Rules of behavior in the temple
A candle is a symbol of love for the Lord, the Mother of God, a voluntary sacrifice to the Almighty, our readiness to obey and follow God’s commandments. The Holy Fire is a visible sign of the expression of our sincere love and faith in the one for whom it is intended. This is our hope for God's help.
When going to church, you need to dress very modestly: women should cover their shoulders, chest, legs, cover their heads, and be without makeup; men should wear a shirt, trousers, and no headdress.
What candles should I put? Buy a candle in a shop at any price, even an inexpensive one, it will please the Lord.
How many candles should I buy? Quantity is not limited. It is advisable to light the sacred fire after each prayer.
Why are there candles in the Church?
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes.
As strange as it may sound now, Christianity is an urban religion. It developed in large populated areas of the then Roman Empire, and only several centuries later began to gradually penetrate deep into the countryside. The use of candles is closely connected with the "urban" past of Christianity.
What is an ancient city? This is a dense cluster of houses, with narrow streets, cramped rooms, and poorly developed sewage systems. Natural lighting, especially in poor neighborhoods, was weak, and therefore residents often used artificial light sources - lamps, torches, and splinters. It is clear that Christians also used them - both in everyday life and during worship.
From the very beginning, the lamp began to play an important role in church life, because Eucharistic meetings mainly took place at night, and their venue was either secret rooms in some outlying apartment, or underground catacombs, where daylight also did not penetrate. The followers of Christ could not gather openly for prayer for three whole centuries due to the persecution that befell them.
In the 4th century, when the persecution ceased, the need for lamps gradually disappeared - Christians began to gather in spacious basilica churches, and many services moved from night to morning or lunch. But, despite this, daytime processions continued to be illuminated by torches, and in the temples themselves, even during daylight hours, a large number of lamps were burning.
This was because Christians attribute deep symbolism to the concept of “light.” In general, most religions of the world, to one degree or another, consider fire sacred. It gives warmth, light and food, but at the same time it melts, destroys and kills. Fire is both friend and enemy at the same time. He must be respected. This is what the pagans thought. Christians were familiar with these views. They, of course, did not worship the flame, but the fire also served as a very important reminder to them.
In the Gospel, Christ calls himself Light; in addition, in the Holy Scriptures there are other images associated with fire. It is enough to recall the fireproof bush in which God appeared to Moses, or the white clothes of Christ, which literally shone when He was transformed before the disciples on Tabor. All this was symbolized by the lamp, and Christians began to perceive it as a visible sign of that other reality, of which they became partakers during the Eucharist.
Around the time of the Middle Ages, candles began to be actively used in churches along with lamps. As with other types of artificial lighting, at first there was a purely utilitarian attitude towards them. But gradually the candle acquired the meaning it has now - it became one of the forms of sacrifice to God.
Gilbert Chesterton once wrote: “The religious education of a child begins not when the father begins to talk about God, but when the mother teaches him to say “thank you” for a deliciously baked pie.”
Gratitude plays a very important role both in human relationships and in people's relationships with God.
Photo by Vladimir Eshtokin, foma.ru
An external sign of gratitude has always been, is and will be a gift, which in the language of religion is called a sacrifice.
What gift is the most valuable? Almost everyone remembers how in childhood, during handicraft or drawing lessons, they gave gifts to their parents on February 23 or March 8. How nice it was to give your family a sometimes clumsily made craft to your mom or dad! And even though she was far from a masterpiece of art, for many parents and children these gifts are the most expensive. Christians have developed a roughly similar attitude towards sacrifice - they have always sought to offer the fruits of their labor, the best and most precious, as a gift to God.
Before the Middle Ages, the population was closely tied to subsistence production, and therefore cash was rarely donated. Mostly they brought ready-made fruits of their labor - wine and flour for the Eucharist, wax and lard for lamps, food for the poor. Even rich people sought not just to put money in a box, but to donate a finished valuable item. The fact is that any sacrifice must find its use in the temple. WITHOUT A PURPOSE, sacrifice cannot be made.
And now a situation arises. A carpenter and, for example, a teacher come to the temple. If a carpenter can bring his product to the temple and give it to a useful service (say, making a beautiful tent over the altar), then the teacher does not produce anything at all. His work is mental, he gives people knowledge. Of course, you can just come and say “Thank you” to God. But at the same time, the internal human need for external expression of gratitude will never be satisfied by him. You can put money in a box - this is the most logical action, but still, as experience shows,
money is not able to warm a person’s soul and make him feel in his heart that he thanks God.
A similar situation arises when you give money for a birthday – it seems like a gift, but there is something wrong with it.
The appearance of a candle as a sacrifice partly solved this problem. A burning candle warms the soul and puts you in the right prayer mood. In fact, an optimal solution was found, and over time, when natural sacrifice became typical only for rural parishes, the candle became a universal means of emotional mood for a praying person. So the candle survived into the 20th century, survived revolutions, and to this day believers most often donate to the temple by buying candles.
True, it cannot do without a distorted understanding of the victim.
When a person thanks sincerely, that’s one thing. But it often happens that subconsciously behind our “thank you” - especially if it is addressed to a more powerful person - lies the banal principle “you - to me, I - to you.” And the one who thanks expects new benefits from the one whom he thanks. The same thing sometimes occurs to people in relation to candles. Many parishioners believe that candles can be manipulated, and the amount of grace sent by God directly depends on their number. Moreover, it comes to openly pagan practice, when some believe that a candle should only be placed with the right hand, lit only from a lamp, and only done in person. Otherwise, according to such people, God will not accept the sacrifice.
Indeed, the sacrifice may be in vain. But it is precisely when a peculiar magical attitude manifests itself towards the victim (in particular, towards the candle). Such a sacrifice is truly meaningless, because Christianity sees its purpose not in “appeasing” God, but in cleansing our hearts. Any sacrifice is designed to change a person’s soul, to help it learn love and gratitude.
It is in the spirit of sacrifice that such a difficult moment as selling candles in a temple should be viewed. Usually secular people accuse the Church of selling candles at exorbitant prices and making money from parishioners in such an unseemly way. But those who have come into contact with real church accounting know well that it is not the thirst for profit that forces the parish to post price tags on candle products, but the harsh need to survive. After all, the Church is supported by the believers themselves, and when we buy a candle in a shop, we are not putting this money in the priest’s pocket, but we are helping the parish, which must pay for utilities, maintain a staff of priests and employees, carry out current and major repairs of church buildings, and help the poor. The candle we bought is our modest contribution to this multi-purpose fund.
A candle, born as a purely utilitarian object, eventually became a substitute for money and, in general, any kind of sacrifice. And when lighting a purchased candle in a church in front of an icon, it is important to remember that our gratitude to God has not a quantitative, but a qualitative expression, and that the real gift to the Creator is not candles or any other material values, but our heart. The very heart in which all our thoughts and desires are born, and which we are called by God himself to cleanse.
Photo of the announcement by Yulia Makoveychuk
How to light a candle for health correctly
- Come to church before the service begins or after it ends, so that by walking around the temple you do not distract parishioners from their prayers.
- First approach the revered icon or the Feast, which is located in the center of the church, opposite the entrance to the altar. Cross yourself twice, bow, you can touch the floor with one hand.
- Light a candle from another candle (it is not recommended from a lamp, so as not to extinguish it with dripping wax), place the candle, then cross yourself again, bow, touch the image with your lips, then your forehead. Why touch your forehead? To touch with your forehead means “I hug.”
- If you have the relics of a Saint, repeat the same ritual, then at the image of the Saint whose name you bear.
- After this, light a candle for good health. Where to put it? For any round candlestick, with the exception of a funeral table. The table where the repose is placed has a rectangular shape, and there is always a Crucifix near it.
- If all the cells are occupied, place it on a candlestick or in a vase, then it will also be lit.
What icons do people put in front of for health?
This, as a rule, is to the Savior, the Mother of God, those Saints who, by the will of God, help in various life situations.
For example,
- for ailments to the healer Panteleimon,
- couples who want to have children - Righteous Joachim and Anna - the parents of the Virgin Mary, and
- pregnant women - to the icon of the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya.
Healer Panteleimon
Which Saints can you turn to during life’s adversities?
Any requests can be addressed to
- Seraphim of Sarov,
- Nikolai Ugodnik,
- Matrona of Moscow,
- John of Kronstadt and
- Ksenia of Petersburg.
But first you need to pray for health, or for the healing of the sick person, to the Lord God, the Mother of God.
Seraphim of Sarov
Which side? Anywhere on a round candlestick. They most often stand near the icon or at a short distance from the walls. You can't go wrong with any round candlestick with a long stem.
After lighting the fire, say a prayer, turning to the one depicted in the icon. The name of the Saint is written at the top of the image. You can say the prayer in your own words, but if you want to read it from the prayer book, this is not prohibited.
What is the sign if an icon from a candle lights up?
If an icon from a candle lights up, it means that fire safety rules have been violated. Therefore, you should not place the fire source near the icons. You also need to make sure that the flame does not touch anyone's clothing or hair. There are beliefs according to which a person who accidentally sets his robe on fire in front of an icon is under a curse or is engaged in black magic, witchcraft and divination. During the Middle Ages, such a sign was regarded as an indication of a witch. The Orthodox Church denies such beliefs.
What does it mean if you break a candle in front of an icon?
It is strongly not recommended to place a broken candle in front of an icon. Such an incident is not a bad omen, but it is worth taking the fragments to the temple candle maker or throwing them into a special urn for cinders. The remains are disposed of by burning or are melted down. There are popular beliefs according to which a broken candle portends unpleasant news. Sometimes this event threatens the death of a loved one.
The damaged candle must be replaced with a new one, after which you can place it in front of the icon, after crossing yourself and asking God for forgiveness
What if the candle fell and went out?
To interpret the meaning of a candle that fell in a church, it is necessary to consider the reasons for the fall. If a person was accidentally pushed, as a result of which he dropped the candle from his hands, there is no need to worry. Lack of skill in installing a candle does not pose a serious problem. If the burning candle in front of the icon fell due to inexperience, next time there is no need to rush. Before installing the candle, you should melt its base a little. Regardless of the reason for the fall, priests recommend that parishioners adhere to one simple rule: after raising the candle, they must cross themselves three times, turn to God asking for forgiveness and re-light the wick.
Important! A dying flame is not a good sign.
Since a wax product personifies the intentions and thoughts of a person turned to God, many consider an extinguished wick a bad omen. If an extinguished candle was placed for the repose, it means that the deceased cannot get rid of a strong resentment. In this case, you should ask him for forgiveness, then read the text of the prayer three times and light the fire again. If the candle that was set for health goes out, there is a high probability of health problems. In such a situation, you need to sincerely forgive all your ill-wishers and read prayers to God for several days.
A crackling sound when burning is an omen of various troubles. Often, during production, small drops of water get into the wax or paraffin, causing unpleasant sounds. Therefore, in such a situation there is no need to worry, as in the case if a candle placed near an icon goes out due to a draft. A number of popular beliefs claim that an extinguished flame symbolizes a lack of connection with the Almighty. The prayers did not reach him, and the request of the person praying will not be satisfied. However, church ministers are very skeptical about such beliefs, considering them a relic of pagan times.
What is the sign if you burn yourself with a candle in church?
An awkward person does not need to look for hidden meaning if he is burned by the flame of a church candle. This is not a fortune teller, but just careless handling of fire.
There are beliefs that claim that this sign indicates the presence of damage. You can treat this however you like, but you should be extremely careful when lighting the wick. The burned area should be treated with a solution of furatsilin or hydrogen peroxide. You can use “Rescuer” or “Panthenol” ointment.
What prayers to read when you light a candle
Approaching the image of the Savior, read the prayer “Our Father”, then say:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Before the image of the Mother of God - “Virgin, Rejoice”, then: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us.”
Prayer to the Vladimir Mother of God
Before the Saints, say: “Holy Servant of God (name), pray to God for me, a sinner (or the name of the one for whom you pray today).”
If you do not find an image with your name, then at the icon of All Saints you must say:
“All saints, pray to God for us.” During prayer, the Angels must be addressed as intercessors: “Holy Angel of God, my Guardian, pray to God for me.”
Question answer
Blessed Matrona of Moscow
The candle for health has gone out - what awaits a person?
Nothing bad will happen. Light it again. The Church does not recognize superstition. A candle goes out for various reasons. Perhaps low-quality wax was used or the manufacturing technology was not followed. Damage is out of the question.
What does it mean - the candle has fallen?
Perhaps you did not secure the candle in the socket on the candlestick. Scorch the bottom end with fire and place it again. Don't believe in superstitions and everything will be fine.
But if you performed magical actions, perhaps out of ignorance, then you took upon yourself a great sin. You must immediately confess and deeply repent.
Fragment of the icon of All Saints
Is it possible to light a fire for an unbaptized person?
You can pray for an unbaptized person with your own prayer, and you can also light candles for health in the temple. You cannot submit a note about an unbaptized person.
Is it possible to light candles for health at home?
It is possible in such situations:
- when you pray;
- if it is not possible to visit the temple and light the sacred fire there;
- when you want to show respect for a church holiday or an important Christian event.
Reasons and needs for lighting candles
The tradition of putting candles (necessarily on different candlesticks) has always been done for two reasons - for health and for peace. The first action can be the result of various needs - you wanted to thank God for something, there was a successful acquisition of property, or a long trip is planned. For repose - to honor the memory of someone who is no longer alive. However, clergy do not advise lighting candles immediately for these reasons.
Subsequence
First, you should do this at the central lectern or in front of one of the temple icons, then bring the wax attribute to the relics of the saints of God, and only after that pray and put candles for health to any icon or for peace on a rectangular table.
An extinguished candle is perceived by many priests as a bad sign or damage. But not all priests share this point of view. Those who are considered more rational refer to defects, saying that defective production technology is to blame.
