Lamp(Greek " lamp") is a lamp filled with oil, lit in front of the icons, on the throne and the seven-branched candlestick. 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.
Even in the Old Testament it is written: “ And the Lord said to Moses... let the lamp burn continually; outside the veil of the ark of the testimony in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it up before the Lord from evening to morning always; this is an everlasting statute throughout your generations; They must always set up their lamps before the Lord on a clean candlestick."(Lev. 24:1-4).
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; a church candle is used for this. They used to say about irreverent monks in monasteries: “ He lights a lamp with a match…».
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.
For the lamp they use lamp oil (originally olive oil), which can be bought in a church shop in any church.
The lamp can only be lit from a candle, with prayer and reverence. There is a special prayer read when the lamp is lit: “ Light, O 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 with inner light to the mind and fire to the heart. Amen».
Saint Nicholas of Serbia wrote the following about why we light lamps:
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 character 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 as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us onto the path of the gospel light, so that we would be more zealous about fulfilling the Savior’s commandment: “ So let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds"(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 our great gratitude and bright love for the One from whom in our prayers we ask for life, health and salvation - all that can 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 wick burn in a lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls burn with the flame of love, submissive to the will of God in all suffering.
Seventhly, to remind us that just as a lamp cannot light up without our hand, so our heart, this inner lamp of ours, cannot light up without the holy fire of Divine grace, even if it is filled with all virtue. For our virtues are fuel that the Lord ignites with His fire.
In the homes of Orthodox Christians there are always lamps. They are placed next to especially revered icons. It is believed that the fire of the lamp cleanses the air from every abomination. Those who have such a possibility work hard to keep the lamps burning continuously. But modern data does not always allow this. There are not so many families where someone could always be at home. Consequently, in most cases, people light lamps when they return home and extinguish them when they leave. Even in such a sacred matter, you need to follow basic fire safety rules; on the contrary, holy fire can begin to behave like an ordinary one, and then trouble cannot be avoided.
You will need
- - Lamp.
- - Lamp oil.
- - Church candle.
- – Matches or lighter.
- – Gauze or cotton cloth.
Instructions
1. You can purchase lamp oil and wick in a special church store or in a shop at the temple. If there are none in the neighborhood, then you can make the wick yourself. Cut a piece of bandage or other cotton fabric. Twist it tightly into a bundle and insert it into the float of the lamp. Instead of special lamp oil, you can use olive oil.
2. Now some believers light lamps from whatever they have at hand. But previously it was believed that it was impossible to light a lamp easily with a match, but that one must strictly use a church candle, which is invariably present in an Orthodox home. You can purchase candles in the same church store. A candle can be lit either from a match or from a lighter. Do this and say the Lord's Prayer.
3. Light from the candle lamp. For this occasion there is a special prayer: “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 with inner light mind and fire to the heart. Amen".
4. Make sure that the fire of the lamp is not too huge. The lamp, in any case, should not smoke. A light slightly larger than a match head will be enough. If you have several lamps in your house, light them one by one from the same church candle with the appropriate prayer. It is allowed to light lamps of different colors on different days. Dark lamps are prepared for fasting, but on holiday you need to light a red one.
The situation is like in a normal overseas action movie of the mid-eighties - a sharp commando is thrown into impenetrable green spaces, dusk is gathering, cruel monsters have crawled out of holes, and in order to escape, it is necessary to light a fire, but as luck would have it, everything that gives away the fire is lost. There is only one match left. As a result, morning did not come for him, because he failed to light this very match. What to do, uncreative mentality. And so that this does not happen to anyone, we read and remember how it is allowed to light it.
Instructions
1. It would seem, what’s wrong with this? Light up match easily. Perfectly correct. There's really nothing difficult here. We take it out of the box, apply a little pressure along the side of the same notorious box, and the job is done. The match is burning.
2. This, as they say, is in impeccable conditions. What if we consider that the data is not completely flawless? Possibly lost boxes. And in my pocket lies a lonely match that accidentally fell out. Then the plan of action is this: we recall the cartoons of the early or mid-eighties, where the characters, in order to light the dynamite fuse, draw a match over some incomprehensible place that contains both part of the thigh and the sole of the shoe. We analyze. The head of a match consists of special chemicals, which include sulfur and saltpeter. By themselves, they burn at a relatively low temperature. Therefore, in order to ignite match, you need a little bit of heat. Similar heat is obtained by rubbing the head of a match against the rough surface of a box. If we think logically, then match It is allowed to ignite on any rough surface. However, for the sake of honesty, it is worth noting that this should be a fine, rough surface.
3. For example, steel will do. Just not smoothly polished. Let's take, say, metal pillars that hold the entrance canopy or the iron door from the entrance. When the match head rubs against this surface, the temperature will be sufficient for ignition. But you need to do it quickly (strike a match on the surface). Pressure on match in a given situation there should be as much as is traditionally applied in order to light it on the box. Otherwise, either the head will fly around or the match itself will break.
Note!
The fire of a lamp is not usually used for everyday purposes. Hang the lamp from the icon case or from the ceiling.
Lamp(Greek "lamp") - this is a lamp filled with oil, lit in front of the icons, on the throne and the seven-branched candlestick. 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.
It is also written in the Old Testament: “And the Lord said to Moses... that the lamp should burn continually; outside the veil of the ark of the testimony in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron (and his sons) must set it up before the Lord from evening to morning always; this is an everlasting statute throughout your generations; They shall always set up their lamps before the Lord on a clean candlestick.”(Lev. 24:1-4).
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...”
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.
For the lamp they use lamp oil (originally olive oil), which can be bought in a church shop in any church.
The lamp can only be lit from a candle, with prayer and reverence. 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, the Creator and Benefactor. For You are the immaterial Light of the world, accept this material offering: light and fire, and reward me with inner light to the mind and fire to the heart. Amen".
Saint Nikolay Serbsky wrote the following about why we light lamps:
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 character of the saint, in front of whose icon we light a lamp. For the saints are called “sons of light” (John 12:36).
Third, in order to serve as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us onto the path of the gospel light so that we would be more zealous about fulfilling the Savior’s commandment: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.”(Matt. 5:16).
Fourthly, so that she becomes our small sacrifice to the Lord Who sacrificed all of Himself for us, a small sign of great gratitude and our bright love to the One from whom in our prayers we ask for life, health and salvation - all that only boundless Heavenly Love can give.
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.
At sixth, to encourage us to sacrifice. Just as oil and wick burn in a lamp , obedient to our will, Let our souls also burn with the flame of love, submissive to the will of God in all suffering.
Seventh, to remind us that just as a lamp cannot light up without our hand, so our heart, this inner lamp of ours, cannot light up without the holy fire of Divine grace, even if it is filled with all virtue. For our virtues are fuel that the Lord ignites with His fire.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills
In the soul of a believer, just the sight of a church lamp and candle can evoke the deepest thoughts about life and death, about repentance and sin, about joy and sorrow. Lamps say a lot to the mind and feelings of a believer.
The unquenchable lamp itself is a small lamp that is lit in front of the icons. Almost everyone will get out of their memory what a lamp looks like, but not everyone knows about the meaning that the lamp is endowed with and what it represents in Christianity.
The word lamp has Greek roots and literally means a lamp burning before the saints. It is often used in baptism, it is an attribute of weddings and burials, and symbolizes the eternal union of man and the church. It is also needed in the cemetery - it is lit on the first day of the funeral, as well as on the third, ninth and fortieth day after burial.
Such a lamp is a symbol of prayer to the Almighty and a request for mercy to those who have left this world. It is used when praying for forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. She personifies the divine fire that descended on the apostles of the church. Modern cemeteries sometimes provide the service of constantly burning lamps.
Lamps installed on four sides of the coffin form a symbol of the cross and divine light. When the lamp is lit in front of the icon, it symbolizes the Law of God, which marks the earthly path. Fire in front of the face of a saint means that a person accepts the light and enlightenment of higher powers. Lighting a fire in front of an icon also means love for God and a sacrificial mood towards him.
This sometimes simple-to-use item of church and ritual use is an integral part of church holidays and services. Very often, Orthodox people light it in front of images in their homes.
Reusable lamps are often used - glass lamps filled with paraffin, with a replaceable insert, or oil lamps in a frame. After burning out, the combustible element is replaced with a new one. This provides significant savings where lamps are constantly burned.
According to the church charter, during holiday and Sunday services all lamps are lit, including the chandelier - the central chandelier, a lamp with many candles or lamps. This creates an image of the Divine light that will shine on the righteous in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The multiple fire of the chandelier means the Heavenly Church, as a gathering of people sanctified by the grace of the Holy Spirit, burning with the fire of love for all creation.
In general, the history of chandeliers began with chandeliers, which were hung in churches to create a festive mood. Today, this mood turned into crystal and electricity has acquired a secular registration.
The first chandeliers were made from cast copper, wrought iron, silver and tin. It happened that they reached enormous sizes and were decorated with hanging elements. This design served as a prototype for lamps of later times.
But no matter how far technological progress has gone, lighting a living fire in a home will always be relevant - after all, it is known that a living flame resets information fields and normalizes the energy in the room where it is burned, and a burning wick near a holy image relaxes the psyche and opens a person to the opportunity to look deep into yourself.
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. The stand is metal 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 second 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, 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.