Candles for health. Before what icon put a candle for health

Since ancient times, when Christianity, stepping outside Palestine, has illuminated many countries and continents with its unfading light, the candle has become an indispensable attribute of the rite, regardless of where it was performed - in the temple or at home. Her fire always represented the warmth and light of a human heart filled with love for the Lord, His Most Pure Mother and those saints, before the images of which he burned.

Words coming from the heart

However, it should be remembered that a person who puts candles for health (or repose) with a cold and indifferent heart is like a pagan who makes a sacrifice and is expecting to receive a reward for this. In order not to fall into such a grave sin, it is first of all necessary to direct your feelings and thoughts to the one whose image is imprinted on the icon, and then with awe to say a prayer.

And it does not matter whether her words are taken from a liturgical book, say, "Prayer Book", or were born in her own heart, the main thing is that they should be sincere and full of deep faith. If it is not there, but the soul yearns to find, one should prayerfully ask the Lord for the gift of this supreme grace, without which man is not able to become a partaker of eternal life.

What every parishioner should know about

In addition, you need to know how to put a candle on health in the church or at home, and to understand what this tradition, past through the centuries, contains. It is also useful to have an idea of when and to whom of the saints it is customary to put a candle in order to fully enjoy the grace that gives us spiritual and physical strength to us and to our loved ones.

And even more so it is necessary to know how to behave in those cases when external circumstances, for example, an extinct candle, become an occasion for their interpretation in the light of certain popular beliefs, sometimes executed by superstition, which is absolutely alien to the church doctrine. Despite the fact that there are no specific rules dictating the order of how to put a candle on the health of 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, after 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 that before putting on a candle for the health of a particular person, burn it before the image of his heavenly patron, of course, if he is in the church, and only after that go to that icon (or icons), before which the prayer Getting rid of ailments. This rule applies to the full extent and to those cases when candles are put for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

What icon should I put on a candle for my health?

According to the Orthodox tradition, which is based on the entire order of the sacred acts that we make, prayers for health, as well as for any other needs, are raised before the icons of the Blessed Virgin and Her Eternal Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Before them, and put the candle. However, it should be remembered that the Savior granted grace to His saints to intercede with Him for that help to people in whom they themselves succeeded in the days of mortal life.

That is why, asking yourself the question of which icon to put a candle on for health, you should stop the choice of saints, who were once famous for healing not only human souls, but also the body. Among them the most famous is the holy healer and great martyr Panteleimon. Let us dwell on this name and in a few words will tell you about what he gained fame.

Saint healer Panteleimon

Born in 275 in Nicomedia (Asia Minor), then mired in paganism, the future saint in his youth became a pupil of the famous doctor Euphrosyne. Under his tutelage, he comprehended the secrets of human flesh and became such a skilful healer that the emperor Maximilian brought him closer to the court. Despite the idolatry that prevailed around him, he soon became attached to the Christian faith, for which the future great-martyr presbyter Ermolai secretly resided in Nykomedia.

Having accepted the baptism, Panteleimon set out on the path of gratuitous service to the suffering, whose ailments he healed without requiring any payment. He often went to the dungeons, where he helped the prisoners, among whom there were many Christians. By his art, backed by the grace of God, he relieved them of bodily and spiritual anguish.

However, soon the emperor-pagan became aware of the true faith professed by Panteleimon, and he gave it to the executioners to force him to renounce Christ, but his efforts were in vain. The Holy Great Martyr, having endured all the suffering, finished his earthly journey and found life eternal. For the hardness in the faith and the dedication with which St. Panteleimon healed the sick, the Lord always inclines his ears to his petitions for those who pray for the sending down of spiritual and bodily forces. That is why it is recommended to put candles for health before the image of the holy healer and the great martyr Panteleimon.

Saint Luke the Baptist

Another saint, who entered the tradition of putting candles for health, is St. Luke, canonized in the face of the new martyrs and confessors of Russia. In the world his name was Valentin Feliksovich Voino-Yasenetsky. Having graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Kiev University in 1904, he earned the fame of an outstanding surgeon who had given life to many thousands of his patients over the years of medical practice. His scientific works, written almost a century ago, have not lost their relevance to this day.

But not only the healing of human bodies was devoted to Valentin Feliksovich his life. Being a deeply religious person, he combined medicine with the ministry of the Orthodox Church. After being ordained to the priesthood, he took monastic vows with the name of Luka and, without stopping work in the hospital, already in the office of the archbishop headed Tambov and then the Diocese of Crimea.

The flowering of his spiritual activity fell on the 30s, that is, the period in which the godless authorities with particular cruelty waged an anti-church struggle. St. Luke repeatedly became a victim of repression and spent in camps and exile for almost 11 years. In 2000, for his religious asceticism and for the works put in the healing of the sick, he was ranked among the saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Is it possible to put a candle on the health of enemies?

The answer to this question can be obtained by opening the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. There, in 44 stanza, the commandment of the Lord is stated, in which He commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who do us wrongs. Only such a comprehensive love will help people become true sons of the Heavenly Father, who commands the sun to equally send his rays to all people, both good and evil.

These words of the Savior are one of the expressions of the greatest humanity, laid down in Christianity and not known to any other religion of the world. Accordingly, and the candle, placed for the health of the enemy, is our fulfillment of God's commandment.

How to put a candle correctly?

Sometimes people who rarely visit the church do not know how to put a candle on for health. It's a simple thing, but the basic rules still need to know. First of all, it is necessary to approach the icon, on which is depicted the image of the one to whom prayer will be addressed, and to cover oneself with the sign of the cross. As already mentioned above, it can be our Savior Jesus Christ, His Most Pure Mother or Saints, who became famous for their petition for us before the Throne of God.

You can kindle the candle brought from the lamp, or from any other candle. Just note that the popular opinion in the people that there are some prohibitions on this matter (for example, that you can not light it from the lamp), have no basis.

After the fire caught fire, you should choose a free place in the general candlestick, and it does not matter which side to put a candle on for health. Having brought her 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 chosen place, and it is done in such a way that it does not come in contact with a number of standing and does not fall.

Prayer for others and for yourself

The next part of the priesthood is the most important - it is a prayer that is raised to the saint, to whom the candle is placed. About how important it is to put sincerity and faith into spoken words, it was already mentioned at the beginning of the article. Let us only note that at the conclusion of the prayer, one should not immediately step back from the icon and be ashamed of external manifestations of surging emotions, for example, those who appeared in front of tears. We need to take the time to cross ourselves with the sign of the cross and make a deep bow. After this, you can step aside, giving way to other worshipers.

According to the tradition adopted in Orthodoxy, you can put a candle and for yourself, but it should be done at the very end, after candles are put and prayers are spoken about the health of relatives, loved ones and even enemies. All the priesthood ends with the reading of the prayer "Our Father" before the image of the Savior.

Afterword

Often you have to hear the question of whether it is possible to put a candle for health at home. The answer to this question is unquestionable: of course, it is possible, since believers do homework prayers only before consecrated icons that have the same beneficial power as those who are in the church.

At the end of the article on how to put a candle on health, I want to refute one false opinion. It exists among people, though attending church, but, nevertheless, prone to superstition. They often hear that if the candle for health is extinguished, then this is a bad omen.

It can be said with complete certainty that such a statement is an idle fiction, since nowhere - neither in the Holy Scripture nor in the writings of the Church Fathers - is spoken about this. For the most part, the reason for this is a bad wick or simply a draft.