Candles February 2002 Issue

In many parishes candles are blessed on the Holy Day of the Meeting of the Lord (Streteniye) on February 2/15. This is done to emphasize the reference to Christ as "a Light" in Luke 2:32. These blessed candles are used in the church and are usually available for use in the home. In some parishes, people bring their own candles, sometimes beautifully decorated, to be blessed. These candles are used at the Holy Supper on Christmas Eve, at the blessing of the home, in the room of the sick or dying, at Easter, etc. They are sometimes called "thunder" or "gromnitza" candles and are lighted during storms and lightning. The lighting of candles is a must in the Orthodox Church. No service can be held without them. We can trace their use down the centuries from Acts 20:8 where the disciples met for services and "there were many lamps." In the 2nd century, Tertullian wrote: "we never hold a service without candles  in order to represent Christ, the Uncreated Light, without Whom we would in broad daylight wander as if lost in darkness." This custom continued as we note St. Jerome wrote in the 4th century. In all Eastern Churches, candles are lit in the daytimes  not to dispel the darkness but as a sign of joy  to feel that Light of which we read in the Psalms." Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Three centuries later St. Sopronius wrote: "Lampadas and candles represent the Eternal Light" The Holy Canons of the Church formulated at the 7th Ecumenical Council (787) that the holy ikons, relics, Cross and Holy Gospel were to be honored by censing and candles lighted before them. Candles are held by the faithful at various services held in the church. A few of them are at weddings, baptisms, funerals, memorial services, Holy Thursday, and Holy Friday, etc. There are many symbolic meanings given but they all point to the "Light." St. Seraphim wrote: "Let our heart glow with love and our life shine with light before our Lord like the flame of a taper before His ikon." Next time you are in church, light a candle for a special intention. It is a centuries and centuries old tradition.