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Paschal Candle

 
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Paschal candle
 
 
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The Paschal candle is a large, white candle
Candle

A candle is a source of light, and sometimes a source of heat, consisting of a solid block of fuel and an embedded candle wick.Today, most candles are made from paraffin....
 used liturgically
Liturgy

A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to their particular traditions. The word may refer to an elaborate formal ritual such as the Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy and Mass , or a daily activity such as the Muslim salat and Jewish Jewish services....
 in the Western Rite
Latin liturgical rites

Latin liturgical rites used within that area of the Roman Catholic Church where the Latin language once dominated were for many centuries no less numerous than the liturgical rites of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches autonomous particular Churches....
 of Christianity (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, etc.). A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
, and is used throughout the Paschal season and then throughout the year on special occasions, such as baptism
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
s and funeral
Funeral

A funeral is a ceremony marking a person's death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from the funeral itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honour....
s.

Meaning of the Paschal candle
The flame of the Paschal candle symbolizes Christ's light, and his presence in the midst of his people.






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The Paschal candle is a large, white candle
Candle

A candle is a source of light, and sometimes a source of heat, consisting of a solid block of fuel and an embedded candle wick.Today, most candles are made from paraffin....
 used liturgically
Liturgy

A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to their particular traditions. The word may refer to an elaborate formal ritual such as the Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy and Mass , or a daily activity such as the Muslim salat and Jewish Jewish services....
 in the Western Rite
Latin liturgical rites

Latin liturgical rites used within that area of the Roman Catholic Church where the Latin language once dominated were for many centuries no less numerous than the liturgical rites of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches autonomous particular Churches....
 of Christianity (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, etc.). A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
, and is used throughout the Paschal season and then throughout the year on special occasions, such as baptism
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
s and funeral
Funeral

A funeral is a ceremony marking a person's death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from the funeral itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honour....
s.

Meaning of the Paschal candle


The flame of the Paschal candle symbolizes Christ's light, and his presence in the midst of his people. The Paschal candle is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle." The term "Paschal" comes from the word Pesach, which in Hebrew
Hebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic languages of the Afro-Asiatic languages. Modern Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Classical Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jews communities around the world....
 means Passover
Passover

Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery....
. The tall white candle in many ways signifies the Divine pillar of cloud
Pillar of Fire (theophany)

A Pillar of Fire was one of the manifestations of the God of the Israelites in the Old Testament. According to Exodus, the pillar of fire provided light so that Israelites could travel by night during the Exodus....
 by day and the pillar of fire
Pillar of Fire (theophany)

A Pillar of Fire was one of the manifestations of the God of the Israelites in the Old Testament. According to Exodus, the pillar of fire provided light so that Israelites could travel by night during the Exodus....
 by night that lead the Israelites in their exodus
Exodus

Exodus is the second book of the Jewish Torah and of the Christian Old Testament. It tells how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Mountain of God Sinai....
 from slavery in Egypt.

The Paschal candle holds a prominent place in worship in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and some other Protestant churches. The equivalent of the Paschal candle in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 is the Paschal trikirion
Paschal trikirion

The Paschal Trikirion is a Liturgy triple-candlestick used at Easter in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite....
 which differs both in style and usage.

Description of the Paschal candle


For congregations that use a Paschal candle, it is the largest candle in the worship space. In most cases today, the candle will display several common symbols:
  1. The cross is always the central symbol, most clearly identifying it as the Paschal candle
  2. The Greek letters
    Greek alphabet

    The Greek alphabet is a set of twenty-four letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th century BC or early 8th century BCE....
     alpha
    Alpha (letter)

    Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician alphabet Aleph ....
     and omega signify that God is the beginning and the end (taken from the Book of Revelation)
  3. The current year
    Year

    A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. By extension, this can be applied to any planet: for example, a "Martian year" is the time in which Mars completes its own orbit....
     represents God's presence here and now in the midst of the gathered worshipers
  4. Five grains of incense
    Incense

    Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
     (most often red) are embedded in the candle (sometimes encased in wax "nails") during the Easter Vigil to represent the five wounds of Jesus: one in each hand, one in each foot, and the spear thrust into his side.


In the medieval church Paschal candles often reached a stupendous size. The Paschal candle of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral

building_name= Salisbury Cathedral|year_built=|year_end=|year_highest =|location= Salisbury, England|antenna_spire= 123m/404ft*|construction_period = 1220-1258 ...
 was said to have been 36 feet tall. Most commonly today, the candle is approximately 2 inches in diameter and 27 to 39 inches tall.

The Paschal candle in the Easter Vigil


For churches that celebrate the Easter Vigil
Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgy seasons in Christianity churches which determines when Calendar of saints, Memorial s, Commemoration s, and Solemnity are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read....
 on the Saturday evening before Easter
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
, the ceremonial lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service.

On Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles....
 of the same week, the entire church is darkened when all the candle
Candle

A candle is a source of light, and sometimes a source of heat, consisting of a solid block of fuel and an embedded candle wick.Today, most candles are made from paraffin....
s and lamps are extinguished to represent the darkness of a world without God.

Then, at the opening of the Easter Vigil, a "new fire
Fire

Fire is the oxidation of a combustion material releasing heat, light, and various Chemical reaction products such as carbon dioxide and water....
" is lit and blessed. The minister will trace the symbols (mentioned above) on the Paschal candle, saying words similar to: "Christ, yesterday and today, the beginning and the ending. To Christ belongs all time and all the ages; to Christ belongs glory and dominion now and forever. Amen."

The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with a flame from this sacred fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world. This represents the risen Christ
Christ

Christ is the English language term for the Greek meaning "the anointing", which is a title given to the Reigning Messiah in the given age of the Zodiac....
, as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death). As it is lit, the minister may say words similar to: "The light of Christ, rising in Glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."

Typically, the worshiping assembly then processes
Procession

A procession is, in general, an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner....
 into the church, led by the Paschal candle. The candle is raised three times during the procession, accompanied by the chant "The light of Christ" to which the assembly responds "Thanks be to God". Following the procession, the Exultet
Exultet

The Exultet is the traditional Western Rite hymn of praise intoned by the deacon during the Easter Vigil. In the absence of a deacon, it may be intoned by the priest, or by the Cantor ....
 is chanted, traditionally by a deacon
Deacon

Deacon is a role in the Christianity that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions....
, but it may be chanted by the priest or a cantor
Cantor (church)

A cantor or chanter is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
. The Exultet concludes with a blessing of the candle:

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
(For it is fed by the melting wax,
which the mother bee brought forth
to make this precious candle.)
Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!
May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all humanity,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.


This candle is traditionally the one from which all other lights are taken for the Easter service.

In some traditions, the base of the candle may be ritually immersed in the baptismal font
Baptismal font

A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.Aspersion and affusion fonts...
 before proceeding with the remainder of the service.

Use during other times of the year

Paschal Candle01
The candle remains lit at all worship services throughout Easter season (or in some traditions until Ascension Day, when it is extinguished just after the Gospel), during which time it is located in the sanctuary
Sanctuary

Sanctuary has multiple meanings. A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its church tabernacle or altar. An animal sanctuary is a place where animals live and are protected....
 close to the altar
Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
. After the Easter season, it is frequently placed near the baptismal font
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
.

The Paschal candle is also lit during services that include the sacrament
Sacrament

A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a rite in which God is uniquely active." Augustine of Hippo defined a Christian sacrament as "a visible sign of an invisible reality." The Anglican Book of Common Prayer speaks of them as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible Grace." Examples of sacram...
 of baptism to signify the Spirit
Holy Spirit

In Christianity, the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the spirit of God. The term Christ , is also used to refer to this presence. That is, the Spirit is considered to act in concert with and share an essential nature with God the Father and God the Son ....
 and fire that John the Baptist
John the Baptist

John the Baptist was a mission preacher and a major religious figure who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River in expectation of a divine apocalypse that would restore occupied Israel....
 promised to those who were baptized in Christ. During the sacrament of baptism in many traditions, a small candle will be lit and presented to the newly-baptized by a member of the community with words similar to, "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

The Paschal candle is often lit and placed near the casket
Casket

A casket, or a jewellery box is a receptacle for trinkets and Gemstone. It may take a very modest form, covered in leather and lined with satin, or it may reach the monumental proportions of the jewel cabinets which were made for Marie Antoinette, one of which is at Windsor, and another at Versailles, the work of Schwerdfeger as cabine...
 (or remains) for worship services surrounding the death of a believer (funeral, Mass of Repose, and Mass of Requiem) as a sign of the hope of the resurrection into which Christians are baptized.

Eastern usage

In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches there is no direct correspondence to the Western Paschal candle. However, on Pascha
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
 (Easter) and throughout Bright Week
Bright Week

Bright Week or Renewal Week is the name used by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite for the period of seven days beginning on Easter and continuing up to the following Sunday, which is known as Thomas Sunday....
, the priest carries a cross and Paschal trikirion
Paschal trikirion

The Paschal Trikirion is a Liturgy triple-candlestick used at Easter in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite....
 (; Slavonic: ??????, troitsa) at all of the services, especially when censing, during the Little Entrance or when giving the Paschal greeting
Paschal greeting

The Paschal greeting is an Easter custom among Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy#Oriental Orthodox Communion and Eastern Catholic Christians, as well as among several Roman Catholic and Protestant Christians....
. The trikirion consists of three lit candles in a candlestick, which the priest carries in his left hand. In the Slavic tradition, the three candles may be white of different colors: green, red, blue. The deacon also carries a special Paschal candle which is a single large candle whenever he leads an ektenia
Ektenia

Ektenia , often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox/Eastern Catholic liturgy. The prevalent ecclesiastical word for this kind of litany in Greek is S??apt? Synapt?, Ektenia being the Greek word preferred in Church Slavonic language ....
 (litany) or censes. In the Slavic tradition, this candle is often red. "paschal means easter"

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