The chandelier is the central multi-tier lamp in any Orthodox church, located under the main dome of the cathedral. He is also called the All-illuminator.
origin of name
The origin and meaning of the word "chandelier" goes back to the Greek "polycandilone", which means "multiglore." The modern Russian sound of the name, according to the famous linguist Maximilian Vasmer, arose from a distorted pronunciation of the Greek original source, where the first part was influenced by the word "requiem", and the second came closer to the word "censer".
Device and meaning of chandelier
In its shape, the lamp resembles a cone with its apex facing the ceiling. Each tier of the chandelier has the shape of a circle on which there are lamps or candles. The number of tiers may vary, depending on the height and size of the temple. Since lighting is of particular importance to the church, chandeliers made of bronze or brass are richly decorated with saints' faces, gilding, ornaments and crystal, which refract and enhance the light of lamps.
At the center of the chandelier is a spherical element called an “apple,” meaning grace and the fruit of heavenly wisdom. The chandelier itself is a symbol of the Heavenly Church, exuding a semblance of a Spiritual illumination awaiting believers on the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The tiered chandeliers in the temple represent an indication of the heavenly order and hierarchy. If we correlate the circles of the lamp with the celestial firmament, then each vertical row will correspond to the level of heaven and the rank of the creatures that inhabit it. If we correlate the levels with people gathering in the temple, then they will reflect the degree of spiritual perfection of the parishioners. Since the exact number of celestial ranks is not known, there is no obligatory indication of the number of tiers of the chandelier - there can be from 3 to 12.
Because the chandelier is the main lamp of the temple, according to church canons, it is lit only during festive and especially significant divine services. During special moments of the ceremony, in order to give a more solemn moment to the moment, the chandeliers are rocked so that the light spills over the whole crowd of people.
Khoros - an ancient type of chandelier
The architecture of the ancient temples of the first Christians did not imply the presence of massive lamps. Khoros was located under the dome of the building - a round platform with an inscribed cross, on which 12 candles were placed, according to the number of apostles. The spread of Christianity and the development of architecture changed the appearance of Choros, which gradually took on a modern look.
Khoros is the oldest form of chandelier. Ancient horos were made of metal or wood, representing a wheel, which was horizontally suspended from the ceiling on chains. Lamps were installed around the wheel circumference. In some cases, Khoros had the appearance of a semicircular bowl, where lamps were placed in the recess. Gradually, the shape of the horos became more complicated, they began to be decorated with ornaments, images, biblical characters and scenes.
Today Khoros is a chandelier of a special kind, each tier of which resembles a wheel rim. The number of wheels is limited only by the size of the temple and the imagination of the master. The lamp symbolizes the firmament and the stars on it. Horos can also have a tree structure. In this case, a rod is placed in the center, to which wheels with bulbs are attached. The similar structure of the lamp symbolically means the tree of life.
The modern forms of Khoros and their extraordinary beauty impress and amaze the eye. The fusion of ancient traditions and new technologies allow you to create true masterpieces that combine delicate jewelry work and deep philosophical meaning.