The answer
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The Deacon holding a lit candle symbolizes the angel watching over the Sacrificial Lamb.Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)
Questions & Answers
Divine Liturgy
Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Prayer, Fasting and Worship › Divine Liturgy
The question
What exactly is the significance of the deacon's standing before the altar holding a lit candle during Holy Communion?
Related questions
- What is the significance of stepping into the sanctuary right foot first and exiting backwards left foot first?
- Are deacons permitted to touch the bottom of the golden censor with their hands, or should they use a cloth to hold it up? Why?
- Should the church congregation bow down fully (prostrate) or just bend their heads after the fraction when the deacon says, "Bow your HEADS to the Lord"?
Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1160 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.