Candles are an important attribute of a wedding. After using them in a sacrament, they are advised to keep them for life. It is a symbol of love, harmony, tenderness and mutual understanding, as well as a kind of amulet against family troubles.

When the newlyweds stand in front of the altar, the priest blesses the newlyweds three times. They sign themselves with the sign of the cross. After this, the priest hands them a lighted candle.

Important! It is believed that married spouses are united after death in heaven and never separate again.

The attributes will remain lit throughout the ritual. They are a spiritual symbol of the sacrament and mean God's grace, confirm the spiritual chastity of those getting married and their sincere desire to get married. Fire symbolizes the sincerity and fervor of prayer for a prosperous family life.

How to choose wedding dresses?

The wedding ceremony takes from 45 minutes to an hour, so you need to choose candles that are long, but not too wide so that they are comfortable to hold.

It would be good if the candles had special handles and saucers. Then the dripping wax will not burn your hands or ruin your clothes. Fabric lace napkins, handkerchiefs and potholders are also used.

The traditional color of candles is white. Golden or pink shades are allowed.


Products can be either simple, without decoration, or decorated. For decoration, chains, glass beads, lace, ribbons, polymer clay, fabric, etc. are used. Decorative elements should be paired, for example, two hearts, two rings.

You can purchase ready-made products at a church shop, or you can make them yourself from wax or paraffin. Items made with your own hands or purchased outside of the church must first be consecrated. It is better not to buy them secondhand, as there is a high risk of receiving low-quality products.

They do not take other people’s wedding attributes for the sacrament., even if the people who offer them have lived their whole lives in a happy marriage. Moreover, the priests say that there is nothing wrong with this, but the candles are a sacrifice in favor of the church, so it is better to buy them in the temple where the ceremony will be held.

Signs

In the old days in Rus', candles weighed more than a pound, and they were held not by the newlyweds, but by special people - “candlemakers”. On the first night, such a block was lit and placed near the newlyweds’ bed. There was a belief that this brings happiness and healthy children.

• If during the flame burns evenly– the family life of the newlyweds will be calm and happy;
• Crackling, soot while burning candles– to a life filled with troubles, troubles and problems;
• Which wedding party holds the candle higher?, he will become the head of the family;
• Bad sign - flame extinguished during the ritual. This foreshadows the premature death of one of the spouses;
• One of those getting married Whose candle burns longer?, will live longer. If the candles burn out at the same time, then the spouses will live equally long and spend their lives together. Therefore, after the end of the ritual, it is recommended to extinguish the flame simultaneously.

It is believed that ritual candles help during childbirth, and they can also alleviate the pain of the patient, protect against lightning and even fire. There is a belief that with the help of wedding items and magic you can both divorce spouses and promote their reconciliation.

Important! Priests do not advise attributing mystical powers to these attributes and taking signs too seriously. Superstitions distort the idea of ​​the true purpose of these objects.

What to do after the ceremony?

It is best to keep them next to the one with which the young were blessed. You can place them in candlesticks next to it, you can wrap them in cloth or put icons under glass to prevent dust from sticking. Any other images of saints will do. It is allowed to be stored in a box where other shrines are stored - a baptismal shirt, incense, holy water. It is possible to simply store it in a secluded, pious place. Care must be taken to ensure that small children and pets do not have access to the candles.


If the husband and wife do divorce, candles should be burned in front of the icons, preferably in a church. At the same time, you must sincerely ask for the health and well-being of your ex-spouse, no matter how strong the grievances against each other. In the event of the death of one of the spouses, it is also recommended to burn candles in the church or place one of them in the coffin of the deceased. You can also leave a candle as a keepsake.

When do they light it?

These attributes are endowed with the power of prayer, so they should be lit when there are difficulties in the family, for example, a child gets sick, or the spouses have a serious quarrel. They are lit with words of gratitude to God and when there is a joyful event in the house, as well as on a wedding anniversary. They will help if you need to pray for loved ones, and when spouses are forced to separate.

If the spark plugs break, no big deal. You can “attach” them again with tape or light small pieces.

Important! It doesn't matter whether you light one candle or both. Spouses after the wedding are a single whole, which means these attributes belong to both of them.

Useful video

If you want something unusual and extraordinary, even at such a conservative ceremony as a wedding, then you can order and make the candles yourself. How to do this - in the video:

Conclusion

If your wedding candles are lost or damaged for some reason, don’t be too upset. This should not affect the quality of family life, because happiness depends on love and respect for each other.

THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE.

Why is a wedding necessary when getting married?
In Christianity, the family is called the “small church.” From this point of view, relationships within the family are seen as not just everyday, everyday ones. The family is a Christian mystery, and it is not without reason that it begins with the Sacrament of Marriage; it exists by the grace of this Sacrament and draws strength from it.
In the Sacrament of Marriage, the Church blesses the bride and groom to live together, to give birth and raise children. The bride and groom must promise God that they will be faithful to each other throughout their lives.
After the priest three times pronounces the mystical words: Lord our God, I crown (them) with glory and honor and blesses the bride and groom, they become husband and wife. From this moment on, they are no longer two different people, but “one flesh”, which no one can and should not try to separate or destroy. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder, we read in the Gospel (Matthew 19:6). Separation of spouses is a sin not only before the children who were born to them, but also before God and His Church
What does the Church say about the responsibilities of spouses?
The Church of Christ offers in the apostolic reading prescribed for marriage the true teaching about the mutual duties of husband and wife. The marriage union, according to the word of God, is a great mystery (Eph. 5:32): it reflects the spiritually grace-filled union of Christ the Savior and His Church.
A husband must love his wife as Christ loves the Church: love unfailingly until the end of his life, love until he is ready to suffer and die for her. A wife, along with love for her husband, must have obedience. Although, according to the teachings of the Church, the husband is given power, his primacy is not an advantage, but a duty.
Such love is able to endure all the hardships in life, is able to make amends for the dissimilarity of characters, the difference in external qualities, and various shortcomings.
“It is difficult to stand alone in a strong and saving union. The threads of nature are torn, but grace is irresistible. Arrogance is dangerous everywhere, especially here. Therefore, humbly, with fasting and prayer, approach the Sacrament,” St. Theophan the Recluse advised those intending to get married.
How to adequately prepare for the Sacrament?
On the wedding day, it is customary to serve a prayer service to the Lord Jesus Christ for the blessing of a good deed. Parents bless those preparing to get married: the groom with an icon of the Savior, the bride with an icon of the Mother of God.
On the wedding day, the bride and groom confess, pray during the liturgy and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Is it necessary to get married after registration?
Since a church wedding is a Sacrament in which the power of Divine grace operates, and not just a beautiful ceremony, those entering into marriage must treat it consciously and responsibly. Based on this, the Church considers it necessary to make sure of the seriousness of the intentions of those entering into marriage and currently performs the sacrament of marriage only after the marriage is registered in the registry office. If registration and wedding are separated by some period of time, then until the church marriage takes place, one should abstain from marital relations.
Does the Church recognize civil marriage?
The Russian Orthodox Church considers a marriage performed through state registration to be valid (although not sufficient for spouses professing the Orthodox faith) and treats it with respect. If we are talking about a relationship that is not secured by any state act, then the Church identifies these completely irresponsible relationships as prodigal cohabitation and considers them sinful.
Is it possible for spouses who have been married for a long time, registered in the registry office, but are not married, to get married?
The Church never refuses the grace of the Sacrament, even if the spouses are of advanced age. Often they take the meaning of the Sacrament more seriously, prepare for it more responsibly and make the decision to get married after a serious period: reviewing their lives, acquiring true faith and joining the church.
Does the Church allow a second marriage?
The Orthodox Church considers a marriage entered into in the Church to be fundamentally indissoluble. Only adultery (violation of marital fidelity) is a complete canonical basis for the dissolution of a church marriage, because adultery effectively destroys a marriage. It should be remembered, however, that this dissolution is not a “debunking”, that is, a sacred act opposite to a wedding, but only a recognition of the fact of the destruction of the marriage.
The dissolution of a church marriage is the prerogative of the church court, which is headed by the diocesan bishop. Only after this the Church blesses the innocent spouse to enter into a second marriage.
Second marriages are allowed by the Church only out of leniency towards human weaknesses, which is why prayers of repentance are added to the order for second marriages.
What should you do with wedding candles after the wedding?
Pious Russian custom involves careful storage of wedding candles as memories of the Sacrament of Marriage. Sometimes they are placed in the icon case, which they received as a blessing from their parents for marriage. Wedding candles can be lit briefly during times of separation from a spouse or marital discord. The flame of a wedding candle will remind a spouse who has forgotten about love how happy he was on his wedding day, and will remind him of the need to preserve his family with all his might. According to ancient Russian custom, wedding candles are placed in the coffin of the spouse who died last.
It should be remembered: the wedding is not performed
- during all four multi-day fasts;
- during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa);
- on Bright (Easter) Week;
- from the Nativity of Christ (January 7) to Epiphany (January 19);
- on the eve of the twelve holidays;
- on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year;
- September 10, 11, 26 and 27 in connection with strict fasting for the Beheading of John the Baptist and the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord);
- on the eve of patronal church days (each church has its own).

After people get divorced, there are many things left in the house that are associated with this marriage and remind of it. And, if the wedding dress can be sold or given away, then it is difficult to determine where to put the wedding candles, icons, and wedding rings.

The meaning of wedding attributes

A young couple getting married in a church must bring with them to the ritual icons of the Mother of God and the Savior, wedding rings, a white towel that will be placed under the newlyweds’ feet, and candles. All these attributes carry a divine meaning, symbolize God's light, God's blessing. Before the wedding, they must be blessed in the church. Naturally, after the wedding, all these things are stored as valuable family heirlooms and are subsequently passed on to the children. But what to do if the family suffers divorce and debunking? According to many women, wedding icons and candles evoke memories of an unsuccessful marriage, do not allow them to forget about it, which makes their soul sad and painful.

What to do with wedding attributes

According to the clergy, if wedding icons or candles do not bother you or cause unpleasant memories of a broken marriage and ex-husband, then you can leave them at home. Church illuminated and blessed symbols will not bring harm, but, on the contrary, will support and save in difficult moments. But, if there is no desire to store them, then you can do the following.

What to do with an engagement ring

A wedding ring is a symbolic object, signifying the inseparability and unity of those getting married. But, if a break does occur, there is no need to store it at home. Also, remember that:

• While still married, do not let anyone try on your ring, this will bring discord to the family;
• after a divorce, the ring cannot be thrown away and sold;
• melt it into another decoration;
• donate to the temple;
• give it to your daughter, but not as an engagement ring, for this it needs to be melted down and the design changed.

Where to put your wedding dress

With a wedding dress the situation is much simpler:

• it can be sold;
• rent out to a wedding salon and receive at least a small income;
• give;
• give to the church, where the dress will be given to those in need;
• make a ball gown from it for your daughter;
• leave it for your daughter - it’s so exciting if your daughter gets married in the same outfit;
• Moreover, in this dress you can even get married a second time, although it is unlikely that any woman would dare to do this.

What to do with a wedding veil

The veil also has great meaning for the bride. It is worth remembering that there are many folk signs associated with this attribute. So, what to do with a wedding veil? After all, it cannot be thrown away or burned. But you shouldn’t keep this thing at home either, since there is a belief that a woman will not be able to get married again.

• give a veil to someone;
• sew it into a doll or any other toy and donate it to an orphanage.

What to do with a wedding icon and candles

In general, in this case, it is wiser to turn to a spiritual mentor, he will tell you how to do the right thing. As practice shows, many women leave these attributes at home, because over time, both pain and resentment pass, and the person meets new love. You can give them to the temple, and light candles in the church for the health of one of your loved ones. Naturally, icons and candles should never be thrown away, no matter how disappointed you are in your marriage.

You also need to take the white towel left after the wedding ceremony to the temple.

If you decide to leave the icons at home, then you do not need to hide them in a closet or chest. Let her stand in the same place where she stood.

And, as the priests say, any superstitions are not associated with Orthodox traditions. Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid that your personal life won’t work out in the future, that you won’t meet a good person and will remain celibate. You need to tune in to the good, and everything will definitely work out. Moreover, you can pray about this from these very wedding icons.

Another option is to create a place in your home for holy things. It could be a chest, box, casket. This is where all church things should be stored. In the future, you may be baptizing children; all the attributes after baptism can be put in this chest. You can also put wedding accessories and things brought from holy places there.

And, most importantly, you don’t need to attach great importance to things. These are just things, attributes, objects. They are necessary for ritual, but not for life.

This article is dedicated to both those who have already gotten married and those who are just about to begin this sacrament. Here you will find detailed answers to many questions, which are compiled according to the opinions and answers of Orthodox pastors.

Wedding candles are our main theme. Before you start reading, it should be explained that each sub-heading is a frequently asked question for married couples. The following is the answer to it.

Why get married?

There are several sacraments in Orthodoxy, one of them is wedding. It is necessary for the spouses to sanctify their marriage, to make a promise before God to always be together in fidelity, love, and harmony. At the same time, the husband and wife, together with the clergy, pray for the sanctification of the marriage. Be sure to take wedding rings to the wedding, which the priest blesses and places on the ring fingers of the newlyweds - this is a symbol of eternity. But in the spiritual sense we are talking about Eternity (with a capital E), as about life after death. It is not without reason that they say that married spouses meet in heaven after death and never separate again.

What is needed and the question price?

If the couple is not rich, they will definitely ask the question: “How much does a wedding cost?” In fact, it is impossible to answer this question unequivocally.

Let's list what is necessary for a wedding:

• personal presence of both spouses;
• spouses (a suit on the groom, a modest long (preferably white) dress on the bride and a scarf/stole/veil);
• wedding rings, if there are none, then wedding rings;
• two wedding candles;
• towel (towel);
• two and the Mother of God.

If you have the right clothes and shoes for the ceremony, then you don't need to spend on outfits.

Wedding rings from the registry office are allowed. You don't have to buy a new pair. If there are none, then it is advisable to buy a gold ring for the husband, and a silver one for the wife. These were the traditions in past centuries, and they continue to this day.

You can choose the simplest and cheapest wedding candles, or the most expensive, festively decorated ones.

You can sew a towel yourself or ask your family and friends to do it. In church shops they are sold at different prices, depending on the material and complexity of the pattern.

You can bring icons from home so as not to buy new ones.

Which candles are better to choose?

Priests and married couples advise purchasing high-quality wedding candles only in church shops/shops. It is not advisable to buy second hand, as you risk getting a fake.

During the wedding, candles must burn and not go out. In addition, the sacrament can last from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Buy thick, large candles. It is even possible with handles and saucers provided so that dripping wax does not burn your hands.

The price of the sacrament

Let's talk about how much a wedding costs. In fact, it's different everywhere. In Moscow, as a rule, the cost is approximately 5 to 10 thousand rubles. Last price - Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

In provincial cities the cost is ten times lower. Many priests perform weddings for a donation (as much as you give) or for free (if the family is in dire straits). As a rule, a married couple simply donates a towel, wedding candles or clothes to the temple for those in need.

Where should I put the candles?

You brought home wedding candles. What to do with them now? You have two options:

• you can place it on candlesticks next to wedding and other icons;
• put it in a special box with shrines (oil brought from pilgrimage trips, land, baptismal shirts and crosses, holy water, prosphora and incense, and so on).

Keep candles in a secluded place so that they are not broken by children or chewed by pets. If suddenly the candles break, do not be alarmed, superstitions have no place in Christianity. Just handle them carefully.

Can I light candles?

Many who have just consecrated their marriage forget to ask the priest: “When can you light wedding candles?” But it's never too late to get an answer to this question. This is what the pastors advise - light wedding candles for a reason, but with warm and fervent prayer, especially in moments such as:

• grief;
• joy;
• wedding and wedding anniversaries;
• birth of children;
• quarrels;
• desire to pray for each other.

You can pray for other reasons.

In conclusion, let's say that a wedding candle is a symbol of faith, love and hope. It is enough to light them to bring peace and tranquility to your soul. And prayer will come from the depths of the soul itself. To ensure that your wedding candles last for many, many years, spare no expense, buy large ones and made from high-quality material.