The candle has several spiritual meanings: it is a voluntary offering to God and His temple, a testimony of faith, a person's communion with the divine light, and the flame of his love for the one by whose countenance the believer places the candle.
A burning candle is a symbol, a visible sign, expressing our fervent love of goodwill toward the person to whom the candle is placed. It is a sign of our faith and hope in God's gracious help.
The light in the Orthodox Church is an image of heavenly, divine light. In particular it marks Christ as the Light of the world, the Light of Light, the true Light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world.
Why put candles in church?
Candles in the temple are our humble, material offering to God. It should be understood that a candle bought outside the walls of the temple and then brought into the temple is not a sacrifice, but an attempt to pay off. And putting such candles to icons is not allowed. To ask the Omniscient One something for oneself and to cheat at that is like playing a fool with oneself. Such a game is not worth candles.
It is better to buy only two candles for twenty rubles in the temple than to come with ten which are bought for the same amount outside the temple. Buying candles is a small sacrifice to God and his temple, let it be unburdening, most importantly - voluntary.
The number of candles will not "placate" the saints. It is possible to ask for spiritual help when offering one's own only from a pure heart.
A pure heart is the best sacrifice to God. With a pure heart light a candle before the image, even if it is small, but it is acceptable to God. A burning candle is a visible sign of a warm, light burning human heart, a burning love for God, for the Mother of God, for the saint to whom the candle is placed. But if this is not the case, the candle has no meaning, the sacrifice is empty.
Putting a candle formally, with a cold heart, is not the point. When lighting a candle, it is necessary to pray, at least in your own words, but carefully, reverently, with faith. Turn all your thoughts and feelings to God.
First of all it is good to put a candle in the center of the temple, where on the analoj (a special table with a sloping surface) the icon of the feast or the temple icon, and also to the image of the Savior, the Mother of God. For the repose of the deceased put a candle to the cross on a rectangular candlestick (this is the eve). You can put a candle to any saint or saints. It is necessary to pray for forgiveness of sins, to thank the Lord for His mercies, to ask for help in existing needs.
How to place a candle in church correctly
If the candlestick is filled with sand, it is very easy to put a candle.
If it is metal, then the bottom of the candle should be warmed from any, already burning wick. Candles are lit one from another candle that is burning and placed in the socket of the candlestick. The candle should stand upright. It is possible to do it not only before the service, but also during it. It is only necessary not to disturb other parishioners in prayer.
Matches and lighters should not be used in the temple if there are already burning candles in the candlesticks. Do not light a candle from a lampstand so as not to drip wax into the oil or accidentally extinguish the lampstand.
It so happens, especially on Saints' Day, that all the candlesticks are full. How should candles be placed in a church in this case? In no case should not worry about this, and even more so angry.
Wrong are those who put candles two in one box or take someone else's candle to put their own.
The candle should simply be placed on or near the edge of the candlestick. It will surely be placed by other worshippers or servants as soon as space is available. It remains only to rejoice that there are so many parishioners in the temple, and that their faith is so strong.
Place a candle in front of your chosen saint of God and mentally say: "Holy saint of God (name), pray to God for me (or name, for whom you ask).
Then come up and touch the icon.
Putting a candle, cross yourself and say:
Before the image of the Savior: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Before the icon of the Mother of God: "Holy Mother of God, save us."
In front of the chosen saint: "Holy Helper of God (name), pray God for me, a sinner (or name, for whom you ask)."
In front of the image of all the saints: "All the saints, pray to God for us."
In front of the image of the Life-Giving Cross of Christ: "To Your Cross we worship, O Lord, and to Your Holy Resurrection we glorify.
And lay before the icon, crossing and bowing.
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