imminent wedding or long-awaited pregnancy. If the birthday boy in your dream is your relative who is no longer alive, then don’t be alarmed either, this is also a good sign, it means that this person has found peace in the next world;
If the atmosphere of the dream is negative, you experience fear, and at the same time the flame goes out and you plunge into darkness - this is already a bad sign, it symbolizes the approach of grief or trouble. Especially if this dream is repeated;
For women, such dreams can symbolize difficulties in relationships with a loved one, but at the same time he must be present in the dream;
Elderly or seriously ill people often have a dream in which they observe the slow, gradual extinction of a fire, this means the imminent approach of death;
Another similar dream can mean the targeting of you or a loved one of damage or the evil eye.

If you have any concerns, go to church and pray to the Lord, ask him for protection, then you will feel relief. The main thing is not to turn to fortune tellers or psychics, in most cases they are ordinary charlatans.

If during the funeral service of the deceased the candle goes out

A funeral is a difficult event for a person morally; after it, when they come home, people experience mental anguish and can scroll through all sorts of bad thoughts, especially if something unpleasant happened, like a candle flame going out.

To begin with, in this case, you should exclude natural factors that could cause the flame to go out.

If you have gone through all the possible options, and the candles still go out for unknown reasons. This is a reason to be wary.

Possible reasons

This could symbolize the following:

Perhaps the soul of the deceased is afraid to depart to another world and interferes with the funeral ritual, in which case relatives and friends should cross themselves and calm him down by reading the “Our Father” prayer;
Unfinished business. The deceased could have a very important task left in the world of the living, and he simply cannot leave this world without completing it, so he can give a sign to his family or friends so that they finish his work, then the soul will calm down and go to God;
Anger. It also happens that the soul is angry with someone, especially if a murder has occurred. This will not last long, by forty days there will be calm and the fire will stop going out.

In any of the possible options, there is no reason to worry; any manifestation of the emotions of the soul can lead to the extinction of the flame. But these are only temporary phenomena that will definitely pass. Do not worry about the souls of your loved ones and pray for them, this will calm them down and allow them to depart to the next world.

These are just superstitions and signs that have no confirmation, especially since the church categorically denies this, so you should not take such a trifle as the extinguished flame of a candle seriously; in most cases, the reason for this is natural factors.

Video: the church’s opinion on the extinguished candle

In this video, Archpriest Igor Sidelnikov will tell you whether you should believe in omens associated with candles, and how the church treats this kind of event:

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Use in religious ceremonies

Candles began to be used in almost all known religions, this is a mandatory attribute. After all, a candle is a symbol of spiritual faith that can disperse the darkness of ignorance. They began to be depicted in iconography as a mandatory attribute of some saints. On the icon of Saint Brigid, wax drops flowing onto her hand are depicted as a reminder of the wounds of Christ. In images of Saint Genevieve, the candle is extinguished by a demon, and an angel lights it again, thereby personifying the allegorical struggle of good against evil. The burning end of a candle in the hands of the deceased demonstrates the loss of vital energy and health.

Church candles

Only church candles are used to cleanse and protect the home and property. Many monasteries have candle production. In such places they work with prayer on their lips and the name of God in their heads. The element of fire promotes cleansing from anger, hatred, and spiritual contradictions. Under no circumstances should the cinder be thrown away. It is also not recommended to store them at home. They have already completed their mission. The question arises, what to do with the stubs of church candles? These items are returned to the temple. Nearby there are always special boxes for cinders, where everything that remains from the luminaries is stored.

Present time. How are candles used now and what to do with the cinders from them?

In the modern world, there are an incredible variety of ways to use such an ancient light source.

Household candle. The most common and cheapest light source during a power outage. It is given the simplest shape and unassuming color. Available in almost every home.
Table candle. In production, they try to give them a beautiful aesthetic shape: cone-shaped, twisted or figured. Used to add color to an event. Romanticism is already unthinkable without such an attribute. It is believed that the stub of a candle, in front of which a marriage proposal was made, must be saved. It will be an amulet that preserves family relationships and strengthens everyday life.

Made in tablet form. They have a compact appearance and are cast into an aluminum housing. Used for heating teapots. Creative and romantic individuals find many more uses for them. They are inserted into decorative lamps and used in aromatic lamps.
Gel candles. The most aesthetic and decorative. They are colorless, transparent and do not emit odor when burned. They are given the most beautiful images. The type of such a product depends only on the imagination of the creator. There is probably no such person who would not at least once try to create his own miracle. Take any decorative bottle and add any material to the bottom: various shells, beads, figurines, flowers, slices of exotic fruit. The wick is inserted. Afterwards, everything is filled with gel, and your own work of art is ready.

Street candle. Intended for outdoor use. Outdoors during a picnic or at the dacha. Pyrotechnic additives are often added to such products. Then the combustion is accompanied by sparks, stars and lights of different colors.

During the preparation of the body, burial and during a certain period after the funeral, according to the Orthodox Church, there are a number of rules that should be followed. Here are some of them:

It is better to conduct a funeral on the third day after the death of a person.
You cannot bury the dead on Sunday or New Year's Day.
Immediately after death, all mirrors in the house must be curtained and the clock must be stopped. They must remain in this state for 40 days.
The deceased should not be left alone in the room for a minute.
It is forbidden to take the deceased out of the house before noon and after sunset.
Pregnant women and children are not advised to participate in the ritual.
From the moment of death until burial, the relatives of the deceased must continuously read the Psalter.
You can wash the body of the deceased only during daylight hours.
Pregnant women and those experiencing menstrual bleeding cannot wash the deceased.
Funeral clothes should be elegant and light, the shroud should be white. If an unmarried girl dies, she is dressed in a wedding dress.
In the house where the person died, a candle or lamp should burn until the funeral is over. It is better to use a glass with wheat as a candlestick.
You cannot wash, sweep or sweep away dust if there is a dead person in the house.
The coffin is usually placed in the middle of the room in front of household icons, with its head towards the images.
It is not recommended to have animals in the same room as the coffin.
In the presence of the deceased, they greet not with a voice, but with a nod of the head.
The eyes and mouth of the deceased must be closed. For this purpose, the lower jaw is tied with a scarf, and coins are placed on the eyes.
A corolla, a long strip of paper or fabric with prayers and images of saints, is placed on the forehead of the deceased.
It is imperative to put a cross on the deceased.
Together with the body, all his personal belongings are placed in the coffin: dentures, glasses, watches, etc.
The hands of the deceased should be folded on the chest with a cross, the right hand should be placed on top of the left.
The feet and hands of the deceased must be tied. Before burial, the ties are removed and placed in the coffin.
Cotton pads should be placed under the head, shoulders and legs of the deceased in the coffin.
The heads of deceased women should be covered with a headscarf. All women attending a funeral are required to wear a hat.
It is forbidden to put fresh flowers in the coffin; only artificial or dried ones are allowed.
The coffin with the deceased is carried out of the house feet first and is accompanied by church hymns.
When taking the coffin out of the house, you need to say: “The dead man is out of the house,” and lock the people there in the house or apartment for a few minutes.
After removing the coffin, all floors must be washed.
Blood relatives cannot carry the coffin and lid.
From the beginning of the ritual until the moment of burial, there should be a cross in the left hand of the deceased, and an icon on the chest, placed with the face facing the body. For women, the image of the Mother of God is placed on the chest, for men - the image of Christ the Savior.
You can walk around the coffin with the deceased only at the head, bowing to him at the same time.
During the funeral service, there should be 4 lit candles around the coffin: at the head, at the feet and at the hands.
The funeral procession must proceed in strict sequence: a cross, an icon of Christ the Savior, a priest with a candle and censer, a coffin with the deceased, relatives, other participants with flowers and wreaths.
Everyone who meets the funeral procession must cross themselves. Men are additionally required to remove their hats.
When saying goodbye to the deceased, you must kiss the aureole on his forehead and the icon on his chest. If the coffin is closed, they are applied to the cross on the lid.
Everyone participating in the funeral procession must throw a handful of earth into the grave.
On the day of burial, you cannot visit the graves of other relatives or friends.
It is not recommended to look at the coffin with the deceased from the windows of a house or apartment.
The chairs on which the coffin stood must be placed with their legs up during the day.
At funerals, the only alcohol served is vodka. You need to drink it without clinking glasses.
During a wake, a glass of vodka is poured for the deceased and covered with a slice of bread. After the wake, a glass of bread lasts for another 40 days.
Kutya must be present at the funeral table. The funeral dinner begins with her.
Before entering your home after a funeral, you must clean your shoes and hold your hands over the candle fire.
After the funeral, you cannot visit guests for 24 hours.
The morning after the burial, relatives and friends should take breakfast to the grave.
For a week from the date of death, nothing should be taken out of the deceased’s house. The belongings of the deceased can be distributed no earlier than 40 days after burial.
For 6 weeks after the funeral, in the house where the deceased lived, there should be a glass of water and a plate of food on the windowsill.
It is recommended to plant viburnum on the graves of young men and women near their heads.
One can only speak well of a deceased person.
You shouldn’t cry too much for the dead and be sad.
It is advisable immediately after the death of a person to order a Sorokoust - commemoration at the Divine Liturgy within 40 days in a church or monastery.

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Number of entries: 87

Hello! Lately, when I light candles in church, black drops start running down them. Moreover, I tried to buy different ones, at different prices, but black drops still drip. I noticed that this started happening since I started getting sick. With what it can be connected? Thanks for the answer!

Natalia

Your e-mail is good, Natalya, “note – 666”! If you live with such an address, not only will black drops flow down the candles, you will probably have to cry black tears! Change your life, change everything, become a person of the church, study the faith, regularly go to confession, to communion, observe all fasts and rules, and without relaxation! And as for the black drops on the candles, you will become a more church-going person, you will understand what nonsense it is to pay any attention to it! Yes, and change your address - this is simply indecent for a Christian.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! I pray to Saint Matrona, but by chance I bought candles for home prayer to Saint Xenia, after finishing the packaging I already saw that it was not Saint Matrona who had the candles. Is it okay, or should we not allow this to happen? And please tell me, is it possible to use one candle twice? Today to pray, and tomorrow with the same candle? And where to put the leftover candles? Thanks for your answer in advance!

Julia

Candles are in no way tied to specific saints. And in general, we do not “pray with candles”; candles are only a symbol of our prayer, the burning of our hearts before God. You can light one candle several times. The candle can be placed on a candlestick and burn until it burns out completely, then a new candle can be placed on top of it.

Deacon Ilya Kokin

Good afternoon. Sorry for asking this question. When I bought candles from Jerusalem, I was told that they can be used to light a lamp and any other candles. Walk around your home with a prayer to the Cross. What about “any other” candles - could these be household candles or multi-colored souvenir candles? God bless you.

Margarita

Margarita, I believe that this means only church candles that are placed in churches. Household candles are lit with a regular match or lighter.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, please tell me, is it possible to burn church candles? I have nightmares every night, and I decided to walk around my room with a candle and prayer...

Ksenia

Ksenia, you don’t need to walk around with candles, it’s better to bless your apartment, and then sprinkle everything with holy water every evening, this will help. And, of course, confess more often, because the root of all troubles lies within ourselves - these are our sins.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Why, when I lit a candle for health, did it go out?

Julia

Julia, it means the candle was of poor quality.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, I apologize for the not very smart questions, and thank you in advance for your answer. Please tell me, is it permissible to write in a health note the name of a person about whom you do not know for sure whether he has been baptized? If it is unacceptable, then what to do if this happens? The second question is a little incorrect, and besides, most likely, you have already been asked in different variations, but still I would like to clarify. To my shame, I don’t go to church too often, but lately (for several months now), when I light candles in church (and not in the same one, but in different ones), wax droplets flow from them all the time black. Since this is connected, as many priests have already answered, with the quality of the candles, once I tried to go to another church, but exactly the same thing happened there. I understand that this is connected both with the quality of candles and with the technology of their production, and that one should not get carried away by superstitions, but I am very worried, because this is not an isolated case, but happens every time.

Anastasia

Anastasia, personally, I never look at what droplets are flowing from the candles, because I’m not interested, and I know that this is pure superstition. And I advise you - throw these thoughts out of your head. Light a candle and that’s it, don’t pay attention. The main thing is prayer and our life before God. There is a sin - you need to repent of it and not commit it again. We must live in peace with God and keep His Commandments. The Church prays only for Orthodox baptized people. It is advisable to clarify, if there is any doubt, whether he has been baptized.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Tell me, after the memorial, there is kutya left for 40 days, the next day in the morning I will go to the grave. Is it possible to bring the kutya and millet that was in the plate where the candle stood to the grave? And what to do with candle stubs?

Maria

Maria, I don’t understand why they should take the kutya to the grave, especially since 40 days have already passed. Kutya and millet should be eaten at home; the candle stubs should be taken to church.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Is it possible for a Muslim to burn church candles at home?

adib

Adib, church candles are intended specifically for worship and prayer. They are a sacred object, so they cannot be used for any other purposes.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, please tell me whether a candle can light up in a church for a deceased person, we don’t yet know for sure whether he is alive or not, but we turned to a clairvoyant, he told us that this person is no longer alive. Tell me, please, just a month ago we wanted to light a candle for the repose, but it didn’t light up and kept falling, but today it caught fire.

Lyudmila

Lyudmila, all this leapfrog with candles needs to be thrown out of your head, it has absolutely nothing to do with the fate of a person or with faith in general. There is no need to turn to “clairvoyants” anymore, but you need to go to church and repent of what you have already done and screwed up in life. You need to study faith, at least its very foundations, and you will understand that those who communicate with all sorts of sorcerers will not be able to communicate with God - they become antagonists for God. As for the question of how to pray for a person, while it is not known for sure that he has died, then in such cases it is still customary to pray “for health.”

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Tell me, please, is it possible to pray not out loud, but silently? Should we not pray in front of icons? Should I wear a headscarf when praying at home? And is it always necessary to light a candle before prayer? I sometimes pray in a room where there are no icons, silently reading the prayer book so as not to wake up my loved ones or so as not to attract attention to myself. Is this virtuous?

Natalia

Hello, Natalia. The Apostle, instructing us in keeping the commandments of Christ, commanded us to pray unceasingly (1 Thess. 5.17), and this cannot be fulfilled if prayer is considered only verbal prayer. The rules contained in the prayer book are a model of prayer, but prayer is not exhausted by words. What is more important is the spirit of prayer. The spirit of prayer is most conveniently acquired or achieved when we pray out loud, in front of the icon of the Savior and with a lit lamp. But this does not mean that this is the only way to pray. The patristic teaching on prayer was set forth by Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov in the first part of “Ascetic Experiences.” Read these chapters and use them to better organize your prayer practice.

Priest Alexander Beloslyudov

Yesterday I was in church for a funeral service, and the candle I was holding burned out very quickly, I was crying, and the wax was dripping black. What would that mean?

Ksenia

Ksenia, the fire on the candle hits the wax, and it turns black with soot, that’s all.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, today I lit a candle in the temple, and when I lit it, everyone standing on the candlestick leaned in one direction. I felt so bad and I just came for help. Maybe the LORD doesn’t need me anymore, he’s tired of me? The priest says that I am depressed all the time, but he doesn’t know what is happening in my life. Who else can I turn to, who can I cry to, who will give me more strength to carry this through, or am I doing something wrong?

Elena

Hello, Elena! Do not think that candles are some kind of sign, they are not. God cannot get tired of us, because we are His creation, He suffered for us on the Cross. He cares for each of us. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” says the Lord (Matt. 11:28). According to the Monk John Climacus, “Despondency is relaxation of the soul and exhaustion of the mind, slandering God - as if He is unmerciful and unloving of mankind.” We must fight despondency, first of all, with the help of confession and repentance. An effective remedy against despondency is prayer and reading the Word of God, especially the New Testament. Console yourself more often by reading the Gospel and trust in the mercy of God. God help you!

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

How to put out a candle in church?

Maria

Maria, there is no specific rule about this. This is not important and does not affect anything. It’s somehow indecent to simply blow on a candle, so more often we use a fan to blow out the candles, or we cover the candle with a special cap and it goes out.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

How to light a candle correctly: first for peace, and then for health, or vice versa?

Elena

Elena, it doesn't matter. Whichever you prefer. The main thing is to pray for your relatives and loved ones for health and peace.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! What consequences will there be if you put candles for the health of all your relatives near the icon where they place candles for the repose, out of ignorance?!

Basil

Vasily, the main thing is not to light candles, but to live a church life. You need to regularly confess and receive communion. Now, if you don’t do this, then there will be bad consequences in eternal life. And if you put a candle in the wrong place out of ignorance, nothing will happen.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, father! I have observed many times when in the church on special days of remembrance of the dead - parental Saturdays - parishioners put candles in the food they brought for the eve. Is this necessary or not necessary?

Alexei

Alexey, usually they light candles only on Easter, when it is blessed, and in kutya during the funeral service or requiem. On all other days, including parents' Saturdays, this is not necessary. Food is brought on the eve, and candles must be placed on a candlestick.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

A funeral candle is an attribute of Orthodoxy. When a person dies, it is the candle light, dispelling the darkness, that serves as a guide for the soul of the deceased. Grieving people hold candles in their hands and believe that those leaving for another world will have a bright meeting with the Lord. This ritual is a silent testimony that the deceased person was bright during his lifetime, gave goodness, and with his good deeds dispelled the darkness that blocked the path to the truth.

A church candle fell: what to do, superstitions and signs in church

People often come to the temple to light a candle for peace, health, or simply to pray. They want to help themselves and their loved ones in life or remember the deceased. But sometimes a candle placed by a person praying falls, goes out or cracks. For many, this becomes a cause for concern, because it is believed that if a candle falls in a church, this sign certainly means something bad.

If a candle falls

The clergy assure that there is no need to worry if a candle falls in the church. The reasons for a candle falling can be different. For example, a person was simply pushed or touched in church, and he dropped the candle from his hands.

Sometimes this happens because of the inability to place it. First you need to melt the base, and then install it, then the candle will attach well and stand firmly.

As the sign says, if a person has lit a candle for the health of his household not for the first time, when it falls, you need to think about it. The person whose health is being prayed for may become ill. But it’s not the fault of the relative who installed it. In this case, you can pray and ask the Lord to give the sick person health and grace.

Christians adhere to one rule: if a candle falls in a church, you need to pick it up, cross yourself, ask the Almighty for forgiveness and light it again. Then put it back in its original place or hold it in your hands. Do everything that was planned and calmly leave the temple. It is advisable that the candle burns out without a trace.

What do these signs say?

Believers know many signs in case a candle goes out, and also why a church candle cracks at home. Church beliefs have been passed down for a long time and warn against dangers.

If a candle goes out in a temple, this does not bode well. Its flame is a mediator between man and God. If it goes out, it means that the Lord did not hear the prayer of the one asking. There can be many reasons for this. Perhaps the Almighty was angry. We need to pray, take communion and go to confession.

If a candle, placed for the repose of a soul, has ceased to burn, the soul that has passed into another world is offended by a person. You need to read prayers and ask for forgiveness from the deceased.

When a candle lit to a living person for good health goes out, it is also a bad omen. Troubles or illnesses may appear. Having placed it again, it is not advisable to leave the temple. Unkind people may turn over or blow out a candle, wanting to do evil.

But you shouldn’t look for otherworldly signs in everything. A candle can go out due to a draft, the breathing of another person, or sudden movements of the hands. No need to be upset. Sometimes a candle cracks or burns quickly, and this depends on the quality of the wax. And although popular beliefs predict troubles in life, you can cope with adversity by praying to God, asking him for forgiveness and quick healing.

Church minister's opinion

The priest will not refer to popular omens. He will ask parishioners who believe in Orthodoxy to keep the faith. Signs say that candles going out and falling are a bad sign, but from the standpoint of Christianity this has no meaning.

A person who comes to the temple of God asks the Almighty for help through prayers and lit candles. Everything that happens is a sacrament, which is based on righteous faith, and it is honest and truthful.

Candle flame in the house and at the funeral service

By the way a candle burns in the house, you can learn a lot from folk signs about the flame:

Candles burn evenly - life in the house will be good.
The tongue of fire sways to the sides - there will be adventures, trips, and significant events in the life of the household.
The flame describes a circle or rises in a spiral - someone wants to harm, wishes evil.
Burns weakly - to illness.
The candle crackles and turns black - damage has been caused.
Goes out when approaching - to death.
Shoots sparks - an evil person will come to the house.
Smokes - negative energy is burned.
A blue flame may portend a deceased person in the house. But sometimes a blue light indicates that the spirit of a deceased relative has settled in the home, and he can take someone with him.
The candle cries, the wax flows down slowly, like a tear - it hurts the human soul.

With a church candle you can cleanse your house or apartment of negative energy. To do this, you need to walk around the perimeter of all the rooms with a lit candle in your hand, reciting the “Our Father” prayer. Where the church candle crackles in the room, you need to linger. You can light a lamp.

Popular beliefs

They have been known to people since ancient times. So, according to one of the superstitions, a candle lit for the health of a deceased person will not burn. But the one who puts it on will not stay long in this world.

Signs about candles:

The remains of wedding candles are not thrown away, but stored near the icons. The spouse whose candle remains smaller after the wedding will die earlier. Such candles are lit during difficult childbirth, serious illness of spouses or their children, problems with conception or conflicts in the family.
Contemplating the light calms a person and clears his thoughts. You can look at it both in the temple and at home.
Sometimes a person's hair or clothes may catch fire from the eternal flame in the church. This indicates the presence of damage, a love spell or a strong evil eye.
If a candle is found at an intersection, there is no need to pick it up or touch it with your hands. It could be used in a ritual. You can't step over it either.
You cannot blow out church candles. It is better to cover them with a special cap.
If a candle is broken, it cannot be used.
If it goes out during baptism, the child will have a life full of difficulties. But there is another explanation, according to which the rite of baptism was necessary, the mortal threat was averted from the baby.
In a temple, candles can tilt and bend. This means that the person is possessed by an evil spirit.

Various beliefs are associated with the candle. This mystical object is used not only in everyday life, but also in religious services or witchcraft. A black magician can bring an enemy to the grave. Orthodox Christians know the history of the candle, how long it burns, and where Moses ended up when the candle went out.

It went out during the funeral service for the deceased

The sign when a candle in a person’s hands goes out during the funeral service of the deceased does not bode well. It is believed that this person himself will soon die.

The prayers that are said at the service are intended to alleviate the suffering of the soul and its sadness, to share it among all who are going to accompany the person on his final journey. During the ceremony, the clergyman addresses higher powers.

A funeral service does not rid the soul of sins. Lighted candles in the hands of those present symbolize love for the deceased and serve as a reminder of the Resurrection of Christ.

If a candle goes out in a church during a funeral service, you need to change it to another and continue to participate in the sad ritual. At this moment, a person’s thoughts should be turned to God and the soul that has left this world, and not to superstitions.

The icon fell

When a holy image falls to the floor, a person thinks about what it means, what answer the priest will give, and about the attitude of the church to signs.

What can happen if an icon falls:

At night, a person does not always act honestly and violates God’s commandments.
If an icon with the image of Jesus Christ breaks, the death of a relative will occur. In this case, you need to call your relatives and find out if anyone is sick. For the health of a sick relative, you need to light a candle in the church.
Mother of God - the owner can become very ill.
Before setting off on the road, it’s better not to travel far, change your plans.
When spouses quarrel among themselves, the Lord asks the couple to live amicably.
An icon that has fallen but is not damaged means that the person has not been to church for a long time. You need to go to the local temple and pray.
It falls every day - evil spirits have settled in the house. You need to collect holy water from the church and sprinkle it on all the walls and corners of the house.

But there is no need to worry if the icon falls. What does this mean? The priest’s answer will be the same: you shouldn’t believe in omens. Icons must be placed in the house correctly, and they must be secured in a high-quality manner. You can’t hang it on nails, but it’s better to put it on a shelf or chest of drawers. Icons should be placed in the far right corner.

The priests advise picking up the fallen image, rubbing it with your hand, kissing it and moving it to the right place. A broken icon cannot be thrown away. It needs to be restored.

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The symbolic meaning of a funeral candle

A funeral candle is a symbol, a reminder to the Lord of a deceased person. People buy candles for funeral rites not only because of the death of a loved one, but as a sign that the person lived in this world. The light of a funeral candle is the best proof of this. It is known that the fire from a candle always points upward. Even a tilted candle reaches upward with its light. This is how a pious person should reach out to God in all his thoughts and aspirations.

During the burial ceremony, 4 candles on the sides of the coffin symbolize the cross, and a memorial candle in the hands of relatives and friends during the funeral service means the Divine light that every person receives during baptism.

Where and how to place a funeral candle

Any Orthodox church or temple cannot be imagined without candles. This is a human sacrifice to God. The clergy say that there is no huge difference in what a person donates - money or a candle.

Prayer is not limited by location. At home, a person can light a candle and pray for health or peace. In the church, for the sake of order, there are specially designated places for carrying out these rituals.

Funeral candles in the church are a visible confirmation of human prayer. These candles are placed on a special table called the eve table. It has a rectangular shape, in contrast to the round table where they place

A funeral candle is placed near the crucifix, which is located on the eve. Christ is the link between life and death; he took upon himself all the sins of the world, dying guiltlessly on the cross.

Signs about a church candle, what will happen if you drop it

If you drop a church candle in the temple of God, this means that a person will have to regret something, some of his actions. Therefore, he should reconsider his behavior towards others, or it is possible that he has already offended someone in vain.

In general, fire brings life with it, because if it were not there, people would not be able to survive without it, since in cold weather it is the only salvation. Or it would be very difficult for them, so fire symbolizes human existence.

And it is not for nothing that many writers considered the fire of a candle to be a symbol of human life, and that is why the expression about a dying person appeared: “it goes out like a candle.” Thanks to church candles, believers can ask God for something, for health and family well-being, and thus get rid of troubles and adversity. Therefore, they must be treated with respect, since this is a real shrine - a gift from God that brings God’s help to people.

It’s not for nothing that it’s like this: if someone has a grief, he goes to church and lights a candle, and then waits for God’s mercy. If there were no church candles, then they would have been worth inventing, since their benefits are very great.

How to light a funeral candle correctly

There are no special rules in this regard. It doesn't matter which hand (right or left) you do this with. It is important to simply take your time, putting faith and a sincere desire into your action to help the soul of a deceased person with your prayer.

There are several types. It’s easy enough to place a candle filled with sand. When placing a candle on a metal candlestick, its bottom needs to be melted a little over the light next to it, so that it is subsequently securely fastened.

The candle went out or began to crackle

Among ordinary laity, there are several common beliefs about this, despite the fact that the Church itself rejects such myths. History knows a number of inexplicable events associated with a candle that went out or began to crack. To deny such facts or believe in them is an individual matter for everyone.

If a candle falls in the temple, you need to pick it up, cross yourself and light it again

An extinguished candle is considered by some people as a sign of a loss of connection with the Almighty Father, since it is through the flame that thoughts are transmitted from the believer to God. An extinguished fire indicates that prayers will not be heard.

There are a large number of reasons leading to this problem. Many people are afraid and frightened by the crackling sound of a wax candle, believing that it is “burning” with evil energy. This is another superstition that you should not believe in. Candle cracking occurs due to additives that are placed in the wax.

And yet, when installing a candle in a church or in a home iconostasis, you must remember about safety precautions. You should be careful and concentrated, without thinking about any useless things. The mind of a believer who comes to worship should turn only to the Lord, who always protects his faithful servants from troubles.

On a note! When making requests to the Almighty Creator, you must be as open and sincere as possible. It is better for an Orthodox believer if he does not hide his sins, but sincerely repents of them.

And under no circumstances should a person lose faith, daily continuing to occupy his mind with prayers and thanks for the peace given by God.

What to do after the funeral candle is installed

The main purpose of visiting the temple is to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased. A candle is a visual image of prayer, so having placed the candle while it is burning, you need to stand and pray.

You can pray in your own words, asking God to accept the soul of a deceased person into His Kingdom of Heaven and grant it peace. You can use a special prayer, which is called “For the Dead.”

After prayer in church, it is good to give out alms, with the request that those who receive it remember the soul of the deceased person.

How much do funeral candles cost and where to buy them?

Of course, they are bought only in the temple, because they signify the union between the temple and the person. It is also important that all church candles are blessed, and this is also a necessary ritual of the Christian faith. By buying a candle, you thereby donate your money to the temple.

Funeral candles are different, and their prices also differ. An ordinary wax memorial candle costs from 5 rubles; prices for candles, which include funeral verses from loved ones, range from 50 to 400 rubles apiece.

We must remember that a candle is just a visual image that helps in turning to God, the main thing here is faith, pure thoughts and sincere prayer.

Interpretation of signs if a church memorial candle is crying

It has long been the custom that people attached great value to candles, including church candles, which were considered sacred, and therefore were valued even more. After all, previously it was possible to achieve the consecration of a room only thanks to this light source.

The church candle itself means God's grace and condescension towards living people. So the Almighty gives us his help and blessing. The fire of a candle is the flame of love for God in our hearts. Therefore, they looked closely at the candle, watched it and judged their future.

If the flame of a church candle burns unevenly, this means that not everything in the life of a believer will be smooth. Church candles are made from wax and with the addition of paraffin, which is why they are so susceptible to fire. If such a candle burns well and its flame does not waver, it means that the Higher powers are disposed towards this person and the Almighty Himself favors him.

There is an interpretation of the sign: if a church funeral candle is crying, then this indicates that the person has already mourned his own and in the near future God will not call anyone else from the family members to himself.

With the advent of Christianity, as well as the construction of temples, it was customary to illuminate churches with candles. That’s why candles are still lit in churches during church services. They symbolize the power of human faith in our Most High God and Savior Jesus Christ. If a church candle burns, then the faith in a person will not go out.