8,921
edits
Changes
add info;
Censers used in the church, known as a [[Wikipedia:thurible|thurible]] in the [[Western Rite]], are used during offices or services, such as [[Vespers]], [[Orthros]], and the [[Divine Liturgy]]. ''Censing'' is the practice of swinging a censer suspended from chains towards something or someone, typically an icon or person, so that smoke from the burning incense travels in that direction. If a [[deacon]] is present, he typically does much of the censing, otherwise the duty is undertaken by the [[priest]]. Unordained servers or acolytes are permitted to prepare and carry the censer, but may not swing it during prayers.
When the temple (church building) is censed, the priest or deacon will move in a sunwise (clockwise) direction, moving to his right as he censes in order the [[Sanctuary#Altar_table|Holy Table]] (altar), [[sanctuary]], [[Iconostasis]], walls of the temple, [[clergy]] and faithful. There are two types of censing: a Greater Censing (which encompasses the entire temple and all of the people therein), and a Lesser Censing (which, depending upon the liturgical context, consists of censing only a portion of the temple and the people).
During some censings, especially the Greater Censing, the clergyman who is performing the censing will often carry a candle in his left hand. During [[Bright Week]] (the week which begins on [[Pascha|Easter Sunday]]) the [[priest]] and the [[deacon]] will carry special Paschal [[Candle|candles]] at every censing, even the Lesser Censing. While carrying the Paschal candles, the priest or deacon will greet the members of the congregation with the Paschal greeting while censing them. Simple candles are carried while censing during funerals and memorial services.
===Theological significance===