Paschal Candle

Definition and Meaning

The Paschal candle is a large, thick candle lit at Easter. Its light symbolizes Jesus Christ, who rose in victory over death. The word "Paschal" derives from Pascha, which comes from the Hebrew Pesach, meaning Passover; in the church, the term is also used to refer to the resurrection of Christ.

The body of the candle is usually inscribed with the following:

• A cross
• Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, expressing the confession that Christ is the first and the last (see Alpha and Omega)
• The current year

In the Western church tradition, five grains of incense, signifying the five wounds of Christ, are sometimes inserted into the cross.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Paschal candle itself does not appear in Scripture. However, passages such as "I am Alpha and Omega" (Revelation 1:8) and "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) are cited as the basis for its symbolism.

The custom of lighting lamps on the eve of Easter is believed to date back to the early church. The Easter Vigil of the Western church (the service held on the night before Easter) proceeds in the following order:

• A new fire is kindled outside the darkened church and transferred to the Paschal candle.
• A procession led by the Paschal candle enters, and its flame is shared with the small candles held by the congregation.
• The Easter Proclamation (known by its Latin name, the Exsultet) is sung.

The Paschal candle remains lit during worship for the fifty days until Pentecost. Thereafter it is lit at baptisms and funerals to signify new life and the hope of the resurrection.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Catholic Church: The Catholic Church observes the blessing and procession of the Paschal candle as a prescribed rite at the Easter Vigil Mass.
• Anglican Church: The Anglican Church of Korea also uses the new fire and the Paschal candle in its Easter Vigil liturgy, following an order similar to that of the Catholic Church.
• Methodist, Presbyterian, and other churches: For a long time, these churches rarely used the Paschal candle. Recently, as part of a movement to recover the church calendar and liturgy, some churches have begun lighting a Paschal candle at Easter services or Easter sunrise services. It is not a rite required by the denominations, and its use varies from church to church.
• Churches emphasizing Word-centered worship: Baptist and Pentecostal churches, as well as many independent churches, often do not use liturgical symbols such as the Paschal candle.

In Korean Protestantism, Easter is typically observed not with the Paschal candle but with the Easter sunrise service and the Easter Union Service.