Anisha Riggs
Incense plays a significant role in the Orthodox Christian tradition, where it is burned during prayer and worship. The fragrant smoke is believed to symbolise prayers rising to heaven, as referenced in the Bible. In this tradition, incense is more than just a pleasant scent; it is a meaningful ritual with a special place in spiritual practice. The process of making orthodox incense involves powdering frankincense or fir resin, mixing it with essential oils, and then rolling it out into a slab. The slab is cut into small cubes, coated with clay powder to prevent adhesion, and allowed to dry. Floral fragrances are the most common, but citrus scents like lemon are also used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious use | Prevalent in many cultures, including the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Taoist, and Buddhist churches |
| Use in Orthodox Christianity | Symbol of rising prayers, meditation aid, sacrificial offering to a deity |
| Monastic-crafted incense | Handcrafted, artisanal, made with care |
| Quality | Resinous blends should be rich and slightly sticky with visible fragments of herbs and spices |
| Raw materials | Frankincense, fir resin, essential oils, gums, mucilaginous material, fragrant materials, water, dried fruit, honey, soft resin, natural plant-based binders |
| Process | Raw frankincense is ground into a fine powder, mixed with essential oils, rolled into slabs, cut into cubes, coated with clay powder, and dried |
| Burning | Direct-burning (combustible) or indirect-burning (on a heat source or hot metal plate) |
| Burning tools | Censer, charcoal, matches/lighter, sand, thurible, hand censer, tongs, chopsticks |
| Safety | Never leave burning incense unattended, use a stable censer and heatproof surface, ensure proper ventilation, extinguish charcoal completely |
| Storage | Store incense and charcoal in a small tea box or another safe place |
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What You'll Learn
The significance of incense in Orthodox Christianity
The use of incense within Orthodox Christianity is a deeply meaningful ritual, rich in symbolism, and holds a special place in the spiritual practice of its followers. The act of burning incense is imbued with spiritual significance and is used in prayer and worship.
The fragrant smoke of incense represents prayers rising to heaven, a symbolism referenced in Scripture, such as Psalm 141:2, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense." This ancient practice is also mentioned in Revelation 8:4, which states, "The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." The smoke is believed to symbolise the sweet-smelling fragrance of prayers rising to God.
Incense is also used as a sacrificial offering to God, a concept prevalent in many cultures and religious traditions, including Judaic worship and Taoist and Buddhist practices. The use of incense in Orthodox Christianity is inspired by these ancient traditions and is considered an acceptable offering in its Divine Services.
The captivating aromas of incense are believed to quiet the mind, promote a state of focused contemplation, and create an ideal environment for prayer and reflection. The specific fragrances used in incense, such as delicate florals, grounding woods, or resins, are chosen for their distinct moods and spiritual connections. For example, floral fragrances like rose, jasmine, and lavender offer a sense of lightness and sweetness.
The process of preparing and burning incense is a simple yet significant ritual. The incense is burned on charcoal within a dedicated censer, a stable container designed to hold burning incense. The charcoal is ignited with the help of a lighter or matches, and sand may be used for insulation and stability. It is important to treat incense as a sacred element, handling it with care and ensuring it is fully extinguished after use.
The use of incense in Orthodox Christianity extends beyond the church and into the homes of its followers. Orthodox families may burn incense during daily prayers, creating a sacred space within their homes. They also incorporate incense into their celebrations and feast days, decorating their homes and blessing their spaces with the fragrant smoke.
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How to burn incense at home
Burning incense is a spiritual ritual in the Orthodox Christian tradition. The fragrant smoke of incense is believed to represent prayers rising to heaven. The captivating aroma of incense is also believed to quiet the mind and promote a state of focused contemplation, creating an ideal environment for prayer and reflection.
To burn incense at home, you will need incense, charcoal, a lighter or matches, and a censer or incense burner. You will also need a heat-proof surface, such as concrete, ceramic, glass, or metal, to place your censer on. It is important to ensure that the area is well-ventilated and away from flammable materials. You should also be considerate of any individuals who might be sensitive to the fragrance.
- Place the incense in the censer or burner.
- Light the incense with a match or lighter, ensuring that it is immersed in the flame until it ignites and a small flame is visible.
- Allow the flame to burn for a few seconds, then gently fan or blow out the flame.
- Check the tip of the incense for a small glowing ember and a small amount of smoke. If you do not see an ember, you may need to repeat steps 1-3.
- Once the incense is lit, place it into the incense holder, ensuring that the tip is within the boundary of the burner so that any ash is collected.
- Never leave burning incense unattended. Always ensure it is extinguished before disposing of it.
It typically takes 20-40 minutes for an incense stick to burn completely, depending on its thickness, length, and quality. To extinguish the incense, you can press the lit tip against a heat-resistant surface until the ember breaks off, or you can submerge it in water, although this may affect the quality of the incense.
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The different types of incense
Floral Delights
Floral fragrances are the most common type of incense, offering a sense of lightness and sweetness. The delicate scents of rose, jasmine, and lavender fill your space with a pleasant aroma, reminiscent of a blooming garden. These floral fragrances are often used to evoke feelings of peace and serenity, making them a perfect companion for meditation and prayer.
Grounding Woods
For those seeking a deeper connection to nature, grounding wood scents are an excellent choice. These incense varieties capture the essence of the forest, offering a rich and earthy aroma. The warm and comforting scents of wood can create a calming atmosphere, aiding in contemplation and introspection.
Resinous Depth
Resin incense, made from powdered frankincense or fir resin, provides a time-honored depth of aroma. This type of incense is often mixed with essential oils to create a unique and long-lasting fragrance. The resinous blends have a slightly sticky texture and may include visible fragments of herbs and spices, adding to their artisanal quality.
Direct-Burning Incense
Direct-burning incense, also known as combustible incense, is designed to be lit directly by a flame. This type of incense continues to smoulder and burn without the need for external heat or flame. It is typically extruded or pressed into forms, or coated onto a supporting material. Direct-burning incense is a convenient option for those seeking a quick and efficient way to fill their space with fragrance.
Indirect-Burning Incense
Indirect-burning incense, on the other hand, is designed to be burned on top of a heat source or on a hot metal plate within a censer or thurible. This type of incense burning is common in the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition and is often used in conjunction with charcoal, which serves as the heat source.
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The process of making Orthodox incense
Ingredients and Preparation
Firstly, gather your ingredients and tools. You will need frankincense or fir resin, essential oils with floral or citrus fragrances, a binder such as honey or gum arabic, and clay powder.
Mixing and Shaping
Grind the frankincense or fir resin into a fine powder. Mix this powder with your chosen essential oils and binder to create a sticky, fragrant paste. You can adjust the amount of binder used to achieve the desired consistency. Roll the mixture into a slab approximately 1 centimetre thick and let it firm up.
Cutting and Coating
Once the slab has hardened, cut it into small cubes. Coat each cube with a layer of clay powder to prevent them from sticking together. Allow the cubes to fully dry and harden. At this stage, you may notice a colour difference in your incense, with pink indicating rose fragrance and green indicating jasmine.
Burning
To burn your homemade Orthodox incense, use a censer or thurible, which is a special container designed for burning incense. Place the incense on a heat source or hot metal plate within the censer. For indirect-burning incense, you can place it directly on top of the heat source. Alternatively, use a charcoal disc specifically designed for incense burning. Light the charcoal with a match or lighter, and place the incense on top. The incense will melt and produce a fragrant smoke.
Safety and Spirituality
Always exercise caution when burning incense. Ensure proper ventilation and never leave burning incense unattended. Treat the incense with reverence and respect, and fully extinguish the charcoal after use. Within the Orthodox Christian tradition, incense holds spiritual significance, symbolising rising prayers to heaven.
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The use of incense in other religions
The use of incense is prevalent in many religions and cultures, with roots in antiquity. The first recorded use of incense was in India in 3600 BC, and it has been used in religious contexts since. In Hindu tradition, incense is offered to God, often by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction, in the form of Krishna or Rama. This practice is still common in modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide. Incense is also used in daily rituals, with resins like benzoin and that obtained from the Commiphora wightii tree being burned over embers to produce perfumed smoke.
In China, incense has been burned during festivals and processions to honour ancestors and household gods. The use of incense spread to China with the introduction of Buddhism, and calibrated incense sticks and incense clocks became common. Incense-stick burning is now an everyday practice in traditional Chinese religion, with various types of sticks used for different purposes or festive days. Incense is also used in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, where the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors.
In Japan, incense was incorporated into Shinto ritual, and it holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites. Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples use incense sticks that are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash, as the sticks lack a supporting core.
In Greece from the 8th century BC, woods and resins were burned as an oblation and for protection against demons, a practice that was later adopted by the Romans. The early Christian church began to use incense in eucharistic ceremonial in the 4th century AD, where it symbolised the ascent of prayers of the faithful and the merits of the saints. Incense is still used in Christian worship at the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, funerals, and other services.
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Frequently asked questions
Orthodox incense is made from raw frankincense or fir resin, which is powdered and mixed with essential oils. Floral fragrances are the most common, but citrus scents such as lemon are also used.
The powdered frankincense or fir resin is mixed with essential oils and rolled out into a slab approximately 1 centimetre thick. The slab is left to firm and then cut into small cubes. The cubes are then coated with clay powder to prevent adhesion and left to fully harden and dry.
Burning incense is a meaningful ritual in Orthodox Christianity that holds a special place in spiritual practice. The fragrant smoke of incense is believed to visually represent prayers rising to heaven.
Orthodox incense is burned using a censer, which is a dedicated incense burner designed for charcoal. Quick-lighting charcoal discs are placed in the censer and ignited using matches or a lighter. Sand may be used to provide insulation and stability for the charcoal.
Yes, it is important to never leave burning incense unattended. It should be burned in a well-ventilated area to prevent excessive smoke buildup and away from flammable materials. After use, ensure the charcoal is completely extinguished and cooled before disposal.
