A sanctuary lamp, chancel lamp, altar lamp, everlasting light, or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries in many Jewish and Christianity places of worship.
In Jewish tradition
In Judaism, the sanctuary lamp is known as a
Ner Tamid (
Hebrew language, “eternal flame” or “eternal light”), Hanging or standing in front of the ark in every Jewish
synagogue, it is meant to represent the menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the perpetual fire kept on the
altar of burnt offerings before the Temple.
It also symbolizes God's eternal presence, and is thus never extinguished, and to draw parallels between God and fire or light as emphasized throughout Exodus in the
Torah.
These lights are never allowed to dim or go out, and in case of electric problems, alternative emergency power is used to prevent them from extinguishing.
Though they were once fuelled by oil, most modern sanctuary lamps are electric lights.
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 narrative in the
Talmud, the flame continued burning until new oil arrived.
Modern Jewish celebrations of Hanukkah include lighting a Hanukkah menorah ( Hanukkiyah), which has nine branches. This includes the shamash used to light the other eight flames (candles or oil wicks), evoking the story.
In Christian tradition
Some Christian churches have at least one lamp continually burning before the tabernacle, not only as an ornament, but for the purpose of worship. The General Instruction of the
Roman Missal of the
Catholic Church, for instance, states (in 316): “In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.” The sanctuary lamp, also called a chancel lamp, is placed before the tabernacle or
aumbry in
Roman Catholic and
Old Catholic churches as a sign that the Blessed Sacrament is reserved or stored.
It is also found in the
chancel of
Lutheran churches to indicate the presence of Christ in the sanctuary, as well as a belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; in Lutheran churches with a tabernacle or aumbry, it further indicates that the Eucharist is reserved.
Depending on the
churchmanship of the congregation,
Anglican churches may have a chancel lamp to indicate the presence of Christ in the church or in churches that practice it, it may indicate that the Eucharist has been reserved in a tabernacle or aumbry. When used in
Methodist churches, it indicates the presence of Jesus in the church.
The sanctuary lamp may also be found in Eastern Orthodox Churches. Other Christian denominations burn the lamp to show that the light of
Christ always burns in a sin-darkened world. A main influence from
Judaism in the
Old Testament is when God instructed
Moses to have a lamp with pure oil perpetually burn in the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:20-21). This is the precedent for the Catholic custom of burning a candle before the tabernacle, which should be immobile and locked to prevent theft and
Host desecration, as well as whenever transporting the Sacrament anywhere.
Such sanctuary or tabernacle lamps are most often coloured red, though this is not prescribed. This serves to distinguish this light from various other votive candle within the church. In the Catholic Church, red is widely used despite the preference for white expressed by Fortescue.
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.
[ Requirements for earning the Ner Tamid emblem ]
A song by Matisyahu called Aish Tamid ("eternal flame") that appears in his albums Shake Off the Dust... Arise (2004) and Live at Stubb's (2006).
See also
External links
