The lamp is a symbol of faith. Why is a lamp lit in front of an icon?

Orthodox churches are always quite dark. And this feature is not just a feature of church architecture. Twilight is a symbol of the life of a person immersed in sin and ignorance. And the light of revelation and faith in this case is symbolized by a lamp or candle installed in the church. The lamp is an image of the true light that is revealed to man in the Kingdom of God. It is for this reason that lamps are always lit in front of shrines.

The very first lamps were used by Christians to illuminate caves in which, hiding from persecution, they held secret services. As then, now they are vessels filled with a special oil - oil, healing the soul and body of the Orthodox.

The meaning of Orthodox lamps

Each lamp in Orthodoxy has its own meaning. It is enshrined in the Church Charter of Divine Services. Lamps, in particular, symbolize one of the saints who shine for Christians in the church darkness. In front of the icons, as a rule, a candle and a lamp are placed simultaneously. And if candles mean an offering, a gift to the Lord from humanity, then oil lamps symbolize the transformation of man under the influence of God's grace. Their light and warmth signify a person’s sincerity before God and are evidence of the purity of his thoughts and feelings.

Lamps are used even during the day, when the room or hall of the church is quite light. During the holidays, all lamps must be lit. During night services, with extremely poor lighting, lamps can be lit in very small quantities, for example, only in front of the priest reading the service, in front of individual icons: the Savior, the Mother of God, the temple icon. This is done in order to emphasize the defining moment of the service, its main purpose.

Why are lamps placed in front of the icon?

St. Nicholas of Serbia explained very precisely why lamps are installed in front of the icon. First of all, according to him, faith is light, and lamps remind us of the pure light with the help of which our Lord Jesus Christ warms and heals human souls. In addition, they are symbols of the bright character of the saints in front of whose faces they are installed. They also remind people of their sinful thoughts and actions, call us to the true path, call us to fulfill the commandments and do good deeds.

Lamps are that “small sacrifice” that a person can make to the Savior because He gave his life for him. During prayer, these lamps drive away the forces of evil. The light of the lamp encourages us to humility and sacrifice, reminds us that just as its fire cannot flare up without human participation, so our heart cannot flare up without God.

What should it be

Quality is of utmost importance. And not only because it affects health in some way. By kindling it, we open our heart to God, which must be pure: there should be no anger, no resentment, no bad thoughts in it. Likewise, oil cannot be of poor quality, cheap, or unclean. The clergy believe that the use of low-quality oil is a sign of impoverishment of faith, a permissive attitude towards piety, and the perception of shrines exclusively as some kind of primitive attribute.

The first lamps were used by Christians to illuminate dark caves in which they, fearing persecution, performed divine services. Later, lamps became an important part of the festive and rich decoration of a Christian church.In a broad sense, a "lamp" is an oil-filled lamp lit in front of icons or on top of large stationary candlesticks. The symbolic meaning of the lamp is the eternal flame of faith in Christ, dispelling the darkness of evil and unbelief.In the homes of Orthodox Christians, it is customary to hang or place lamps on a stand in front of icons. This is an ancient pious tradition that symbolizes the constant prayer of Christians to God. If there is no lamp in the house, then this house is, as it were, spiritually blind, dark, and the Name of God is not always glorified here.

There can be either one lamp or more in the house. There is a pious tradition of lighting unquenchable lamps in houses, which burn both at night and when the owners are not at home. But in modern conditions this is not always possible or desirable, as it can become a temptation for non-believers or family members of little faith. Most often, a Christian lights a lamp when he comes home and does not turn it off until he leaves home. If there are no lamps, church candles are lit during prayer.

Modern ascetics say that a lit lamp cleanses the air of all filth and then grace reigns in the house. In no case should you use the fire from a lamp for domestic purposes - this is disrespectful to the shrine. It is not customary to light a lamp with a match; a church candle is used for this. They used to say about irreverent monks in monasteries: “He lights a lamp with a match...”

Lamp oil (originally olive oil), as well as wicks, can be bought in a church shop or in an Orthodox store. You can make a wick yourself from a bandage or other rag: a narrow strip of thin material is tightly twisted into a rope and pulled through the float of the lamp.

The lamps come in different colors - red, blue, green. There is a tradition to light darker-colored lamps (blue, green) during Lent, and red ones on holidays.

The hanging lamp is attached to the ceiling or to the icon case. It is customary to hang it near the most revered icons.

There is a pious tradition in case of illness or unfavorable circumstances to anoint children and loved ones with oil from the lamp in a cross shape. This is what St. Seraphim of Sarov did, anointing everyone who came to him with oil from the lamp.

The lamp light does not need to burn very strongly and smoke; it is enough for it to be the size of one or two match heads.

Children should be taught to light a lamp.

There is a special prayer read when the lamp is lit: “Light up, Lord, the extinguished lamp of my soul with the light of virtue and enlighten me, Your creation, Creator and Benefactor, for You are the immaterial Light of the world, accept this material offering: light and fire, and reward me inner light to the mind and fire to the heart. Amen".

The importance of lighting a lamp is spoken of in the life of the righteous Martha -

Holy righteous Martha, mother of Saint Simeon the Divnogorets, dying, bequeathed that her body should be buried in the place where wanderers and beggars are buried. But her venerable son Simeon, having a revelation from God about the death of his mother and sending some of his disciples, brought her body to his place on the Marvelous Mountain in order to bury it at his pillar.

...After the burial of the saint, the brethren established the custom of lighting a lamp over her tomb, so that, for the sake of honoring the saint, it would burn day and night. After some time, the brethren, through negligence, stopped lighting the lamp. Meanwhile, noticing this, the Monk Simeon remained silent, not ordering anything regarding the lamp, so that his disciples would not think of him that he immeasurably revered his mother after death. At that time, the housekeeper of the monastery became seriously ill, so that he was almost dying.

At midnight Saint Martha appeared to the sick man, saying: “For what reason do you not light my lamp? Know that I do not need candles to be lit for me, having been blessed by my God with heavenly eternal light; but nevertheless, when you light a lamp at my tomb, you do this for your own salvation, for you then stir me up to intercede for you before the Lord.” At these words, the saint held in her right hand, as it were, a bright bead - a particle of the life-giving Body of Christ; Having touched the patient with this particle, she said: “Be alive and well from this.”

Having said this, she became invisible. The sick man immediately got up healthy and went to the tomb of the saint; Having fallen to her, he watered the ground with tears, on the one hand, asking forgiveness for his negligence, and on the other, thanking her for the healing.

After this, he arranged for an unquenchable lamp to burn in front of the saint’s tomb. At the tomb of the saint, many other miracles were also performed: the blind saw, demons were cast out from people and quick healings were given from all sorts of ailments through the prayers of the holy righteous Martha and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom glory is given with the Father and the Holy Spirit now and to endless ages. . Amen.

from the book - the basics of Orthodoxy

16.12.2017, 14:25

Lamps and candles are an image of eternal Light, and also mean the light with which the righteous shine. These are the words of Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Old Testament also mentions the fire of a lamp: “And the Lord said to Moses... that the lamp should burn continually; Outside the veil of the Ark of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it up before the Lord from evening to morning always...”

In this article we will look at the main types of lamps, their differences, features of choosing lamp oil and how to properly light a lamp at home.

Types of lamps

Lamps can be tabletop or hanging. Both require lamp pads. A table lamp can stand flat on a shelf without a lamp support, but there have been cases when, due to overheating, the lamp cracked and the oil spread. The exception is ceramic lamps. They are more reliable and usually come with a “leg”.

A hanging lamp requires a holder bracket. It is attached to the ceiling or iconostasis. This work should be carried out by a master so that the burning lamp does not fall.

It is believed that a lamp made of colored glass is better than one made of painted glass. The paint on a painted lamp may come off over time. Colored glass is not so easy to distinguish from painted glass. Usually, if you look through the edges of a lamp, the edges of a painted lamp are transparent, while those of colored glass are the same color as the lamp itself. - made of colored glass.

It can be seen that the red lamp on the left has an unpainted edge. This is paint. But the purple lamp on the right is made of colored glass.

Usually, on fasting days, a dark-colored lamp is lit - blue or green, and on holidays - a red one.

People are also experimenting with olive or sunflower oil. But we haven’t tried this, if you have experience, share it in the comments.

If fumes are released during combustion, first of all reduce the flame. If this does not help, you should change the oil to another one.

A lamp with good oil can burn around the clock. However, make sure that there are no icons, wood, paper or other flammable surfaces at least 20 cm from the fire. Remember that when a lamp burns, it releases droplets of oil that settle around, making the surfaces of the shelves flammable. Do not place the lamp on the very edge of the shelf.

How to light a lamp

Pour oil into the lamp - a little more than half.

Insert the wick into the float. The wick should move freely in both directions. Thread the wick to the middle. Dip the top edge, the one that will burn, into oil.

Then pull the dry end so that the wick protrudes 2-3 mm from above.

Place the float in the lamp so that the entire wick is moistened with oil.

You should light a lamp from a church candle, not from a match. Such a tradition.

The fire should not be big, it should not smoke. If the fire is too high, pull the wick from below.

The average volume of a home lamp is 30 ml. This amount of oil will be enough for 1-2 days. When the oil burns out, the lamp should be extinguished and cleaned. Then refill and light. A half-liter bottle of oil should last for 2 weeks.

It is best when your lamp is lit from the Holy Fire. In many cities on Easter they celebrate the Holy Fire from Jerusalem. During such a religious procession, you can light a candle from the fire and bring it home for a lamp. In this case, before cleaning, transfer the fire to the candle so that it does not go out, and then light the lamp again from this candle.

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In the Christian faith, many objects carry great meaning. The lamp is no exception. This is a symbol of a person’s unquenchable faith in God. In addition, a lamp burning in a house in front of the icons means that a guardian angel is protecting this house and is in place. Living fire has entered the lives of believers so tightly that it is difficult to imagine a church without the flickering flame of candles and lamps.

Story

The first lamps are primarily lamps. The word itself is of Greek origin. The literal translation is “a lamp burning before the saints.” Initially, they were actually used for lighting in dark caves by the first Christians. There they held their services, hiding from possible pursuers.

Gradually, lamps became the most important detail of the decoration of the temple and an attribute of some church rituals. The premises of almost any church are quite light during the day, but it is impossible to find a building without burning candles or lamps. This evokes in the souls of believers a certain mood for communication with the Almighty. It doesn’t matter for what purpose you visit the temple: to pray for health or peace of soul, to repent or to thank God. Anyone who enters here will definitely light a candle, a symbol of faith in God.

Meaning

There are no random things in churches; every object carries its own meaning. The light of a candle in a bronze candlestick or lamp is a unique symbol of prayer. In household use, a burning lamp is seen as the presence of God's Law in the house.

The lamp, located directly in front of the icons, is nothing more than an expression of sincere gratitude to the saints for their sacrifice. They gave their lives to save and forgive the sins of others.

You can often see burning lights in a cemetery. They are usually lit on the first, third, ninth and fortieth day after the funeral. This is a kind of request for mercy and forgiveness of the sins of the deceased before God. Many people bring lamps when they visit their loved ones in this place of sorrow.

Device

In essence, a lamp is an improved candle. One option is a container with paraffin, usually a glass (crystal) cup, on a stand. Reusable use is ensured by simple replacement of flammable material. This is typical for desktop products. A metal stand with a border and figured legs, often decorated with faith. Replaceable cups, different colors:

• red - for Easter time;
• green - for daily use;
• blue, purple or colorless - for Lent.

Supplied with wicks. They can be of different designs:

• A thin plate with a small hole in the middle for a wick. It is placed on the surface of the oil, one end of the wick is above the plate (the length of no more than one or two match heads), the other is lowered into the oil.
• The Greek design is a cork float with a solid wick stuck through it.

The operating principle is the same. The design provides the most comfortable conditions for long-lasting flame maintenance. Wide short candles are used in lamps for religious processions. They are inserted into an oblong-shaped vessel, closed on top with a tin lid with holes. This shape allows the flame to burn long and evenly.

Kinds

Products can be divided into several types. It depends on the size, place of use and location:

• hanging or church lamps are used exclusively in temples or churches;
• wall;
• desktop;
• extinguishable;
• inextinguishable - placed in front of icons, relics of saints, any especially revered shrine, they must maintain continuous combustion;
• for a religious procession;
• for household use.

The size depends on the volume of oil that can be poured into the lamp. Large ones are considered to be those with a volume of 100 to 500 milliliters. These usually illuminate icons in temples or churches. At home, small ones with a volume of 30-50 ml have proven themselves to be excellent.

A hanging lamp is not used in everyday life; it is more of a ritual object that plays an important role in the Orthodox faith. It is used at baptisms, burials, weddings, and religious processions. Made from brass, copper, cupronickel, silver.

There are large chandeliers. They represent a massive church chandelier with many lit lamps and candles. It is customary to light them on holidays. The chandelier is located in the center of the building and looks very solemn. Often decorated with crystal pendants in which the reflections of candles are refracted. Some specimens can be compared to a work of art.

Oil

Real oil for lamps is wooden. This is the name given to a product obtained from the fruits of olives growing on a tree, and not from herbs or seeds. Spruce is considered the purest and highest quality oil of the highest grade. When burning, it does not form soot and does not emit any harmful substances.

Due to its purity and healing properties, oil is used both for anointing the sick and in baptismal rites. Throughout the thousand-year history of Christianity, olive oil was considered a worthy sacrifice to God.

Why do they light a lamp?

A bronze candlestick near an icon may well become an alternative to a lamp. The essence of the burning flame is important:

• the fire itself is a symbol of the annual miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire;
• it is a symbol of faith;
• the burning fire in front of the icon is the memory of the saints, the sons of light;
• fire encourages sacrifice;
• light cleanses from sins and dark thoughts.

According to church laws, lighting a lamp is possible only from a church candle.

In the homes of Orthodox Christians, it is customary to hang or place lamps on a stand in front of icons. This is an ancient pious tradition that symbolizes the constant prayer of Christians to God. If there is no lamp in the house, then this house is, as it were, spiritually blind, dark, and the Name of God is not always glorified here.
There can be either one lamp or more in the house. There is a pious tradition of lighting unquenchable lamps in houses, which burn both at night and when the owners are not at home. But in modern conditions this is not always possible or desirable, as it can become a temptation for non-believers or family members of little faith. Most often, a Christian lights a lamp when he comes home and does not turn it off until he leaves home. If there are no lamps, church candles are lit during prayer.
Modern ascetics say that a lit lamp cleanses the air of all filth and then grace reigns in the house. Under no circumstances should the fire from a lamp be used for domestic purposes - this is disrespectful to the shrine. It is not customary to light a lamp with a match or lighter., a church candle is used for this (since the church candle is consecrated; it is recommended that this candle be deified with the blessed fire from the Holy Sepulcher). They used to say about irreverent monks in monasteries: “He lights a lamp with a match...” Lamp oil (originally olive oil), as well as a wick, can be bought in a church shop or in an Orthodox store. You can make a wick yourself from a bandage or other rag: a narrow strip of thin material is tightly twisted into a rope and pulled through the float of the lamp. The lamps come in different colors - red, blue, green, yellow. There is a tradition during Lent to light darker-colored lamps (blue), and on holidays, throughout the Easter holiday - red, on the holiday of Trinity and Palm Sunday - green. Yellow or gold is an everyday color and is worn on ordinary days.
The hanging lamp is attached to the ceiling or to the icon case. It is customary to hang it near the most revered icons. There is a pious tradition in case of illness or unfavorable circumstances to anoint children and loved ones with oil from the lamp in a cross shape. This is what St. Seraphim of Sarov did, anointing everyone who came to him with oil from the lamp.
The lamp light does not need to burn very strongly and smoke; it is enough for it to be the size of one or two match heads. Children should be taught to light a lamp.
There is a special prayer read when the lamp is lit: “Light up, Lord, the extinguished lamp of my soul with the light of virtue and enlighten me, Your creation, Creator and Benefactor, for You are the immaterial Light of the world, accept this material offering: light and fire, and reward me inner light to the mind and fire to the heart. Amen".