The Paschal Candle. Note that the year it was used was 2005.

This article describes the Paschal Candle of the Western Churches. For the Paschal triple-candle used in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite see Paschal Trikirion.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x2304, 300 KB) Paschal candle in St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x2304, 300 KB) Paschal candle in St. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous particular Churches in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called Constantinopolitan, is the liturgical rite used (in various languages) by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches and by several Eastern Rite particular Churches within the Catholic Church. ... The Paschal Trikirion is a liturgical triple-candlestick used at Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite. ...

Meaning of the Paschal Candle

Representing Christ's presence in the midst of a people, the flickering flame of the paschal candle signifies Christ's illuminating light. 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 means Passover. The tall white candle in many ways signifies the Divine pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that lead the Israelites in their exodus from slavery in Egypt.

The paschal candle holds a prominent place in worship in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and some other Protestant churches. Separate articles treat Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Orthodox Judaism. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Description of the Paschal Candle

For congregations that have 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 alpha and omega signify that God is the beginning and the end (taken from the Book of Revelation)
3. The current year represents God's presence here and now in the midst of the gathered worshipers
4. Five grains of incense (most often red) are embedded in the candle (sometimes with nails) during the Easter Vigil to represent the wounds of Jesus Christ: one nail in each hand, one nail through both feet, the spear in the side, and the crown of thorns upon Jesus' head.

In the medieval church paschal candles often reached a stupendous size. The Paschal candle of Salisbury Cathedral 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 Greek alphabet (Greek: ) is an alphabet consisting of 24 letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 8th or early 8th century BC. It was the first alphabet in the narrow sense, that is, a writing system using a separate symbol for each vowel... Alpha (uppercase Α, lowercase α) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. ... Omega (Ω ω) (literally, big O) is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet. ... A year (from Old English gÄ“r) is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Incense is composed of aromatic organic materials. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishops Grounds by John Constable c. ...

The Paschal Candle in the Easter Vigil

For churches that celebrate the Easter Vigil on the Saturday evening before Easter, the ceremonial lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service. The month of October from a liturgical calendar for Abbotsbury Abbey. ... This article is about the Christian festival. ...

On Maundy Thursday of the same week, the entire church is darkened when all the candles and lamps are extinguished to represent the darkness of a world without God. The Last Supper - museum copy of Master Pauls sculpture, from the main altar in St. ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... For other uses, see Candle (disambiguation). ...

This is a brazier used for the new fire.

Then, at the opening of the Easter Vigil, a new fire is lit and blessed. The minister will trace the symbols (mentioned above) on the 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." Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 558 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a photograph of a brazier from the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 558 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a photograph of a brazier from the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas. ... Look up brazier in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ...

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, 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." This page is about the title, office or what is known in Christian theology as the Divine Person. ...

Typically, the worshiping assembly then processes into the church, led by the 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, a leader chants the Exultet, which concludes with a blessing of the candle: The Exultet (or Exsultet) is the traditional Catholic hymn of praise intoned by the deacon during the Easter Vigil. ...

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.

In some traditions, the candle may be ritually dunked into the baptismal font before proceeding with the remainder of the service.

The Paschal Candle During Other Times of the Year

The candle remains lit at all worship services through the season of Easter (or in some traditions until Ascension Day). After the Easter season, it is frequently found near the baptismal font. This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ...

The paschal candle is also lit during services that include the sacrament of baptism to signify the Spirit and fire that John the Baptist promised to those baptized in Christ. During the sacrament of baptism in many traditions, a small candle will be lit and presented to the 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 (or remains) for worship services surrounding death (funeral, Mass of Repose, and Mass of Requiem) as a sign of the hope of the resurrection into which Christians are baptized.

External Links

For more paschal candle related resources (including how create a candle with a unique design), visit:
The Candle Carving Site

To see a wider variety of designs and what churches can purchase, visit one of the following paschal candle manufacturers (most of them do not sell directly to the public, but only through religious vendors):
Marklin Candle Design
Cathedral Candle Company
Will and Baumer, Inc.
Dadant and Sons, Inc.

See also