Icon Lamp

The various lighting appliances in Russian Orthodox churches were of great liturgical importance. The presence of living sources of light during the church service symbolised the Light of Christ and the burning hearts and minds of the believers. Large icon lamps were suspended from special brackets before the icons of the local tier in the iconostasis or particularly revered images on the church walls and pillars. The multi-tiered form of the icon lamp is reminiscent of a flower cup extending towards the light, symbolising the human soul blossoming in prayer.