What does the procession of the newly baptized person while carrying lit candles mean?

The answer

This procession signifies the spiritual joy of conquering the devil and his powers, as well as spiritual enlightenment. This procession was very joyful in the early Church when those who were new to the faith receive the resurrected life in baptism on the eve of the resurrection feast. How great was the people’s joy! They witnessed for themselves Christ’s Church which never grows old as a fruitful vine. They see the white garments and each of them remembers his holy garment that he received when he was baptized, as a token of the heavenly garment. When they see the lit candles or torches, they lift their eyes to see the True Light and remember that they are the children of the Light, and so evil deeds are not befitting of them.

The Fathers explained how the darkness of the night disappeared because of all the torches and candles. Even when the sun rose, everyone inside the church could not tell night from day, for the church became filled with light like heaven.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem¹³⁷⁸ says that the heavens rejoice and the angels sing, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and his sins are covered” (Ps. 32:1). The Church sings, “Worthy, worthy, worthy.” Then everyone goes in with the believers so that the Church is filled of them and they all rejoice in Christ’s resurrection which granted all humanity the power of the resurrection.

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty