Sanctuary lamp
A sanctuary lamp, chancel lamp, altar lamp, everlasting light, or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries in many
, this icon has taken on different meanings in each of the religions that have adopted it. The passage, which refers to prescriptions for the tabernacle, states:And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. (
KJV)
In Jewish tradition
In Judaism, the sanctuary lamp is known by its Hebrew name, Ner Tamid (Hebrew: "eternal flame" or "eternal light"). Hanging or standing in front of the
These lights are never allowed to dim or go out, and in the case of electric problems, alternative emergency energy sources are used to prevent it from diminishing. [citation needed]
Though once fuelled by oil, most today are electric lights.[citation needed]
Hanukkah story
The eternal light is central to one of many stories behind the celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. When the ancient Maccabees rebelled and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, they rekindled the eternal light. However, there was only enough oil to keep the flame burning for one day, and it took eight days to bring new oil. Miraculously, according to the story as recounted in the Talmud, the flame continued to burn until the new oil arrived.
Today, Jewish celebrations of Hanukkah include the lighting of the
In Christian tradition
Some Christian churches have at least one lamp continually burning before the tabernacle, not only as an ornament of the altar, but for the purpose of worship. The General Instruction of the
Such sanctuary or tabernacle lamps are often coloured red, though this is not prescribed by law. This serves to distinguish this light from other
Secular references to the Sanctuary lamp
In the United States, the Boy Scout Jewish religious emblem, a medal earned by scouts for meeting certain requirements of religious activity and education, is called the Ner Tamid.[7]
There is a song by Matisyahu called "Aish Tamid" ("eternal flame") that appears on his albums Shake Off the Dust... Arise (2004) and Live at Stubb's (2006).
See also
References
- ^ "Ask the Pastor: Sanctuary Lamps". xrysostom.blogspot.com.
- ^ Leviticus 6:12–13
- ^ The American Lutheran, Volumes 9-10. American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. 1926. p. 95.
Occasionally there is a sanctuary lamp over the altar, its pulsating red light symbolizing a belief in the Real Presence, and not necessarily indicating the reserved host, as is properly supposed.
- ISBN 9781426730696.
Sanctuary lamp: A candle suspended from the ceiling or mounted on the wall near the Lord's table and constantly burning throughout the week, also referred to as an "eternal light." In Roman Catholic usage it signifies the presence of Christ in the reserved sacrament; in Protestant usage it signifies Christ's presence in the church.
- ^ "Meaning of the Tabernacle Lamp in Catholic Churches". Taylor Marshall. 2010-11-17.
- ^ Amator Liturgae (March 1920). "Studies and conferences:What is a rubrical altar?". The Ecclesiastical Review. 7. 62 (3): 289. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
There is, as he also notes, no authority whatever for the glass of the sanctuary lamp being other than white
- ^ Requirements for earning the Ner Tamid emblem Archived 2007-01-27 at the Wayback Machine