How to light candles in a church. lamp for home

In the homes of Orthodox Christians, it is customary to hang or place lamps on a stand in front of the icons. This is an ancient pious tradition that symbolizes the unceasing prayer of Christians to God. If there is no lamp in the house, then this house is, as it were, spiritually blind, dark, here they do not always glorify the Name of God.
A house can have one or more lamps. There is a pious tradition to light inextinguishable 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 and desirable, as it can become a temptation for unbelieving or unbelieving family members. Most often, a Christian lights a lamp when he comes home, and does not put it out until he leaves the house. If there are no lamps, church candles are lit during prayer.
Modern ascetics say that a lighted lamp cleanses the air of all filth and then grace reigns in the house. In no case should you use the fire from the lamp for domestic purposes - this is irreverent in relation to the shrine. It is not customary to light a lamp with a match or a lighter., a church candle is used for this (because the church candle is consecrated; it is recommended that this candle be deified with blessed fire from the Holy Sepulcher). They used to say about reverent monks in monasteries: “He lights a lamp from 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 fabric is tightly twisted into a bundle and pulled through the float of the lamp. Icon lamps come in different colors - red, blue, green, yellow. There is a tradition to light lamps that are darker in color (blue) during fasting, and on holidays, throughout the Easter holiday - red, on the feast of the Trinity and Palm Sunday - green. Yellow or gold is an everyday color, and is put on ordinary days.
A hanging lamp is attached to the ceiling or to an 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 relatives with oil from the lampada in the form of a cross. This is what the Reverend Seraphim of Sarov did, anointing with oil from the icon lamp all those who came to him.
It is not necessary that the lamp flame burn very strongly and smoke, it is enough that it be the size of one or two match heads. Children need to be taught to light a lamp.
There is a special prayer read when the lamp is lit: “Light, Lord, the extinguished lamp of my soul with the light of virtue and enlighten me, Your creation, Creator and Benefactor, Thou art 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".

In the Christian faith, a lot of objects carry a great semantic load. Lampada is no exception. It is a symbol of man's inextinguishable faith in God. In addition, a lamp burning in the house in front of the icons means that the guardian angel protects 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, first of all, lamps. The word itself is of Greek origin. The literal translation is "a lamp that burns before the saints." Initially, they were really used for lighting in dark caves by the first Christians. There they ruled their divine services, hiding from possible persecutors.

Gradually lampadas became the most important detail of the decoration of the temple and an attribute of some church ceremonies. In the premises of almost any church during the daytime it is quite light, but it is impossible to find a building without burning candles or lamps. This causes a certain mood in the souls of believers to communicate with the Almighty. It doesn’t matter for what purpose the temple is visited: to pray for health or peace of mind, to repent or thank God. Entering here will surely light a candle, a symbol of faith in God.

Meaning

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

The icon lamp, located directly in front of the images 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.

In the cemetery, you can often find burning lights. Usually they are 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 bring lamps when they visit their loved ones in this place of sorrow.

Device

In fact, the lampada is an improved candle. One option is a container with paraffin, usually a glass (crystal) cup, on a stand. Reusable use ensures easy replacement of combustible 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 (no more than one or two match heads in length), the other is lowered into the oil.
• The Greek design is a float made of cork, into which a solid wick is stuck through.

The principle of operation is the same. The design provides the most comfortable conditions for long-term maintenance of the flame. In the lamps for the procession, wide short candles are used. They are inserted into an oblong vessel, which is 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;
• quenchable;
• inextinguishable - they are placed in front of icons, the relics of saints, some especially revered shrine, they necessarily support continuous burning;
• for the procession;
• for household use.

The size depends on the amount of oil that can be poured into the lamp. Large are considered 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 well.

The 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 baptism, burial, wedding, religious procession. Made from brass, copper, cupronickel, silver.

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

Oil

Real oil for lamps - wood. This is the name of a product obtained from the fruits of olives growing on a tree, and not from herbs or seeds. Elei is considered the purest and highest quality oil of the highest grade. When burning, it does not form carbon deposits, does not emit any harmful substances at all.

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, it was olive oil that was considered a worthy sacrifice to God.

Why light a lamp

A bronze candlestick next to the icon may well become an alternative to the icon 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 creed;
• burning fire in front of the icon - the memory of the saints, the sons of light;
• fire induces to sacrifice;
• light cleanses from sins and dark thoughts.

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

HOW AND WHY DO YOU LIGHT THE LAMP AND BURN THE INCENSE AT HOME? Lampada (Greek "lamp") is a lamp filled with oil, lit in front of the icons, on the throne and the seven-candlestick. The symbolic meaning of the lamp is the eternal fire of faith in Christ, dispersing 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 the icons. This is an ancient pious tradition that symbolizes the unceasing prayer of Christians to God. If there is no lamp in the house, then this house is, as it were, spiritually blind, dark, here they do not always glorify the Name of God. Even in the Old Testament it is written: “And the Lord said to Moses ... that the lamp should burn without ceasing; outside the veil of the ark of revelations in the tabernacle of the meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it before the Lord from evening until morning always; this is an everlasting ordinance throughout your generations; on a clean candlestick they must always set a lamp before the Lord” (Lev. 24:1-4). A house can have one or more lamps. There is a pious tradition to light inextinguishable 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, since it can become a temptation for unbelieving or unbelieving family members. Most often, a Christian lights a lamp when he comes home, and does not put it out until he leaves the house. If there are no lamps, church candles are lit during prayer. The icon lamp can burn in front of the icons all the time, it can also be lit on occasion. A burning lamp, caring for it, buying lamp oil, candles to light it - this is our feasible sacrifice to Christ, a kind of tactile prayer to God. Some people light a lamp before prayer. Any sacrifice that is feasible for a person will be accepted by God, if it is made with reverence by a loving heart. For a lamp, it is better to take purified specialized lamp oil. As a rule, ordinary sunflower oil and even purified refined sunflower oil burns badly, the oil lamp smokes and becomes clogged. It is not necessary that the lamp flame burn very strongly and smoke, it is enough that it be the size of one or two match heads. Modern ascetics say that a lighted lamp cleanses the air of all filth and then grace reigns in the house. In no case should you use the fire from the lamp for domestic purposes - this is irreverent in relation to the shrine. Lampadka can be lit only from a candle, with prayer and reverence. It is not customary to light a lamp from a match; a church candle is used for this. They used to say about irreverent monks in monasteries: “He lights a lampada from a match ...”. PRAYER READ WHEN THE LAMP IS lit: “Light, Lord, the extinguished lamp of my soul with the light of virtue and enlighten me, Your creation, Creator and Benefactor, Thou art the immaterial Light of the world, accept this material offering: light and fire, and reward me with inner light mind and heart fire. Amen". St. Nicholas of Serbia, regarding why we light lamps, wrote the following: Firstly, because our faith is light. Christ said: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). The light of the lamp reminds us of the light with which the Savior illuminates our souls. Secondly, in order to remind us of the bright disposition of the saint, in front of whose icon we light a lamp. For the saints are called "sons of light" (John 12:36). Thirdly, in order to serve us as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us to the path of the gospel light, so that we would more zealously take care of the fulfillment of the commandment of the Savior: “So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works” (Matt. 5:16). Fourthly, so that it becomes our small sacrifice to the Lord, Who sacrificed all of Himself for us, a small sign of great gratitude and our bright love for the One from Whom in our prayers we ask for life, health and salvation - all that can to give only boundless Heavenly Love. Fifthly, to frighten the forces of evil that sometimes attack us during prayer, diverting our thoughts from the Creator. For the forces of evil love darkness and tremble at light, especially that which serves God and His saints. Sixth, to encourage us to sacrifice. Just as oil and a wick burn in a lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls burn with the flame of love, in all sufferings submissive to the will of God. Seventhly, to remind us that just as a lamp cannot be lit without our hand, so our heart, this inner lamp of ours, cannot be lit without the holy fire of Divine grace, even if it is filled with every virtue. For our virtues are fuel, which the Lord ignites with His fire. As for incense - incense and incense, it is also quite possible to use it at home. Only it is necessary not to imitate the censing by a clergyman in the temple (this is still the prerogative of the priest), but rather to burn incense, and not to incense with it. Now in church shops there is a very large selection of both incense and censers. There are special "spiders" - light metal structures that are attached to the lamp. Above them is a platform. Incense is placed on it. From the warmth of the lamp fire, the metal heats up - and the incense begins to smell fragrant. There are special stationary censers - clay, porcelain, metal. They need coal. It is lit, placed in a censer, pieces of incense are placed on top. The lid of this censer has special holes for smoke. You can light censers before prayer, you can walk with Jesus or any other prayer around the house, filling its rooms with a heartfelt appeal to God, which ascends into the sky as easily as smoke from a censer. Burnt coals should be disposed of as follows. If you live in a private house, it is advisable to make a hole in the front garden or in the garden in clean earth, you can under a tree or a bush, where to shake out the ashes (including the censer) from the burning of consecrated things. You can throw ashes into running water, into the river. If you live in an apartment, then it is also advisable to burn the remnants of consecrated things somewhere in a park or in flower beds, then bury the ashes in clean land. You can shake out the remains of burnt coal in flowerpots with indoor plants. What would you like to avoid. No need to turn the whole house into a church. It is important to understand that one should not only pray in the house, but also live. One, two or three places in the house allocated for spiritual needs are enough. Leave space in your home for yourself, for your spouse, your children. Everything is good in moderation.

Lampada(Greek " lamp”) is a lamp filled with oil, lit in front of the icons, on the throne and the menorah. The symbolic meaning of the lamp is the eternal fire of faith in Christ, dispersing 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 the icons. This is an ancient pious tradition that symbolizes the unceasing prayer of Christians to God. If there is no lamp in the house, then this house is, as it were, spiritually blind, dark, here they do not always glorify the Name of God.

Even in the Old Testament it is written: And the Lord said to Moses... that the lamp should burn without ceasing; outside the veil of the ark of revelations in the tabernacle of the meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it before the Lord from evening until morning always; this is an everlasting ordinance throughout your generations; on a clean candlestick they must always set a lamp before the Lord» (Lev. 24:1-4).

A house can have one or more lamps. There is a pious tradition to light inextinguishable 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 and desirable, as it can become a temptation for unbelieving or unbelieving family members. Most often, a Christian lights a lamp when he comes home, and does not put it out until he leaves the house. If there are no lamps, church candles are lit during prayer.

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

It is not necessary that the lamp flame burn very strongly and smoke, it is enough that it be the size of one or two match heads.

Lamp oil is used for lamps (originally olive oil), which can be bought at a church shop in any temple.

Lampadka can be lit only from a candle, with prayer and reverence. There is a special prayer read when the lamp is lit: Kindle, O Lord, the extinguished lamp of my soul with the light of virtue and enlighten me, Thy creation, Creator and Benefactor, Thou art the immaterial Light of the world, accept this material offering: light and fire, and give me inner light to the mind and fire to the heart. Amen».

St. Nicholas of Serbia, regarding why we light lamps, wrote the following:

First, because our faith is light. Christ said: I am the light of the world» (John 8:12). The light of the lamp reminds us of the light with which the Savior illuminates our souls.

Secondly, in order to remind us of the bright disposition of the saint, in front of whose icon we light a lamp. For the saints are called "sons of light" (John 12:36).

Thirdly, in order to serve us as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us to the path of the gospel light, so that we would more zealously take care of the fulfillment of the commandment of the Savior: “ So let your light shine before people, that they may see your good deeds.» (Matthew 5:16).

Fourthly, so that it becomes our small sacrifice to the Lord, Who sacrificed all of Himself for us, a small sign of great gratitude and our bright love for the One from Whom in our prayers we ask for life, health and salvation - all that can to give only boundless Heavenly Love.

Fifthly, to frighten the forces of evil that sometimes attack us during prayer, diverting our thoughts from the Creator. For the forces of evil love darkness and tremble at light, especially that which serves God and His saints.

Sixth, to encourage us to sacrifice. Just as oil and a wick burn in a lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls burn with the flame of love, in all sufferings submissive to the will of God.

Seventhly, to remind us that just as a lamp cannot be lit without our hand, so our heart, this inner lamp of ours, cannot be lit without the holy fire of Divine grace, even if it is filled with every virtue. For our virtues are fuel, which the Lord ignites with His fire.

About the need to light lamps

Why does an icon in front of which a lampada burns seem more “deep” and “alive” to us?
Why has this custom of burning lamps in front of holy images existed since ancient times in the Orthodox Church?
Even in the Old Testament it is written:
“And the Lord said unto Moses… that the lamp should burn continually; outside the veil of the ark of revelations in the tabernacle of the meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it before the Lord from evening until morning always; this is an everlasting ordinance throughout your generations; on a clean candlestick they must always set a lamp before the Lord” (Lev. 24:1-4).
In another book of the Old Testament we read:
“They light the golden lampstand and its lamps to burn every evening, because we keep the ordinance of the Lord our God” (2 Chronicles 13-11).
But now the time of the "tutor" to Christ - the Old Testament - has passed, and with the advent of the Savior of the world, the kingdom of freedom was established in the grace of Christ's Church. But the kindling of lamps is still present in the life of the Church - now the New Testament. “We never serve divine services without lamps,” says the church teacher Tertullian, “but we use them not only to disperse the darkness of the night, the Liturgy is performed in our daylight, but in order to depict Christ, the Uncreated Light, without which we would have wandered in darkness even in the middle of the day.” By the way, in one of the chapters of the book of the Acts of the Apostles it is written that the Holy Apostles, together with their followers, lit lamps when they gathered at night to preach the word of God, to pray and break bread: ” In the upper room where we gathered, there were enough lamps ”(Acts 20; 8) - we read there. The practice of lighting lamps came to Russia along with baptism from Byzantium, under the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.
Lamps have always had a spiritual and symbolic meaning. Twilight in the temple means, immersed in the twilight of sin and ignorance, human nature. The temple is a place where the light of faith shines, the light of God. The light for the church consciousness is only the Divine light, the light of Christ, the light of the future life in the Kingdom of God. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not embrace it” (Jn 1-5) Icon lamps and candles are the image of the eternal Light, and also means the light with which the righteous shine (Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem).
St. Nicholas of Serbia, regarding why we light lamps, wrote the following:
1. First, because our faith is light. Christ said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). The light of the lamp reminds us of the light with which the Savior illuminates our souls.
2. Secondly, in order to recall the bright disposition of the saint, in front of whose icon we light a lamp. For the saints are called sons of light” (Jn 12:36)
3. Thirdly, in order to serve us as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us to the path of the gospel light, so that we would more zealously take care of the fulfillment of the Savior's commandment: So let your light shine before people, that they may see your good deeds.” (Mt 5:16)
4. Fourthly, so that it becomes our small sacrifice to the Lord, Who sacrificed all of Himself for us, a small sign of great gratitude and our bright love for that.
5. Fifthly, to frighten the forces of evil that sometimes attack us during prayer, diverting our thoughts from the Creator. For the forces of evil love darkness and tremble at light, especially that which serves God and his saints.
6. Sixth, to encourage us to sacrifice. Just as oil and a wick burn in a lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls in all sufferings be submissive to the will of God with the flame of love.
7. Seventhly, to remind you that just as a lamp cannot be lit without our hand, so our heart - this is our inner lamp - will not be able to light up without the holy fire of Divine grace, even if it is filled with all virtue. For virtues are the fuel that the Lord ignites with His fire.
In front of the icon at home and in the church, a burning lampada signifies that the Law of God is a lamp for a person in his life. Before the icon of the Savior, it means that He is the True Light, enlightening every person coming into the world. In front of the icon of the Mother of God, she means that She is the Mother of Light and has a fiery love for the human race, that She carried the fire of the Divine. In front of the icons of the saints, it means a fiery love for God, for the sake of which they sacrificed everything that is dear to a person in life, it means that they are lamps that burn for us and shine with their lives, their virtues, our ardent prayer books before God, day and night praying for us.
But why does an icon with a lamp burning in front of it seem much more “deep” and “alive” to us than an icon without a lamp?
The Orthodox tradition of icon veneration implies a living connection through the image on the icon with the prototype of the one who is depicted on this icon, whether it be the Savior of the world Himself, His Most Pure Mother, or some saint. How can such a connection arise, because the person lighting the lamp in front of the icon is in our fallen world, while the saints see the Lord of Glory in heavenly abodes that are outside our space and time?
Let us remember the omnipotence of God the Almighty, who, according to St. Dionysius the Areopagite, “is everything that supports, binds and unites the Basis”, Who “holds” with His energies both the soul of a saint who lives in other heavenly abodes, and the soul of a Christian who is in this world. He, as the Cause of “connecting all that is scattered (in the upper and lower worlds)”, does not have to stretch a thread of communication between them, as if passing through an icon consecrated in the Church.
An icon, in this sense, is not just a board with paints applied to it, not just an image on this board, but an integral part of a more general mysterious wholeness, whose name is the Holy Church, and whose Head is the incarnate Almighty of the world Himself. The Almighty, by the very definition of this word, is subject to everything, and He is free to establish in His Church rules that are higher than the logic of this world. One of these rules is the veneration of icons along with the lighting in front of the icon of a lamp. The meaning of this kindling can only be comprehended in the context of the entire depth of the mysterious life of the Church organism, comprehended by the Holy Spirit, by which this Church organism lives and which reveals to us the truth that the icon lamp burning in front of the icon is a God-established attribute of our church life.
Our pious ancestors understood this well. In any house where Orthodox Christians lived, a lampada was certainly lit in front of the holy images. In modern Greece, whose church life was not interrupted by a period of theomachism, there is still a tradition to light lamps in front of icons in any office. A burning lamp here, as, indeed, in any other place, is a visible expression of the fire of our love for the Lord and neighbor. The quivering fire of the flame of the lamp, visible in front of the icon, whether at home, in a church, or even in a public institution, signifies that the Law of God is a lamp for a person in all spheres of his life. The fire of the lamp is also an image of spiritual fire, the Holy Spirit, descended from heaven, in fiery tongues on the holy apostles. This is a symbol of hope for the atonement of sins and the help of God.
As St. Gregory the Theologian wrote, “the lamps that you kindle, mysteriously form a more powerful illumination, with which we, pure and virgin souls, will go out to meet the bridegroom, having clear lamps of faith.”

Prayer for kindling a fire:
Burn, Lord
The extinguished lamp of my soul
By the light of virtue
And enlighten me, Your creation,
Creator and Benefactor,
Thou art 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