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The candles
burning on the altar represent the noncreated Light of the Trinity, for the
Lord dwells in an unapproachable light. They also represent the fire of
Divinity which destroys our ungodliness and sins.
The candles
lit before the icons of the Saviour signify that He is the True Light which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world (Jn 1:9); at the same time, He is
a Fire which engulfs and revives our souls and bodies.
The candles
lit before the icons of the Theotokos are a symbol of the fact that She is the
Mother of the Unapproachable Light, and also of Her most pure and burning love
for God and Her love for mankind.
The candles
lit before icons of saints reflect their ardent love for God for Whose sake
they gave up everything that man prizes in life, including their very lives, as
did the holy apostles, martyrs and others. These candles also mean that these
saints are lamps burning for us and providing light for us by their own saintly
living, their virtues and their ardent intercession for us before God through
their constant prayers by day and night. The burning candles also stand for our
ardent zeal and the sincere sacrifice we make out of reverence and gratitude to
them for their solicitude on our behalf before God.
St. John of
Kronstadt
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