Antonio Mcgowan
Incense is burned in Orthodox Christian services as an offering to God, with the sweet-smelling fragrance representing prayer ascending to God. The practice of burning incense in Orthodox churches can be traced back to the worship described in the Old Testament. The burning of incense is also used to bless homes, with the head of the household carrying the hand censer with burning incense throughout the dwelling, making the sign of the cross on the walls of each room.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Incense is a mix of spices, gums and fragrant resins, often infused with floral oils. |
| Incense vessel | Incense is burned on charcoal in a decorated burner/censer. |
| Incense vessel type | The censer can be a hand censer or a swinging censer. |
| Incense vessel material | Censers can be made of metal. |
| Incense vessel features | Censers can have a sliding cover to regulate the charcoal burn. They can also have bells attached to the chains, which signify the Disciples. |
| Incense occasion | Incense is burned during Morning and Evening Prayers. It is also burned on feast days, the eve of feasts, Saturday evenings, the beginnings of Lenten periods, the eves of family members' name days, and the eve of the patron of the family church. |
| Incense use | Incense is burned as an offering to God, symbolizing prayer. It is also used to bless the house and to honour icons, relics, saints and priests. |
| Incense prayer | "We offer to Thee, Christ our God, this incense as a spiritual fragrance; receive it, we pray, to Thy heavenly altar and send down to us, in return, the grace of Thy Holy Spirit." |
| Incense disposal | Charcoal and incense ashes should be put along the foundation of the building, buried in the ground or placed in an appropriate area where they won't be stepped on. |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is burned as an offering to God
In Orthodox services, incense is burned to symbolise prayer, embodying the biblical reference in Psalms 141:2, "Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee". The smoke rising towards the heavens represents prayers elevating to God, serving as a tangible reminder of faith. The use of incense also marks reverence and purification, sanctifying the environment and creating a sacred space set apart from the outside world.
The practice of burning incense in Orthodox Christianity has its origins in Old Testament tradition, dating back to the time of Moses. Incense was used in the First and Second Jewish Temples, and its use continued in early Christian worship. The offering of incense is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, further highlighting its significance in Christian worship.
The act of burning incense is not limited to churches but is also practised in Orthodox homes. On special occasions, such as Saturday evenings and the eves of feasts, the head of the household carries a hand censer with burning incense throughout the dwelling, making the sign of the cross on the walls of each room. This practice is done to bless the home and is accompanied by the chanting of prayers and the bearing of icons or candles by other family members.
The use of incense in Orthodox Christianity is steeped in symbolism and tradition, serving as a means to engage the senses, deepen spiritual experiences, and honour God. The burning of incense as an offering to God is a significant aspect of worship, connecting the faithful to the divine.
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Incense is used to bless the house
In the home, incense is typically burned using a hand censer, which is a decorated burner that holds charcoal and incense. The head of the household, carrying the hand censer with burning incense, walks through the entire dwelling, including the basement and attic, blessing each room and making the sign of the Cross on the four walls. They may also bless the beds, saying, "This room (or bed) is blessed by the sign of the Holy Cross." The person censing may be accompanied by other family members, who chant and bear icons or candles.
The use of incense in the home is typically done on Saturday evenings, the eves of feasts, the beginnings of Lenten periods, the eves of family members' name days, and the eve of the patron of the family church. Some Orthodox families may also use incense during evening prayers or daily during family prayers.
After blessing the house with incense, the censer is typically left in the icon corner until the incense burns out. If the fragrance is too strong, it can be left outside for a while. Leaving the censer in the icon corner and saying a prayer is believed to carry the prayer up to God.
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Incense is burned to honour icons, relics and saints
Incense is burned in Orthodox Christianity to honour icons, relics, and saints. The practice is deeply symbolic, and it is believed that the smoke of incense wrapping around icons and people is a reminder of the divine presence. Incense is burned in a censer, a metal container with a lid, suspended on chains. The censer is often embellished with religious symbolism, such as the images of the four Evangelists or other sacred iconography.
The faithful often burn incense using a hand censer, a smaller version of the swinging censer used by the clergy, in their homes during morning and evening prayers. The head of the household typically leads the blessing of the icons and all family members. The hand censer, along with charcoal and incense, can be purchased from parish churches or monastic communities. The parish priest or deacon can provide guidance on lighting the charcoal and offering incense.
The act of lighting incense marks a transition from the temporal to the divine, serving as a sensory call to prayer and reflection. Incense is prepared by combining frankincense, a tree resin, with aromatic oils to create a specific scent, representing the care and intention placed into Orthodox worship. The smoke is believed to symbolise the Holy Spirit's presence, bestowing honour upon the saints depicted in the icons.
In Orthodox worship, incense is not merely a tradition but a vital expression of devotion. It engages the senses, elevates the worship experience, and helps the faithful immerse themselves in the divine. The scent of incense is intended to linger, reminding believers of the sacred long after the service ends and drawing them closer to their faith.
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Incense is burned during Morning and Evening Prayers
The use of incense in the home is also common among Orthodox Christians. The head of the household may use a hand censer to bless the house on Saturday evenings, the eves of feasts, and other special occasions. During these blessings, the head of the household carries the censer with burning incense throughout the entire dwelling, making the sign of the cross on the four walls of each room and over the beds. This practice is accompanied by the chanting of "Holy God..." and the troparion of the feast by all members of the household.
The charcoal and incense used in the censer are typically purchased from the parish church or monastic communities. The parish priest or deacon can instruct parishioners on how to light the charcoal and offer incense. It is considered respectful to dispose of the charcoal and incense ashes in a respectful manner, such as along the foundation of the building or buried in the ground.
While the use of incense in prayer is a long-standing tradition in Orthodox Christianity, it is not exclusive to liturgical use. Incense has also been used throughout history to improve the aroma of homes and spaces, as bad smells were believed to cause disease. Thus, it is not uncommon for individuals to burn incense casually or while reading from prayer books and the Bible.
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Incense is burned at cemeteries
In Orthodox Christianity, incense is a vital part of worship, enhancing the experience for the faithful by engaging the senses. It is used in church services by priests who cense the holy objects and the people. The practice is believed to have biblical roots, with references in the Book of Psalms and the Book of Revelation.
The use of incense in Orthodox Christianity dates back to the time of Moses, when God gave commands on how to burn it. The offering of incense is also linked to the revelation of God regarding the Three Wise Men. The amount of incense burned varies depending on the liturgical calendar and specific church service, with more incense used during high feasts and less during regular services.
In addition to its use in church services, incense is also burned in Orthodox homes during family prayers. The head of the household carries a hand censer with burning incense throughout the dwelling, making the sign of the cross on the walls of each room and over the beds. The family members may accompany the head of the household, chanting and bearing icons or candles.
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Frequently asked questions
The burning of incense is an offering to God and represents prayer ascending to God. Incense is also burned to bless a house.
Incense is made of fragrant gums and spices. The resin is often infused with a floral oil, producing a fragrant scent when burned.
A layman would only use a hand censer, not a swinging censer like the clergy typically use. The censer is held in the right hand, and the sign of the cross is made with the censer over whatever is being censing. Then the censer is placed in the left hand, and the person makes the sign of the cross and bows.
The head of the household carries the hand censer with burning incense throughout the entire dwelling and makes the sign of the Cross on the four walls of each room and over the beds. The person burning the incense is accompanied by all members of the household chanting "Holy God..." and bearing icons or candles.
The hand censer, charcoal, and incense may be purchased at some parish churches or from monastic communities.
