The candle represents the Light of Christ, the flame of faith. There are many profound symbols behind the candle. Saint Symeon of Thessalonica says that the candle we light represents six things.
It represents the purity of our soul because it is made of pure beeswax.
It also represents the plasticity of our soul because we can easily engrave anything on it. Even the Divine Grace, because the candle comes from the fragrant flowers. In addition, it represents the deification, to which we must aim, because the candle is mixed with fire. It represents the light of Christ because, as it burns, it illuminates the darkness. Finally, it represents the love and peace which are attributes that every Christian should have because the candle burns and comforts everyone with its light in the darkness. When lighting a candle, we must remember that we must live in the light we received with our baptism.
That is why we call baptism “Enlightenment.” That is why we hold lighted candles during the baptism. This light is the fire of Pentecost, the light of the Holy Spirit. And this light is renewed within our soul, every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy and every time we receive the Holy Communion and pray. That is why at the end of each Divine Liturgy we sing: “We have seen the True Light! We have received the Heavenly Spirit! We have found the True Faith! Worshiping the Undivided Trinity, Who has saved us.”
However, the light at the church maintains its symbolism and helps the soul to be enlightened when it is natural, as in most of our monasteries, that is, burning candles and oil lamps should be the source of lightning, not the artificial one that comes from electricity.
Candles and oil are an offering to God from these material goods that He has given us and the candles represent the plasticity and softness of our soul and the unifying force of the Holy Spirit because the candles are made – at least, that is how it should be – of the pure beeswax, which the bee makes by collecting the pollen from various flowers. For this reason, the candle reminds us of not only how hard-working the bee is but also the fact that it collects the good and rejects the polluted. The candle also reminds us of how Fire, that is, Deity, unites with the malleable soul and then softens it and illuminates it and all those who come into communion with it.
The candle, as it burns, illuminates its surroundings. Thus the conscious Christians, when they sacrifice themselves for the love of God, enlighten their fellow human beings and shows them the way of salvation.
When the believers enter the church, they should light a candle for the living and a candle for the deceased relatives and acquaintances. But if some of the living have particular problems, then they should light a candle for each one. The lighting of the candle should always be accompanied by words of prayer. For the living, we will ask for God’s mercy and protection, while for the deceased, we will ask for God’s compassion and eternal salvation.
The pure candle produced by virgin bees represents the human nature of Christ which came from the Holy Virgin Mary.
The trikirion (means “triple candle”) that the bishop holds represents the Holy Trinity while the dikirion (means “dual candle”) represent the dual nature of Jesus Christ.
The candles we light at the baptism represent the spiritual light received by the newly baptized person. The candles at the funeral and the memorial service and those placed on the tomb represent the light of Christ, which we wish the deceased receive.
The chandelier represents the triumphant Church in Heaven. The candles or the oil lamps of the chandelier represent the saints. During the great feasts in the monasteries, the monks shake the chandelier to show that the saints in heaven also celebrate and pray with the earthly Church of Christ.
*The article was originally published in Greek in ikivotos.gr