How to Light Candles in Church #
The custom of lighting lamps began a very long time ago, in the earliest centuries of Christianity. Christians, being persecuted for confessing their faith, gathered secretly at night to pray. At first, candles were lit simply to illuminate the place of prayer. But very soon, they came to be lit not only for light, but also to express spiritual joy and festivity.
At the beginning of the church service, only two or three candles are burning: one before the icon of the Savior, another before the icon of the God-bearer near the Royal Doors, and a third before the festal icon in the center of the church.
All the candles are lit at Great Vespers before the censing and the singing of the verses at “O Lord, I have cried.” Then they are extinguished at the end of Vespers. They are lit again after the kathismas, extinguished at the third ode of the canon, then lit once more at the end of the eighth ode—before the singing of “My soul doth magnify the Lord”—and left burning until the Great Doxology. At Matins, the candles are lit after the Ninth Hour at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, which begins with the priest’s exclamation: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” and remain burning until the end of the service.
We light a candle before the icon of the Lord or His saints with a prayer to the one depicted, and in hope of God’s help and the intercession of the saints. The candle is our offering to God and His saints; therefore, we must handle it with care and reverence.
Short Prayers Before the Icons
Before the icon of the Savior:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!
Before the memorial table (for the departed):
O Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants!
Before the Cross:
Glory, O Lord, to Thy precious Cross!
Before the icon of the God-bearer:
Most holy Lady God-bearer, save us!
Before the icon of the Guardian Angel:
O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian, save me, a sinful servant of thine!
Before the icon of a saint:
Saint [Name], pray to God for us!
When to Hold Candles #
On great feasts and in some other special services, the faithful themselves stand holding candles in their hands:
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On the Twelve Great Feasts, the feasts ranked with them, and the parish’s patronal feast: from the polyeleos until the 3rd ode of the canon, after which candles are extinguished. They are lit again after the 8th ode and held until the end of the Great Doxology.
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On Great Thursday, during the Service of the Holy Passion of Christ, while the Twelve Gospels are read.
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At the Paschal service, from the procession until the end of the First Hour—when all greet one another with “Christ is risen!”
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During the funeral service for the departed.
The need to light candles or to remove burnt-down stubs from a candelabrum is not considered a valid reason to walk around the church at times when movement is prohibited by the Church’s Ustav (Rule). Our offering is pleasing and acceptable to God only when it is made without violating the order and reverence required of Christian worship.