People who come to an Orthodox church for the first time are surprised by the abundance of lit candles. They stand in front of icons or on separate round or rectangular tables. The tradition of lighting candles was born in ancient times, when the nascent Christian religion was banned and its adherents were persecuted. Christians were forced to gather secretly, in caves and catacombs, and conduct conversations and prayers with burning lamps. For them, the burning lights of the lamps became a symbol of divine light, a light of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. The wax candles that appeared later, which were placed for health and peace, in gratitude for help and consolation, also embodied the light of God. He dispersed sadness and darkness, called for humility, and instilled hope and faith in the hearts of people.
In St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, anyone can buy a funeral candle in a ritual shop at a church. Money for candles and other ritual objects - crosses, chains, icons, candlesticks - goes to the needs of the temple, its repair, restoration of icons, production of church utensils. So buying a candle is a good and right thing.
Funeral arrangements
in St. Petersburg and the region
Funeral service
according to the Orthodox rite
What to do
when a loved one died
Funeral service: sacred meaning and features of the ritual
The rite of burial (popular name - funeral service) is a type of worship. The official name in the Trebnik is Deadly Followership. This action is carried out once directly over the body. The place where rituals are performed can be different: a temple, a cemetery, a private residence, a mourning hall, and even a morgue. The last of them is chosen if there is no choice. The funeral service in absentia is another service; for this, a number of conditions must be met.
The purpose of holding a funeral service is to help the soul.
After death, the ethereal shell does not know where it ended up or what is happening. The funeral service partly facilitates this transition from earthly life to the afterlife. In addition, worship helps the soul gain strength to correctly perceive what is happening. This can be summed up in one word – parting words. The Church gives it only to believing Christians. Otherwise, the funeral service will not be held. For this reason, according to church canons, a person must be baptized. If he did not partake of this sacrament during his lifetime, after death he will be deprived of parting words, which are filled with Divine meaning.
Services are often confused: funeral service and memorial service. There are many similarities between them, but there are key differences. Thus, a memorial service is held many times, a funeral service is held only once. A characteristic feature of such a service is chants. Thanks to this, the service received a second name - funeral service. Moreover, it cannot be called a ritual. There is a significant difference between these concepts. Thus, worship is an expression of the essence of belief, represented by symbols. A ritual is the performance of an action. Features of the service - burial rite:
- the body is brought into the temple to the sound of bells;
- then the alternate reading/chanting of prayer words and poems begins;
- during the recitation of the stichera, all relatives and friends give the last kiss to the deceased, while you need to touch the aureole on his forehead;
- then continue reading prayers;
- the choir enters.
At the final stage, the priest intersects the deceased with earth - sprinkles it on the coffin. He pronounces the last parting words: “The earth is the Lord’s, and its fulfillment, the universe and everyone who lives on it.” Another prayer is said, after which it is allowed to close the coffin and nail the lid.
Funeral service for the deceased
Superstitions associated with fire
Before the invention of the electric lamp, a candle was the only way to illuminate a home. The fire bewitched, giving rise to faith in the irrational. A number of signs and superstitions associated with wax objects have formed.
- The crackling of a flame is a bad sign that warns of damage directed at a person. If candles crackle during a funeral and go out as they approach you, there is a high probability of death.
- Blue flame means the imminent death of one of the household members. The color of the light warns of the presence of the spirit of the deceased in the room at the wake.
- Do not light more than 2 funeral attributes from a cinder - it will lead to poverty and illness. Do not use fire from the stove.
- It is forbidden to blow out candles. You can extinguish it with caps or your fingers.
- If the products go out on their own for no reason, this is a bad sign. If the candles go out at a funeral, it is believed that they have fulfilled their purpose and the soul has found peace in the afterlife.
- Dropping the lamp from your hands means a quick wedding. If a ritual object falls in a church, it means trouble.
- Do not light a fire for the health of the deceased.
- If in a temple a flame accidentally spreads to a person’s hair or clothes, a strong love spell is cast on him.
- It is forbidden to give wax candles from funerals. They accumulate negative energy.
- If you see a paraffin product on the ground, do not pick it up. The attribute was used in magical rituals. The one who dropped used the services of a magician, a witch.
Funeral, wedding, baptismal, aromatic candle is a symbol of light, hope, faith in any religion. People awarded them magical abilities and came up with superstitions. The priests insist that the task is to illuminate the path for the living and the dead.
The article has been verified by the site editors
What do candles mean in the hands of mourners at a funeral service?
The burning flame symbolizes light, life, love. This is how praying relatives express their affection for the deceased. It is recommended to hold the candle during the service. You need to buy 12 pcs. They are distributed to strangers, not relatives. Do not touch the wax; use a handkerchief.
From the moment of separation (after death), loved ones undertake to support the deceased during his transition between worlds.
Everyone can say a prayer silently or listen to the chants of a clergyman.
At the same time, it is necessary to find a response in the heart to the words that reach the ears of the listener. The sincere connection of relatives with the deceased during the funeral service provides invaluable assistance to the latter when he begins a difficult journey.
Church candle in hand
What needs to be done with candles after the funeral service in the church
Most often, funeral services are held in a church. It is believed that this is the most correct way to give farewell to the deceased. If this option was chosen, candles must be prepared. It’s hard to imagine this service without them. Moreover, it is important to find out in advance what to do with the candle after the funeral service. If the service is held inside the temple, after all the activities are completed, the remaining cinders must be put into the deceased’s pocket. Then the wax, which did not burn completely during the service, will not reach sorcerers, as well as amateur magicians with bad intentions.
If there is no pocket on the deceased's clothes, according to church customs the cinders are placed under the deceased's back.
How to deal with candles after a funeral service at home or in a cemetery
The burial ceremony can also be held at home (a funeral hall is also being considered for this) or in a cemetery. Moreover, the actions are the same: it is necessary to bury the cinders remaining after the service. But this must be done when all the manipulations by the clergy have been completed. If relatives are unsure when to move to this stage, they can check with the funeral organizer or priest.
It is strictly forbidden to take cinders from the cemetery home; it is forbidden to take them with you to a funeral, or to store them as a memory.
You need to understand what to do with the candle after the funeral service for the deceased: it is given to the person who distributed it, then it is placed under the deceased’s back or buried where no one walks.
Funeral service at home
How much do funeral candles cost and where to buy them?
Church candles, of course, are bought only in the temple, because they signify the union between the temple and the person. It is also important that all church candles are blessed, and this is also a necessary ritual of the Christian faith. By buying a candle, you thereby donate your money to the temple.
Funeral candles are different, and their prices also differ. An ordinary wax memorial candle costs from 5 rubles; prices for candles, which include funeral verses from loved ones, range from 50 to 400 rubles apiece.
We must remember that a candle is just a visual image that helps in turning to God, the main thing here is faith, pure thoughts and sincere prayer.
Why can't you throw it away or keep it?
It is prohibited to keep items brought from the cemetery, especially those that were used during funerals and funeral services. They contain negative energy. You should not touch them. Dead energy can cause harm to the deceased. In this case, there is a risk of developing diseases, and sometimes death can occur. The outcome depends on the duration of contact with cinders.
Wax has the ability to accumulate information, so it can have both neutral, beneficial or negative effects.
Insult to faith
If you throw away candles after a funeral service in church for the deceased, this can also have consequences for the believer. Christians have a special attitude towards ritual attributes. The wax used during the funeral service of the deceased is blessed. This means that it moves into another category of objects: from ordinary it turns into a shrine. Derogatory treatment of sacred objects is a sin tantamount to blasphemy against God.
If there is no suitable place to hide cinders, you should visit the temple, where there is a container for them.
Magic rituals of necromancers
Things from the cemetery have absorbed negative energy, they can negatively affect living people, so it is not recommended to take flowers or objects from graves. In addition, products that touched the deceased can help create a connection with the other world. This explains why necromancers often use them during rituals to harm the living. One of the common ways to use cinders left after a burial is to spoil them.
For whom do they not light candles for their repose?
Can a funeral candle be lit for all or not all dead people? According to the rules of the Orthodox Church, not everyone. Funeral candles are not lit if the deceased committed a great sin - suicide. The unbaptized, atheists and those who actively and even aggressively oppose faith in God are not worthy of funeral candles. They can be called militant atheists. The Church does not accept demands for them, rejects them, just as they rejected and betrayed the Christian faith. Church rules in this regard must be strictly observed; clergy are punished for deviating from them.
You can get qualified advice on this issue from specialists of St. Petersburg funeral agencies.
Category: question-answer
Is it possible to take candle stubs to the temple?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
Some believe that wax products after the funeral service can be placed in the temple for the repose of the deceased. But it’s better to talk to the assistants or the priest, he will tell you what to do. A common practice is to place such cinders in special containers.
How to properly place a candle in a temple?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
To light a candle for repose, you need to find a small table on the temple grounds; it usually has a square shape and is installed on the left hand side of the entrance. It is necessary to cross yourself, but not traditionally: once or three times, but only twice. Then you should light the candle you brought with you. It must be placed in a special cell (there are many similar ones there). In this case, it is recommended to mentally turn to the Lord with a request to rest the soul of the deceased (name).
Candles for the repose
Why are 12 candles lit at a funeral service?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
This is a long-standing custom. Previously, it was customary to light 12 candles as a symbol of lighting the path for the deceased. In addition, according to the Orthodox tradition, the flame symbolizes the Non-Evening Light of Eternity.
We brought the candles home after the funeral service: how to burn them?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
If you bring candles home, there will be no big mistake. Yes, it is not recommended to take things from the cemetery. But a cinder that has not burned out can be re-lit, only at home for the purpose of saying a prayer for the deceased.
Cigarettes after the funeral service
Candles after the funeral service, what to do with them next - options?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
You can consider ways that will not be perceived as blasphemy of God:
- leave candles after the funeral service in the church;
- put in a coffin - pocket or under the back of the deceased;
- leave at the grave;
- dig it where no one goes.
The choice of option should be made taking into account the circumstances. For example, when you are in a cemetery, it is easier to leave candles on the grave.
Candles after the funeral: what to do with the house after the funeral?
Expert opinion
Father Pavel
Clergyman
Wax products can be immediately taken to the temple. It doesn’t matter where they were before: they stood at the coffin before the funeral, they were burning during the funeral service. Those cinders that have not yet burned out can be used at home, then they, as well as the rest, must be left on the territory of the temple.
What to do after the funeral candle is installed
The main purpose of visiting the temple is to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased. A candle is a visual image of prayer, so having placed the candle while it is burning, you need to stand and pray.
You can pray in your own words, asking God to accept the soul of a deceased person into His Kingdom of Heaven and grant it peace. You can use a special prayer, which is called “For the Dead.”
After prayer in church, it is good to give out alms, with the request that those who receive it remember the soul of the deceased person.
