Questions about Beeswax Taper Candles

[EvangeliGirl]

My icon corner is very humble. (But, yes, I have started one! I got my first icon, the 'Sinai Christ' the last week of March just in time for Fr Pat to come bless our home.)

I set it up in the most 'east' corner available in the house, which is in our bedroom. However, I feel that it seems too tucked away. I was sort of embarrased about it when Fr Pat came over. My icon isn't mounted yet either, but propped up in the corner, so I don't feel right standing and praying and looking down at him. This morning I prayed on my knees so I would be at eye-level. I was very fortunate to receive a leather-bound Orthodox study bible which has some beautiful pictures of icons in them, so I like to leave it open to an icon of the Theotokos with Christ. I haven't been able to buy any special candles, but one I've had for a long time that was 'too nice to burn' I light whenever I pray. I have a regular wooden incense holder but the only incense I have is so cheap I won't burn it. Also in my corner is a small vase with dried (and blessed) carnations and leather-leaf from Veneration of the Cross Sunday, and a small bottle of Holy water.

Would it be better to put the icon corner somewhere that's more prominent, even if it's not an east corner? I have some space on a North wall that's right by our front door.

 

[Khaleas]

Don't worry. My icon corner is in my bedroom too (mainly because the cats knock things over all the time and they were trying to hang in the lampada when I had it downstairs in the living room). It doesn't matter where it is, it's what you do at the place that counts.

My icon corner is very humble. (But, yes, I have started one! I got my first icon, the 'Sinai Christ' the last week of March just in time for Fr Pat to come bless our home.)

I set it up in the most 'east' corner available in the house, which is in our bedroom. However, I feel that it seems too tucked away. I was sort of embarrased about it when Fr Pat came over. My icon isn't mounted yet either, but propped up in the corner, so I don't feel right standing and praying and looking down at him. This morning I prayed on my knees so I would be at eye-level. I was very fortunate to receive a leather-bound Orthodox study bible which has some beautiful pictures of icons in them, so I like to leave it open to an icon of the Theotokos with Christ. I haven't been able to buy any special candles, but one I've had for a long time that was 'too nice to burn' I light whenever I pray. I have a regular wooden incense holder but the only incense I have is so cheap I won't burn it. Also in my corner is a small vase with dried (and blessed) carnations and leather-leaf from Veneration of the Cross Sunday, and a small bottle of Holy water.

Would it be better to put the icon corner somewhere that's more prominent, even if it's not an east corner? I have some space on a North wall that's right by our front door.

 

[MariaRegina]

Don't worry. My icon corner is in my bedroom too (mainly because the cats knock things over all the time and they were trying to hang in the lampada when I had it downstairs in the living room). It doesn't matter where it is, it's what you do at the place that counts.

Cats do the craziest things.

 

[MariaRegina]

Sorry for the detour.

We can purchase the tapers from our church and take them home. It's probably best to place then in a box with sand to prevent a fire (but then you have to keep the cats out because they will not know the difference between a cat box and a candle box).

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

My icon corner is very humble. (But, yes, I have started one! I got my first icon, the 'Sinai Christ' the last week of March just in time for Fr Pat to come bless our home.)

I set it up in the most 'east' corner available in the house, which is in our bedroom. However, I feel that it seems too tucked away. I was sort of embarrased about it when Fr Pat came over. My icon isn't mounted yet either, but propped up in the corner, so I don't feel right standing and praying and looking down at him. This morning I prayed on my knees so I would be at eye-level. I was very fortunate to receive a leather-bound Orthodox study bible which has some beautiful pictures of icons in them, so I like to leave it open to an icon of the Theotokos with Christ. I haven't been able to buy any special candles, but one I've had for a long time that was 'too nice to burn' I light whenever I pray. I have a regular wooden incense holder but the only incense I have is so cheap I won't burn it. Also in my corner is a small vase with dried (and blessed) carnations and leather-leaf from Veneration of the Cross Sunday, and a small bottle of Holy water.

Would it be better to put the icon corner somewhere that's more prominent, even if it's not an east corner? I have some space on a North wall that's right by our front door.

Your icon corner doesn't have to be in a prominent place. After all, Christ tells us to go into a room and close the door so others won't hear us when we pray. You'll see as you use your icon corner that it becomes an intimate close place for you to be alone with God, and really, you don't want it where there is a lot of 'traffic.'

Remember, the most important thing to have in an icon corner is prayers. The rest is optional.

In XC,

Maureen

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

P.S. If you want to have icons in other rooms of your house, that's good, in fact, it's encouraged, but the icon corner where you say your daily prayers does not have to be in a public spot.

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

The Icon Corner

 

[MariaRegina]

Thanks, I didn't know that there was an OrthodoxWiki.

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Np

 

[ravynangel1980]

Hi,

I'm sure all of you have really beautiful icon corners that aid in nourishing your spirit.

I didn't know about OrthodoxWiki either. That's great. I'll have to check that out.

The idea of the box with sand for the tapers sounds like a good idea. I have seen these like brass bowls in town that are very inexpensive, but are ornate looking. I wonder if something like that would be good to fill up with sand and then stick the tapers in.

I'm not sure how Orthodox Christians do this. At church if I was praying for several people I might light a votive for each one of the people I was praying for. If I was just doing a general prayer where I was asking blessings on my loved ones then I would just light one. What do Orthodox Christians usually do?

The prayerbooks do sound wonderful.

Thanks again. Take care.

God bless,
Sarah

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

The idea of the box with sand for the tapers sounds like a good idea. I have seen these like brass bowls in town that are very inexpensive, but are ornate looking. I wonder if something like that would be good to fill up with sand and then stick the tapers in.

That would be perfect. Our priest had a similar set up tonight during service for candles he was using.

I'm not sure how Orthodox Christians do this. At church if I was praying for several people I might light a votive for each one of the people I was praying for. If I was just doing a general prayer where I was asking blessings on my loved ones then I would just light one. What do Orthodox Christians usually do?

Same deal.

You can light one candle for each person, or however you want to do it.

Remember, the RCC and EO are cut from the same cloth, so there are a lot of traditions we have that are similar.

Hope this helps!

In XC,

Maureen

 

[ravynangel1980]

Hi,

Thanks Maureen for the response. I appreciate it. I am finding that there are some similarities between the RCC and EOC that I didn't know were there. Usually whenever I light a candle for my prayers, I just light the one if it's more of a normal prayer. But if someone I know is sick or is having job problems, or whatever else, then I might light a specific candle for them. Know what I mean.

Can't remember if I asked this earlier or not, but if you plan not to let the candle burn until it goes out of it's own, is it ok to blow it out or do you need to use a candle snuffer on it?

Thanks again to everyone. Take care.

God bless,
Sarah

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Hi,

Thanks Maureen for the response. I appreciate it. I am finding that there are some similarities between the RCC and EOC that I didn't know were there. Usually whenever I light a candle for my prayers, I just light the one if it's more of a normal prayer. But if someone I know is sick or is having job problems, or whatever else, then I might light a specific candle for them. Know what I mean.

Yep, I do the same thing.

Can't remember if I asked this earlier or not, but if you plan not to let the candle burn until it goes out of it's own, is it ok to blow it out or do you need to use a candle snuffer on it?

I'm not sure about this one. In Church the ushers use candle snuffers to blow the candles out. I just figured it was for practical reasons. I'm not sure if there is official "Church teaching" on the subject.

Maybe one of our Wiser TAW members can help me out.

 

[choirfiend]

All these little things aren't really the essence of the faith--they're just normal practices that will differ from place to place and person to person. I wouldn't worry about doing things any "right" way, but perhaps visiting an Orthodox Church and observing how they do things is in order.

 

[ravynangel1980]

Hi!

I've been using a candle snuffer in my private practice. I do know at church that they use one. I've never heard anyone tell me not to blow the candle out, but I just liked the idea of using a snuffer at home. I bought it at my local Dollar Tree.

Blessings,
Sarah

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

From a practical point, it's better to use a snuffer because it doesn't bend the wick, which provides for better future burnings.

But as Choirfiend said, don't let the "details" trouble you; just worry about the bigger picture for now.

 

[ClementofRome]

This is my prayer corner....at night.

The big one in the middle is beeswax, purchased for lent. The two on either side are paraffin, blessed at a service at my parish. The one on the right is beeswax, hand made by a dear friend.


Sometimes I light only one, sometimes I light three for the Trinity, sometimes I light all for for each icon on the wall. Sometimes I light none of them.

Your prayer corner is breath-taking. Just beautiful.
Clem

 

[Wigglesworth]

I'm bumping this old thread, because it's the only thread in TAW with "beeswax" in the title. I searched all over the web for information on why Orthodox Christians use beeswax candles.

Anybody have other suggestions for where to purchase candles?

Peace be with you.

 

[RobNJ]

Peace bee with you.

Let me see what I can find

 

[RobNJ]

From the OCA website:
http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=87&SID=3


QUESTION:

Is there anything in the canons that say that candles used in churches must be white and 100% beeswax? Or is that just a preference? There are now various colored candles on the market made with recycled wax. Could these be used in churches?


ANSWER:

Traditionally tapered candles were made of pure beeswax or, in many cases, 51% beeswax seems to be more readily available. Also, lights in glass holders traditionally employ oil rather than wax candles, although today many parishes use candles in glass holders rather than oil. It seems that in most cases what is used is whatever is most readily available.

Many of the non-beeswax candles made today are not made of wax at all, using instead a kind of petrolium product. These are especially pernicious in that they often give off an oily odor and the always create a horrid amount of soot on walls. I am not familiar with recycled wax candles, although many of the places that do produce pure beeswax candles buy back candle stubs from their clients.

One of the monasteries that make especially nice candles -- we use them in our parish -- is Saint John Monastery in Hiram, OH. The candles are 100 pure beeswax and are very reasonable in cost.


COMMENT:

From another reader

I was reading the Q&A page on the OCA website and thought you might be interested in a little beeswax information. Beeswax is naturally colored in a range of pale yellows to deep tan, depending on the nectar that the bees were gathering at the time. White clover produces the palest honey and beeswax, clover a golden yellow, and canola (rapeseed) a darker product. It takes 4 pounds of hive honey to produce a pound of honey. White beeswax is made that way by bleaching it. I recyle the candle wax for my parish and use 50/50 old/new wax. I buy the new wax locally in 25# blocks from the beekeeper when I buy my honey.


Let me buzz around & find a source for the candles