Orthodox Glossary · Term

Kandili

An oil lamp kept before icons or in the altar, burning continuously as a sign of prayer, vigilance, and the presence of the Light of Christ.

Back to glossary Orthodox Concepts
Defined Term
K
Kandili
LexiconOrthodox Christianity 101
§ 01 - How to Study This Term

From definition into prayer.

The Orthodox tradition does not separate vocabulary from worship. Pair this term with Scripture, the Liturgy, and the lived life of the Church.

  1. 01
    Look for the word in worship

    Listen for it inside the Divine Liturgy, the daily prayers, or the hymns of the feast it belongs to.

  2. 02
    Trace it through the Fathers

    The same word usually echoes across centuries - Athanasius, the Cappadocians, Maximus, Gregory Palamas.

  3. 03
    Pair it with a prayer

    Vocabulary becomes piety when it lives inside a single, repeated prayer of the Church.

Where the term lives
§ 02 - Related Terms

Words that travel together.

Entries from the lexicon that share the same corner of Orthodox worship and thought as Kandili.

GlossaryOil LampA lamp fueled by olive oil, often placed before icons in church or at home, symbolizing the steady light of faith and prayer.GlossaryAltarThe sanctified table at the heart of every Orthodox temple, where the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered and the faithful encounter the heavenly throne of God made present on earth.GlossaryIconostasisThe screen of icons separating the nave from the altar, not as a barrier but as a meeting point where heaven and earth converse in the liturgy.GlossaryOblation TableAlso called the prothesis, the side table where the bread and wine are prepared before being offered at the altar during the Proskomedia.GlossaryRipidia (Fans)Metal or wooden fans carried near the altar, often depicting seraphim, symbolizing the unseen presence of angels attending the Eucharistic mystery.
✦   Where to next?

One word, then another.

The Orthodox lexicon is a doorway, not a destination. Keep going - pair this term with prayer and a parish near you.

Find a Parish Back to Glossary