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APaschal candle is a large candle used inliturgies inWestern Christianity (viz., theRoman Catholic Church, theLutheran Churches, theAnglican Communion, and theMethodist Churches, among others). A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter. It is used throughout theEastertide and then throughout the year on occasions such asbaptisms,funerals and some other special occasions such as theordination of priests, takingvows or theConsecration of virgins, when the fire from the Paschal candle is carried with a wick to light another liturgical candle, as for example the baptismal candle.
The equivalent of the Paschal candle in theEastern Orthodox Church is thePaschal trikirion, which differs in both style and usage.
The termPaschal comes from theLatin wordPascha, which came from theHebrew wordPesach (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪ-/; פֶּסַח), meaningPassover, and relates to thePaschal mystery of salvation. It is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle".
For congregations that use a Paschal candle, it is the largest candle in the worship space. In most cases, the candle will display several common symbols:
In the (medieval) Church, Paschal candles often reached a stupendous size. The Paschal candle ofSalisbury Cathedral was said to have been 36 feet (11 metres) tall. At present time, in the United States and Southern Europe (e.g., Italy and France) the candle is approximately 4 inches (10 centimetres) in diameter and 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 centimetres) tall; in Northern Europe the candle tends to be shorter in height (19 to 24 inches/48 to 61 centimetres) and wider in diameter (3 to 5 inches/7.6 to 12.7 centimetres). The Paschal candle ofManila Cathedral usually reaches 4 or 4.5 inches (10 or 11 centimetres) and stands at 50 inches (130 centimetres) tall.
The Paschal candle, like all liturgical candles, must be made at least from the most part of beeswax(ex cera apum saltem in maxima parte).[1] TheChurch Fathers saw the bee as a symbol of theVirgin Mary.[2] The beeswax symbolized the pure flesh of Christ, received from his mother.[3]
For churches that celebrate theEaster Vigil on the night ofHoly Saturday, the ceremonial preparation, dedication and lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service. The Easter Vigil liturgies of theRoman Catholic,Lutheran,Anglican,Methodist andPresbyterian Churches are nearly identical.[4]
OnMaundy Thursday of the same week the entirechurch is darkened by extinguishing all candles and lamps. This and the empty tabernacle symbolise the darkness of a world without Christ.
At the opening of the Easter Vigil a fire is lit and blessed. The minister will cuts a cross in the wax with a stylus and trace the symbols on the Paschal candle, saying words similar to: "Christ, yesterday and today,the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. All time belongs to him and all the ages; to him be glory and power through every age for ever. Amen." He then inserts five grains of incense (reminiscent of the nails used to fasten Christ on the Cross) on the five points of the cross, saying: "By his holy and glorious wounds, may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us. 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 risenChrist, as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death). Before it is lit, the minister says words similar to: "May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."
Typically, the worshiping assembly thenprocesses 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".
In some communities, it is common for nearby churches of different Christian denominations (e.g. Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian) to make the new Easter Fire together and then after this, each congregation processes back to their own church with their own Paschal Candle for their Easter Vigil celebration; this is considered to be a fostering ofecumenism.
Following the procession theExultet is chanted, traditionally by adeacon, but it may be chanted by the priest or – most parts of it – by acantor. TheExultet concludes with the offering of the candle:From theRoman Missal:
On this, your night of grace, O holy father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants' hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God's honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your son, who, coming back from death's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever.
After theLitany of the Saints, the Paschal candle is lowered three times into theEaster water to be blessed while the priest sings a prayer of blessing with the request for the descent of theHoly Spirit. In some Eastern traditions, wax is dripped into the water for an even richer symbolism.
The candle remains in thesanctuary close to thealtar and is lit at least in all the more solemn worship services untilPentecost (or in some traditions untilAscension Day, when it is extinguished just after the Gospel).[5][clarification needed] In this context the Paschal candle symbolises the presence of the glorified risen Christ.
AfterEastertide, the candle should be kept in thebaptistry, so that in the celebrations of baptisms the candles of the baptized may be lit from the candle.[6] The Paschal candle is lit duringbaptisms to signify theHoly Spirit and fire thatJohn the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ.[7]
Before 1955, the option existed of blessing the baptismal font on the Vigil of Pentecost, and this was the only time the Paschal candle would be lit at services after Ascension. In theOrdinary form of the Roman Rite, the Paschal candle is lit and should be placed near thecoffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul or theRequiem. This is to indicate that the death of a Christian is his or her own passover.[6]
In theEastern Orthodox andByzantineCatholic churches, there is no direct correspondence to the Western Paschal candle. However, throughoutBright Week, the priest carries a cross andpaschal trikirion at all of the services, especially whencensing, during theLittle Entrance or when giving thePaschal greeting. 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 or different colors: green, red, blue. The deacon also carries a special Paschal candle which is a single large candle whenever he leads anektenia (litany) or censes.
Many Christians are already familiar with the ancient, and now recently restored, liturgies of the Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the great Easter Vigil service of light, readings, baptism, and communion. The worship resources published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Catholic Church include nearly identical versions of these liturgies.
