This happened to me more than once, when I come to church and doubt whether I am doing everything right. I understand that this is not what we are going for, the main thing is to do everything with a pure heart and soul. But, for me it is important to learn even more about traditions and rules. I personally feel more comfortable when I understand everything and go to church without analyzing whether I put the candle on correctly or not. You don't need to read anything and know for sure what and how to do.
Most people of different generations know that it is customary to light candles in Churches, monasteries and other holy places. Many of us have done this. But not everyone knows what this Orthodox tradition means, where do its roots come from?
One of the first commands that Moses received from the Lord was to arrange and light a lamp from seven lighted lamps. Moses did so. Since that time, services in the Temples have often been conducted with lit candles. But this beautiful ceremony has a lot more meaning than just the function of indoor lighting. Although, based on historical data, the first Christians, who secretly performed their rituals, hid from persecution in caves, where they were forced to be in the dark. And only the flame of candles illuminated their shelters.
What is it, the meaning of lighting candles in Temples? What do these little lights mean, which not only give light, but something more?
WHY AND HOW TO PLACE A CANDLE IN THE TEMPLE?
The candle lighting ritual has many meanings, interpretations, and explanations. The light of a lighted candle is a symbol of the kindness and warmth that Jesus brought when he was born on Earth. Before him, people lived for generations in darkness and sin, but in anticipation of someone who can save them. Jesus became such a light. Likewise, in the Churches, in a certain twilight, candles are lit for those who believe in the light and warmth of God. The wax from which candles are made is also a kind of symbol. After all, wax tends to change under the influence of heat (fire and human hands). This means that a person can become softer, kinder, change thanks to God's power and true faith. If we talk about how to put candles correctly, first of all, you need to understand the basic truth: this should not be done automatically, but clearly aware of the love and kindness that you feel for the person to whom you are lighting the candle. The candle that you acquire in the Church is a voluntary offering in the name of your faith and love. Nobody forces you to buy a candle and light it for the health of a loved one. You need to know that candles are set for health and for the peace of the soul. Most Temples have a specially designated place, a memorial table (eve) - candles are put there for the repose. This is done in order to honor the good memory of a person who has gone to another world. Candles for health are put on many occasions. For example, in gratitude for success in solving a problem. Maybe something happened that you asked God for a long time - and he helped you with it. You can also light a candle for good relations in the family or team. Nobody forces you to buy a candle and light it for the health of a loved one. You need to know that candles are set for health and for the peace of the soul. Most Temples have a specially designated place, a memorial table (eve) - candles are put there for the repose. This is done in order to honor the good memory of a person who has gone to another world. Candles for health are put on many occasions. For example, in gratitude for success in solving a problem. Maybe something happened that you asked God for a long time - and he helped you with it. You can also light a candle for good relations in the family or team. Nobody forces you to buy a candle and light it for the health of a loved one. You need to know that candles are set for health and for the peace of the soul. Most Temples have a specially designated place, a memorial table (eve) - candles are put there for the repose. This is done in order to honor the good memory of a person who has gone to another world. Candles for health are put on many occasions. For example, in gratitude for success in solving a problem. Maybe something happened that you asked God for a long time - and he helped you with it. You can also light a candle for good relations in the family or team.gone to another world. Candles for health are put on many occasions. For example, in gratitude for success in solving a problem. Maybe something happened that you asked God for a long time - and he helped you with it. You can also light a candle for good relations in the family or team.gone to another world. Candles for health are put on many occasions. For example, in gratitude for success in solving a problem. Maybe something happened that you asked God for a long time - and he helped you with it. You can also light a candle for good relations in the family or team.
Many people have a quite reasonable question: what icons and what saints should candles be lit? Indeed, in any Temple there are so many of them.
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Remember that your thoughts and the emotions with which you came to the holy place are more important. If your thoughts are pure, you have love and kindness to the person for whose health you came to light a candle - you can put it at the icon of the Savior, or at the icon of the Virgin. But if you have a more specific desire regarding the person from whom you came, you need to know which saints need to pray and light candles.
If you want a person close to you to be healed, recovered, light a candle by the icon of the Mother of God, which is called the "Healer". A person who drinks a lot of alcohol needs to get rid of this sin. Light a candle to the icon "Inexhaustible Chalice" - and God's help in getting rid of this sin will be given to him. When you learn about all the miraculous properties of icons, it will be easy for you to decide which one to put candles on. Many people know about their saints, about those who patronize them. These are nominal icons that are desirable to have at home, and constantly light candles to them. The guardian angel will always help and protect from troubles and misfortunes.
Yes, church candles have the power of God. If you believe in this, then the fire of your pure soul will burn endlessly. After all, a candle, as a reflection of the soul, is a symbol of its burning before the Lord and the Mother of God, before the saints. The candle is also a voluntary sacrifice offered to God by a person who believes in goodness and love. If a person comes to the Temple without sincerity, then his candles will not help, their fire will not give either faith, or love, or the power of God. Therefore, simply for the sake of "fashion" do not go to the Temple, do not sin with your ostentatious actions. If your thoughts are pure, and you go to the Temple with real faith to light candles for health, learn some more important features.
It will be better if you come before the service starts. That's when you put the candles on. Indeed, during the ceremony, you will inevitably violate the deanery in the Temple, moving among the worshipers, knocking his heels, involuntarily pushing people. Don't bother anyone. But you may not have made it in time for the beginning of the service. Then stay in the Temple, pray, and light candles at the end of the ceremony. In any case, the time spent in the Church is a time of reflection and spiritual cleansing, so do not rush to leave.
The candle must be lit from another candle. Neither matches nor lighters are used in the Temple. But you cannot light a candle from the lamp, so as not to accidentally drip it with wax and extinguish it.
Many are interested in how many candles can be put in one visit to the Temple. Put as much as you need. After all, buying candles is not an obligation, but your voluntary sacrifice to God.
To make your coming to the Temple really sincere, light candles for the "holiday" (central analogue). Or to the main icon, which is in every Temple. Perhaps there are relics of saints in the Temple - then a candle should be put there too. And after all this - put candles for the health (or rest) the person for whom you came.
For health, you can put a candle at any icon, for repose - on the eve (this is a square or rectangular table with the Crucifixion).
It so happens that in the Temple all the candlesticks are already taken, there is no free space for your candle. What to do?
Under no circumstances try to push your candle into the nest, where someone's candle is already standing. Some pull out someone else's candle to light their own. You can't do that. Just place it on the candlestick unlit. Sometimes you want to help another person and light a candle in order to save him from sins. It's impossible. Everyone must be responsible for their sins, and the priest must forgive them. But a person must personally tell the priest about them. And there is no way to solve all problems with one candle. Although if you have discord in your family, misunderstanding, problems between husband and wife - light a candle to the Mother of God, Saints Guria, Samon and Aviv. It would be nice for the blessed fool Xenia of Petersburg to light a candle.
Many people have a question regarding an unbaptized newborn child: is it possible to light a candle for his health if he is sick? Can. But you can't write his name in the Church Book - the Church does not pray for someone who has not received the Sacrament of Baptism. Therefore, a sick child must be baptized. For this it is not necessary to carry it to the Church. You can call the priest home, or if the baby is still in the hospital, go there. The child will receive special grace and will recover quickly. A child who has undergone the rite of Baptism can receive communion, as well as order prayer services for health, which will help the child in recovery. If the baptized child is seriously ill, candles can be put to the icons of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the saints. It will be better, the whole family will offer prayers to the Lord for the health of the baby. Universal prayer will help the child cope with the illness. Apart from prayers,one should give a sick child holy water, wash him with it. This will also help in recovery. If he already knows how to speak, say prayers to the Lord with him. Unfortunately, the modern world is full of sins. One of them is addiction to drug addiction. Drug addicts are people, sick and dependent, it is difficult for the family, society with them, they themselves suffer, although few of them realize this. But God is almighty, he saves the souls and bodies of those who believe.he saves the souls and bodies of those who believe.he saves the souls and bodies of those who believe.
If you want to help a person get rid of drug addiction, light a candle to the Inexhaustible Chalice icon of the Mother of God.
We are all human, and we all tend to be sick. It so happens that the disease is serious and surgery is required. And in this case, to help medicine - go to the Temple and light a candle for a successful operation. Candles should be placed on the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the holy doctors Cosmas and Damian. Order a prayer service for the successful outcome of the operation. If you know in advance the name of the doctor who will conduct it, light a candle for his health.
But, naturally, you always want to know if a person can light candles for his own health? Yes. A candle is a kind of symbol of an appeal to the Lord, and many prayers are addressed to him in the first person.
About your health, about the health of loved ones, about success in work, business, study - you can put candles for everything. If they are accompanied by sincere, pure prayer and requests, God will hear them and will certainly help. The Lord helps those who ask. As mentioned above, candles are bought in the Temple. But it so happens that you have a candle with you that you acquired in another holy place. It will be better if you buy a candle in the Temple in which you want to put it. This is a kind of sacrifice and tribute to the very Temple where your candle will burn. Often people in the Temple see that the candles that have burned down by half or more are removed. This offends some - after all, they light a candle for someone else's health. You should not be offended - you have already made a kind of sacrifice, and God has heard your prayers and requests. Your candles for health or peace is a small sacrifice to the Temple,but a huge help to those for whom you put them. God helps those who believe in him, and a small bright and burning candle is a connection with the Lord, his love for us, simple and earthly people.
