Using A Censer?

[Orthodox Andrew]

I just bought a wonderful Orthodox censer with charcoal and incense from this nice little Greek store I go to. The guy their explained to me how to use it for the most part, but one thing I'm not sure is, if it's okay to start it with a match or a lighter? In the sense, would it work that way? Because he said to heat it in the oven.

 

[Photini]

I just bought a wonderful Orthodox censer with charcoal and incense from this nice little Greek store I go to. The guy their explained to me how to use it for the most part, but one thing I'm not sure is, if it's okay to start it with a match or a lighter? In the sense, would it work that way? Because he said to heat it in the oven.

I start mine with a lighter. One of those kind you might use on a grill...But I've seen our priest use a match. It'll work either way.

One of the monks at the monastery said that the demons can't stand the smell of incense. This is why it's good and important to cense every room in the house...I even cense under the beds sometimes and in the closets...

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

I start mine with a lighter. One of those kind you might use on a grill...But I've seen our priest use a match. It'll work either way.

One of the monks at the monastery said that the demons can't stand the smell of incense. This is why it's good and important to cense every room in the house...I even cense under the beds sometimes and in the closets...

Cool, thanks.

 

[Oblio]

Even if it is not self lighting, you can light it with a lighter. Another good way is to use tongs and hold it over a lit candle. prodromos introduced me to a really cool innovation, powdered charcoal. You place a small heap in a pile, ideally in a small depression scooped out of the old ashes and simply place a small flame there momentarily and it lights right up. With practice you can also place exactly the amount you need. I'm not sure it would work well with a swinging censer, but you won't be doing that at home. The major problem is I can't find any except for the monastery in Greece that I bought my one little bag

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Even if it is not self lighting, you can light it with a lighter. Another good way is to use tongs and hold it over a lit candle. prodromos introduced me to a really cool innovation, powdered charcoal. You place a small heap in a pile, ideally in a small depression scooped out of the old ashes and simply place a small flame there momentarily and it lights right up. With practice you can also place exactly the amount you need. I'm not sure it would work well with a swinging censer, but you won't be doing that at home. The major problem is I can't find any except for the monastery in Greece that I bought my one little bag

Oh okay thanks. I forgot all about the tongs. I will check some online Orthodox stores to see if they have any powdered charcoal, and I'll let you know if anything comes up.

 

[Suzannah]

Hello! You won't believe it, but I have a practical answer to this question, even though I am not *yet* Orthodox. (Trust me, I'm getting there.) In my pagan past, I found that self lighting charcoal is "safer" (no burning your fingers) ifyou use a match. If it is not self lighting, you can use "tongs" (like from the kitchen) and a lighter.

Personally, I would find using a match more reverent. The Lord doesn't respond to a "Bic" flick, I have found. But that is my personal opinoin and you should do what your church says to do.

 

[Reader Nilus]

Tongs are for wusses, in the Altar all of us have hands that have felt the flames. We light the coals with a lighter.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Hello! You won't believe it, but I have a practical answer to this question, even though I am not *yet* Orthodox. (Trust me, I'm getting there.) In my pagan past, I found that self lighting charcoal is "safer" (no burning your fingers) ifyou use a match. If it is not self lighting, you can use "tongs" (like from the kitchen) and a lighter.

Personally, I would find using a match more reverent. The Lord doesn't respond to a "Bic" flick, I have found. But that is my personal opinoin and you should do what your church says to do.

You raise some good thoughts, thanks.

Tongs are for wusses,

 

[Suzannah]

Tongs are for wusses, in the Altar all of us have hands that have felt the flames. We light the coals with a lighter.
Jeff the Finn

Okay! I stand corrected! 1000 blessings for you too!

 

[Oblio]

LOL

Today we used a small censer with a bottom that was not as insulated as the usual one. I found this out today when I held the censer up by the bottom to elevate it for the censing of the covering of the diskos & chalice during the Proskomedie.

 

[Moros]

What type of incense do y'all use? What smell?

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

This is odd, it says Osel posted. But I can not see his post?

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

What type of incense do y'all use? What smell?

There we go!(no I didn't just fail to see that it was on the 2nd page) I think the one I have is just the normal one Churches use.

 

[MariaRegina]

It was on a new page, Andreas.

That happens to me too.

P.S. Guess we posted at the same time.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

It was on a new page, Andreas.

That happens to me too.

Could be, but I even hit the "go to the last post" button 3 times. Odd.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

It was on a new page, Andreas.

That happens to me too.

P.S. Guess we posted at the same time.

Like ships in the night.

 

[MariaRegina]

What type of incense do y'all use? What smell?

I stay away from anything Rose, as it gives me a severe headache. My preference is for Spruce Island, as it has a Christmas odor like a pine forest. I cannot remember the other flavors.

Elizabeth

 

[Matrona]

What type of incense do y'all use? What smell?

The incense used in Orthodox churches comes in many different scents. The kind we use in the churches and home altars, generally, are the pellet kind. The censer holds a special charcoal that you light with a match or lighter of some sort. Then you place a pellet of incense on the charcoal. At least, that's my understanding of it--I may be mistaken. Someone please correct me if I am.

 

[prodromos]

The major problem is I can't find any except for the monastery in Greece that I bought my one little bag

You could always try making your own . Try grinding charcoal sticks from an art shop in a mortar and pestle. My mum used to make her own charcoal sticks from willow branches (the powdered charcoal you have is from vine branches). Fill up a metal tin with short lengths of vine branches (or willow), put the lid on tightly after punching a small hole in it first. They throw the tin into a fire. The heat will drive off all the organic components which will burn as a nice flame from the hole in the lid. When there is no more flame from the hole, the sticks are probably charcoal.

I may try this myself one day but prefer getting the stuff made by the monks. Much more prayer goes into its making.

John.

 

[Reader Nilus]

One may try Holoviak Church Supply if you are looking for incense.
Jeff the Finn