Below are two explanation by St. Nikodemos
the Hagiorite and St. Nikolai Velimirovich as to why we light oil lamps and candles
before relics and icons.
By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite
There are
four reasons Christians light oil lamps and candles before relics of the saints
and icons.
1) To
honor and glorify the saints.
2) When
it is night, the light of the lamps diminishes the darkness of the night, to
comfort the eyes of those who observe.
3) As an
exhibit and sign of joy and brightness: specifically for when candles and lamps
are lit during the day and the sun is shining brightly.
4) So
that by the lighting of the lamps, God is gracious to those who offer the
lamps.
These are
mentioned by the divine Jerome, when he writes against Vigilantius, as well as
by Gregory the Theologian in his discourse on Easter, where he says that the
lamps give light at night:
"Beautiful
indeed yesterday was our splendid array, and our illumination, in which both in
public and private we associated ourselves, every kind of men, and almost every
rank, illuminating the night with our crowded fires, formed after the fashion
of that great light, both that with which the heaven above us lights its beacon
fires, and that which is above the heavens, amid the angels (the first luminous
nature, next to the first nature of all, because springing directly from it),
and that which is in the Trinity, from which all light derives its being,
parted from the undivided light and honored."
That
lamps were lit in the churches is testified by the divine Chrysostom, where he
says:
"I
am expounding the Scriptures, and all of you turn your eyes from me to the
lamps, and him who is lighting the lamps? What negligence is this, to forsake
me, and set your minds on him! For I am lighting a fire from the Holy
Scripture, and in my tongue is a burning lamp of doctrine. This is a greater
and better light than that, for we do not set up a light like that moistened
with oil, but we inflame souls, that are watered with piety, with a desire of
hearing."
By St. Nikolai Velimirovich
1.
Because our faith is light. Christ said: "I am the light of the
world" (John 8:12). The light of the vigil lamp reminds us of that light
by which Christ illumines our souls.
2. In
order to remind us of the radiant character of the saint before whose icon we
light the vigil lamp, for saints are called sons of light (John 12:36, Luke
16:8).
3. In
order to serve as a reproach to us for our dark deeds, for our evil thoughts
and desires, and in order to call us to the path of evangelical light; and so
that we would more zealously try to fulfill the commandments of the Savior:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works" (Matt. 5:16).
4. So
that the vigil lamp would be our small sacrifice to God, Who gave Himself
completely as a sacrifice for us, and as a small sign of our great gratitude
and radiant love for Him from Whom we ask in prayer for life, and health, and
salvation and everything that only boundless heavenly love can bestow.
5. So
that terror would strike the evil powers who sometimes assail us even at the time
of prayer and lead away our thoughts from the Creator. The evil powers love the
darkness and tremble at every light, especially at that which belongs to God
and to those who please Him.
6. So
that this light would rouse us to selflessness. Just as the oil and wick burn
in the vigil lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls also burn with the
flame of love in all our sufferings, always being submissive to God's will.
7. In
order to teach us that just as the vigil lamp cannot be lit without our hand,
so too, our heart, our inward vigil lamp, cannot be lit without the holy fire
of God's grace, even if it were to be filled with all the virtues. All these
virtues of ours are, after all, like combustible material, but the fire which
ignites them proceeds from God.
8. In
order to remind us that before anything else the Creator of the world created
light, and after that everything else in order: And God said, let there be
light: and there was light (Genesis 1:3). And it must be so also at the
beginning of our spiritual life, so that before anything else the light of
Christ's truth would shine within us. From this light of Christ's truth
subsequently every good is created, springs up and grows in us.
May the
Light of Christ illumine you as well!
Source: www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/10/why-we-light-oil-lamps-and-candles.html
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