Most of the people who come to the temple consider it their duty to light candles. Some approach the question fundamentally and acquire the most massive copies, hoping that in this way they will receive answers to their questions faster and earn a lot of preferences. But the essence of lighting candles is not the fulfillment of human desires, almost always dictated by earthly passions, but in the humble desire of the human soul to join the Divine light. But still, you need to know the elementary rules of where in the church to put candles for health, so as not to overshadow the visit to the temple either to yourself or to other parishioners.
What is a church candle?
The burning of a church candle, like the candle itself, has many meanings, and all of them relate to the spiritual component of the connection between God and man. First of all, this symbolizes the prayer of the believer before the Lord, in the second place is a voluntary and feasible sacrifice to God and his church, and also means the person’s involvement in the invisible divine light.
The lighting of candles, lamps, lamps in Christian churches historically dates back to the time when believers had to conduct services in caves. But even then, the candlelight not only helped to illuminate the place of worship, but was a symbol of Christ. A parishioner in a church should light a candle with fervent prayer and love; in the absence of a religious feeling, the ritual takes on a pagan color.
How to put candles?
The basic rule is sincere faith, love of God and that person for whom the prayer will be said. The number of candles does not matter, the whole point of the ritual is the purity of thoughts and the ardent desire for health for one's neighbor. The rules of conduct in the church prescribe lighting candles before the start of the church service, so that later, by walking and doing so, they do not interfere with the parishioners' prayer, and the clergy send the service.
You can put a candle at the end of the service. There are certain rules of conduct in the church when candles are lit by a parishioner:
- Near the candlestick make two waist bows with the simultaneous imposition of the sign of the Cross.
- Next, light a candle; this can be done from any candle standing on a candlestick. Do not light a candle from the central lamp, so that by accident it is not extinguished with dripping wax.
- It is necessary to cross again and place the candle in an empty socket.
- After the establishment, a bow is placed with a sign of the cross.
- Next is the prayer.
- If there are no empty seats in the candlestick, then you do not have to extinguish and remove other candles without permission. A candle is placed next to the candlestick or they wait until the church workers find an opportunity to free the nests of the common candlestick.
- Standing with a lit candle in a church is only possible for memorial services or for the remission of sins in the presence of a priest.
Occasion and place
Candles are placed in the church for health and repose. Candle candles are lit for various reasons - with a prayer for health and long life, in gratitude for an accomplished event, with a prayer for help or protection in any undertaking, and for a lot of other reasons, candles for health are used.
Where to put and how to determine a place for a symbol of health? The priests say that there are no special requirements, near which icons to place a candle. If a person does not know where to put it, then the central candlestick, where most often there is a place and the possibility of accessing the icons of the main iconostasis, will be the right decision.
But in every church there is a particularly revered icon, near which parishioners often pray and a service is sent. These icons are considered the most powerful symbols, and most prefer to leave their candle there. In this case, you should definitely read the canonical prayer dedicated to this icon and the saint depicted on it, but if the parishioner is not aware of the prayer, then sincere faith will help him and the words will flow from the heart, which is more valuable.
A person who first came to church is poorly guided not only in symbols, but in certain actions, especially when he seeks to put candles for his health. Where to put, so as not to mistakenly set fire for the repose. A candlestick with memorial candles stands on a separate table and is located in front of the Holy Crucifix. It has a different shape, the candlesticks in the church, almost always, have a circle at the base, and the memorial are square or rectangle without the main candle or lamp.
Fundamental approach
If a state of mind requires involvement in spiritual life and you need to express your respect, then you need to know where in the church to put candles for health:
- It’s good for the soul to put a candle in the candlestick of the central lectern and at the same time bow down, pray and overshadow itself with the sign of the Cross. Actions should be calm, thoughtful, with awareness and peace of mind.
- If the church has the relics of a saint, then it is necessary to place a candle in honor of his memory.
- The icon revered in the church is also the symbol where the candle will become appropriate and soulful along with a sincere prayer to the saint or saint who is depicted in the icon.
- A prayer for health (one's own or a loved one) is performed near any icon, at the same time leaving a candle on any candlestick of the temple. If the name of the heavenly patron, in whose honor the parishioner was baptized, is known, then the best choice would be to turn to the icon with the image of the saint and read a prayer for protection and health.
FAQ
The neophyte in the temple raises many questions, the first of which is where in the church to put candles for health. Over time, an internal understanding of the semantic and spiritual burden of one’s stay within the religious space wakes up and questions become even greater.
Main questions:
- What candles are put for health? Church candles are not divided into types according to their purpose. They are the same for all needs. Differences can be in shape (straight, cone-shaped), size or materials of manufacture (wax, paraffin, mixed). To the pleasure of parishioners in church shops or from private manufacturers, you can buy candles with carvings, symbols, various colors, this has nothing to do with canonical rules.
- Where in the church to put candles for the health of an unbaptized child? In this case, put a candle on the central candlestick, but it is advisable to christen the newborn as soon as possible. To perform the rite, the priest is invited home if it is impossible to bring the child to the baptismal church. After the sacrament is performed, you can order magpies, prayers and more.
- Where in the church to put candles for the health and deliverance from the vices of a person addicted to alcohol, drugs, gambling? Prayer is carried out in front of the icons of the Virgin “The Inexhaustible Chalice”, the holy martyr Boniface and the righteous John of Kronstadt, and a candle is placed there.
- Is it possible to pray and put a candle on yourself? They pray for their health, mental and physical, and place candles in front of the icons of their heavenly patron or on the central candlestick. At the same time, they do not forget to offer a prayer of thanks for all that is available.
- Where in the church to put candles for the health and safe conduct of a surgical operation? Panteleimon the Healer holds a special place among Orthodox saints; he is considered the main assistant in the recovery and successful outcome of all medical interventions. Saints Cosmas and Damian are also revered and assisted. The patient is advised to confess, partake and order a prayer service in the church for a successful outcome of the operation. It will be helpful to pray for the surgeon who will perform the operation and for the Lord to control his hands.