It is true that ancient peoples lit torches, candles, and oil lamps to fend off darkness, but throughout Judeo-Christian history candles and oil lamps have held great spiritual significance regardless of the time of day. They were used in processions, various rituals, and in ordinary daily worship. In fact, our modern vesper service is actually based upon the ancient Jewish evening lamp-lighting ritual which marked the beginning of the new day.
When God instructed the Hebrews in building their temple, He directed them to place within it a seven-branched candle stand (Exodus 25:31-40; 40:24-25) and deemed that a light should burn perpetually within the sanctuary (Exodus 27:20-21); a tradition, by the way, we continue to follow to this very day.
While the Church’s use of candles often reflects its Jewish roots, they take on greater significance as a reminder that Jesus Christ is the “Light of the world” (John 12:46). Therefore, besides conveying to the human soul a mystical sense of joy, optimism, purity, festiveness, peace, and wisdom, candles also guide us to the One, True Light – Jesus Christ – Who illumines all. In fact, that very phrase is used during our Lenten Pre-sanctified Liturgy as the priest blesses the congregation with the censer and candle.
Light is a major theme throughout both the Old and New Testament worship. It plays an integral role within our services, sacraments, and is even prominent in our hymnography. Lighting candles, therefore, becomes a physical expression of our inward prayer and devotion to God. As St. John of Kronstadt wrote, “The burning candle stands for our ardent zeal and sincere sacrifice we make out of reverence and gratitude before Whom we light the candle.”
St. Simeon the New Theologian says that lights are placed before icons of the saints to show that, without the Light (i.e. “without Christ”), the saints are nothing. The same thing applies to us as well; for only by letting the light of Christ shine upon us – and through us – we can become alive, resplendent, and be all that God intended us to be.
So the next time you light a candle in church or at home, let the flame remind you of God’s glory and let that light be a reflection of your inner spiritual life. In the words of St. Seraphim of Sarov, “Let our heart glow with love and our life shine with light before our Lord like the flame of a taper before His icon.”
