Why Are Vigil Lamps Lit Before Icons by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

First – because our faith is light. Christ said: I am the lightof the world (John 8,12). The light of the vigil lamp reminds us of thatlight by which Christ illumines our souls.

Second – in order to remind us of the radiant character of thesaint before whose icon we light the vigil lamp, for saints are calledsons of light (John 12,36; Luke 16,8).

Third – in order to serve as a reproach to us for our dark deeds,for our evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us to the pathof evangelical light; and so that we would more zealously try to fulfillthe commandments of the Saviour: “Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works” (Matthew 5,16).

Fourth – so that the vigil lamp would be our small sacrificeto God, Who gave Himself completely as a sacrifice for us, and as a smallsign of our great gratitude and radiant love for Him from Whom we ask inprayer for life, and health, and salvation and everything that only boundlessheavenly love can bestow.

Fifth – so that terror would strike the evil powers who sometimesassail us even at the time of prayer and lead away our thoughts from theCreator. The evil powers love the darkness and tremble at every light,especially at that which belongs to God and to those who please Him.

Sixth – so that this light would rouse us to selflessness. Justas the oil and wick burn in the vigil lamp, submissive to our will, solet our souls also burn with the flame of love in all our sufferings, alwaysbeing submissive to God’s will.

Seventh – in order to teach us that just as a vigil lamp cannotbe lit without our hand, so too, our heart, our inward vigil lamp, cannotbe lit without the holy fire of God’s grace, even if it were to be filledwith all the virtues. All these virtues of ours, after all, like combustiblematerial, but the fire which ignites them proceeds from God.

Eighth – in order to remind us that before anything else theCreator of the world created light, and after that everything else in order:And God said, let there be light: and there was light (Genesis 1,3). Andit must be so also at the beginning of our spiritual life, so that beforeanything else the light of Christ’s truth would shine within us. From thislight of Christ’s truth subsequently every good deed is created, springsup and grows in us.

May the Light of Christ illumine you as well!