Since those ancient times, when Christianity, stepping beyond the borders of Palestine, illuminated many countries and continents with its unfading light, a candle has become an integral attribute of the sacred ceremony, regardless of where it was performed - in a temple or at home. At the same time, her fire always personified the warmth and light of the human heart, filled with love for the Lord, His Most Pure Mother and those saints, in front of whose images it was lit.
Words coming from the heart
However, it should be remembered that a person who puts candles for he alth (or peace) with a cold and indifferent heart is like a pagan who makes a sacrifice and expects to receive a reward for this. In order not to fall into such a grave sin, you should first of all direct your feelings and thoughts to the one whose image is depicted on the icon, and then say a prayer with reverent awe.
And it doesn't matter whether her words are taken from any liturgical book, for example, "Prayer Books", or born in her own heart, the main thing is that they be sincere and filled with deep faith. If it is not there, but the soul yearns to find it, one shouldprayerfully ask the Lord to grant this highest grace, without which a person is not able to become a partaker of eternal life.
Things every parishioner should know
In addition, you need to know how to light a candle for he alth in a church or at home, and understand what this tradition that has passed through the centuries contains. It is also useful to have an idea of in what cases and which of the saints it is customary to put a candle in order to fully acquire the grace that gives spiritual and bodily strength to us and our loved ones.
And even more so, it is necessary to know how to behave in cases where external circumstances, for example, an extinguished candle, become the reason for their interpretation in the light of certain popular beliefs, sometimes filled with superstition, absolutely alien to church teaching. Despite the fact that there are no specific rules that dictate the order of how to light a candle for he alth in the church, there is a tradition that has been established since ancient times and consecrated by the names of the holy fathers of the church.
Where should I start?
Usually, upon entering the temple, the first candle is placed on a candlestick located near the images of the Savior and His Most Pure Mother. As a rule, it is located in the central part of the room. In many churches, it is also customary to place the first candle in front of a particularly revered icon.
It is also recommended, before lighting a candle for the he alth of any particular person, to light it in front of the image of his heavenly patron, of course, if he is in the church, and only after thatgo to that icon (or icons) before which a prayer service will be performed for deliverance from ailments. This rule fully applies to those cases when candles are placed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.
Which icon to put a candle for he alth?
According to the Orthodox tradition, on which the entire order of our sacred rites is based, prayers for he alth, as well as for any other needs, are offered before the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Eternal Son - Our Lord Jesus Christ. Before them, candles are placed. However, it should be remembered that the Savior granted grace to His saints to intercede before Him for the help to people in which they themselves succeeded in the days of earthly life.
That is why, asking yourself the question of which icon to put a candle for he alth, you should opt for the saints, who were once famous for healing not only human souls, but also bodies. Among them, the most famous by right is the holy healer and great martyr Panteleimon. Let's dwell on this name and in a few words we will tell about what he has gained unfading fame for himself.
Holy healer Panteleimon
Born in 275 in Nicomedia (Asia Minor), then mired in paganism, the future saint in his youth became a student of the famous physician Euphrosynus. Under his tutelage, he comprehended the secrets of human flesh and became such a skilled healer that the emperor Maximilian brought him closer to the court. Despite the idolatry that reigned around, he early joined the Christian faith, a preacherwhich for him was the future Great Martyr Presbyter Yermolai, who secretly lived in Nicomedia.
Having been baptized, Panteleimon set out on the path of gratuitous service to the suffering, whose ailments he healed without requiring any payment. He often visited the dungeons, where he helped the prisoners, among whom were many Christians. With his art, supported by the grace of God, he delivered them from bodily and mental torment.
However, soon the pagan emperor became aware of the true faith professed by Panteleimon, and he gave him into the hands of the executioners in order to force him to renounce Christ, but his efforts were in vain. The Holy Great Martyr, having endured all sufferings, completed his earthly journey and gained eternal life. For firmness in faith and selflessness with which Saint Panteleimon healed the sick, the Lord always inclines His ear to his petitions for those who pray for the sending down of spiritual and bodily strength. That is why it is recommended to put candles for he alth in front of the image of the holy healer and great martyr Panteleimon.
St. Luke of God
Another saint who has entered into the tradition of lighting candles for he alth is St. Luke, canonized as New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. In the world, his name was Valentin Feliksovich Voyno-Yasenetsky. After graduating from the medical faculty of Kyiv University in 1904, over the years of medical practice he gained fame as an outstanding surgeon who gave life to many thousands of his patients. His scientific works, written almost a century ago, have not lostits relevance to this day.
But Valentin Feliksovich devoted his life not only to the healing of human bodies. Being a deeply religious person, he combined medicine with the service of the Orthodox Church. Being ordained to the priesthood, he took monastic vows with the name Luka and, without stopping work in the hospital, already in the rank of archbishop, he headed the Tambov and then the Crimean diocese.
The heyday of his spiritual activity fell on the 30s, that is, the period in which the atheist authorities waged an anti-church struggle with particular cruelty. Saint Luke repeatedly fell victim to repressions and spent almost 11 years in camps and exile. In 2000, for his religious asceticism and for the work put into healing the sick, he was canonized as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Can I light a candle for the he alth of enemies?
The answer to this question can be obtained by opening the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. There, in stanza 44, the commandment of the Lord is set forth, in which He commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who offend us. Only such an all-encompassing love will help people become true sons of the Heavenly Father, who commands the sun to equally send its rays to all people - both good and evil.
These words of the Savior are one of the expressions of the greatest humanity inherent in Christianity and not known to any other religion in the world. Accordingly, the candle placed for the he alth of the enemy is our fulfillment of God's commandment.
Howplace the candle correctly?
Sometimes people who rarely attend church do not know how to light a candle for he alth. This is a simple matter, but you still need to know the basic rules. First of all, you should approach the icon, which depicts the image of the one to whom the prayer will be addressed, and overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross. As mentioned above, this can be our Savior Jesus Christ, His Most Pure Mother or the saints who became famous for their intercession for us before the Throne of God.
You can light a brought candle both from a lamp, and from any other candle. We note right away that the popular opinion that there are some prohibitions on this subject (for example, that you cannot light it from a lamp) has no basis.
After the fire has ignited, you should choose a free place in the common candlestick, and it does not matter which side to put the candle for he alth. Bringing its lower end to the flame of one of the burning candles, you should soften it a little. After that, the candle is placed in the selected place, and this is done in such a way that it does not come into contact with those nearby and does not fall.
Prayer for neighbors and for yourself
The next part of the sacred ceremony is the most important - a prayer offered to the saint to whom a candle is placed. The importance of investing sincerity and faith in spoken words was already mentioned at the beginning of the article. We only note that at the end of the prayer, one should not immediately move away from the icon and be embarrassed by the external manifestations of surging emotions,for example, tears in the eyes. You need to slowly make the sign of the cross and make a deep bow. After that, you can step aside, giving way to other worshipers.
According to the tradition adopted in Orthodoxy, you can put a candle for yourself, but this should be done at the very end, after candles are lit and prayers are said for the he alth of relatives, friends and even enemies. The whole sacred action ends with the reading of the prayer “Our Father” before the image of the Savior.
Afterword
One often hears the question of whether it is possible to put a candle at home for he alth? The answer to it is beyond doubt: of course, it is possible, since believers pray at home only in front of consecrated icons that have the same grace-filled power as those in the church.
At the end of the article on how to light a candle for he alth, I would like to refute one false opinion. It exists among people who, although attending church, are nevertheless prone to superstition. We often hear from them that if the candle for he alth goes out, then this is a bad omen.
With complete certainty, we can say that such a statement is an idle fiction, since nowhere - neither in the Holy Scriptures, nor in the writings of the Church Fathers - is this mentioned. Most of the time it's a bad wick or just a draft.
