page_title: Paschal candle
section_title: Easter Vigil
hierarchical_section_title: Paschal candle / Usage / Easter Vigil
caption_attribution_description: English: This is a photograph of a brazier from the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas. The brazier is used at the Easter Vigil. The brazier is small - only slightly larger than a frying pan - and a small fire is made in the center of it. This fire is used to light the Paschal candle at the beginning of the service.
context_page_description: A Paschal candle is a big, white candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter, and is used throughout the Paschal season which is during Easter and then throughout the year on special occasions, such as baptisms and funerals.
  The equivalent of the Paschal candle in the Western Orthodox Church is the Paschal trikirion, which differs in both style and usage.
context_section_description: For churches that celebrate the Easter Vigil on the night of Holy Saturday, the ceremonial lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service.
  On Maundy Thursday of the same week the entire church is darkened by extinguishing all candles and lamps.  This represents the darkness of a world without God. 
  At the opening of the Easter Vigil a "new fire" is lit and blessed. The minister will trace the symbols (mentioned above) on the Paschal candle, saying words similar to: "Christ, yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. To Him belongs all time and all the ages; all glory and dominion is his now and forever. Amen." They then insert 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 and keep us."
  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 risen Christ, as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death). As it is lit, the minister may say words similar to: "The light of Christ, rising in Glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."
  Typically, the worshiping assembly then processes 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".  Following the procession the Exultet is chanted, traditionally by a deacon, but it may be chanted by the priest or a cantor. The Exultet concludes with a blessing of the candle: 
  Accept this Easter candle,
  
  a flame divided but undimmed,
  
  a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
  
  (For it is fed by the holy melting wax,
  which the mother bee brought forth
  
  to make this precious candle.)
  
  Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
  
  and continue bravely burning
  
  to dispel the darkness of this night!
  
  May the Morning Star which never sets
  
  find this flame still burning:
  
  Christ, that Morning Star,
  
  who came back from the dead,
  
  and shed his peaceful light on all humanity,
  
  your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
  
  Amen.
  From the New Roman 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. 
  R. Amen.
  In some traditions, the base of the candle may be ritually immersed in the baptismal font before proceeding with the remainder of the service.
  This candle is traditionally the one from which all other lights are taken for the Easter service.
caption: Brazier used for kindling the "New Fire"
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