Q&A Home > C > Candles

Why do we light candles before the icons of the saints but not before a big icon of Our Lord Jesus?

In the Orthodox Church the place of the icon of our Lord Jesus Christ is on the iconostasis at the right side of the door to the altar. The iconostasis also holds the icons of The Mother of God carrying our Lord, St. John the Baptist baptizing our Lord, an icon of the Annunciation, an icon of Archangel Michael and the icon of the saint after whom the church is named. This does not mean that we cannot have an icon of the Lord Jesus Christ anywhere else in the church.  Besides, there is nothing wrong with lighting candles before it.

Many people feel more comfortable praying and asking the intercession of the saints because they feel unworthy to speak to the Lord directly. St. Mary, for instance, represents the mother figure to many people. However, the first place in our heart should always be to our Lord God.