The custom of lighting candles in churches came to Russia from Greece, where our ancestors received the Orthodox faith at the time of the holy Prince Vladimir. But that custom did not originate in the Greek churches.

Candles and oil lamps have been used in churches since ancient times. The command to make a lamp of pure gold with seven lamps is one of the first that the Lord gave to Moses (Is. 25, 31-37).

In the Old Testament's Tabernacle of Moses, the lamps were a necessary part of the Liturgy and were lit in the evening before the Lord (Ex. 30, 8). In the Jerusalem Temple, the high priest, at the same time as the daily morning sacrifice served in the gate, quietly and reverently prepared the lamps for the evening lighting, and in the evening, after the evening sacrifice, he would light them to burn all night. The lamps that were burning and those lamps were a symbol of God's guidance. "You are the Lord, my light," exclaims King David (II Kings XXII, 29). "Your word is a sting to my foot," he says in another place (Ps. CXVIII, 105). The use of lamps on Saturdays and other festive evenings, especially on Passover, moved from the temple to the homes of the Old Testament believers. Since the Lord Jesus Christ "gave Himself up for the world and its salvation at night", as well as served the Passover, it can be assumed that in the Zion Chamber, which represents the prototype of Orthodox temples, during the first service of the Most Holy Eucharist, lamps were also burning.

Candles were also lit by the holy apostles and the first followers of Christ, when they gathered at night to preach the word of God, pray and break bread. This is mentioned in the book Acts of the Holy Apostles: "And there were many candles burning in the room where we had gathered" (Acts XX, 8).

In the first centuries of Christianity, candles were always lit during the Divine Service.

On the one hand, there was a need for it: Christians, persecuted by polytheists, went to the underground and catacombs for worship, and they were mostly served at night, so it was impossible to do without lamps. But on the other hand, and most importantly, the light had a spiritual significance. "With us, the Liturgy is never celebrated without lamps, - said the teacher of the Church, Tertullian, - but we do not use them only to dispel the darkness of the night, - because we celebrate the Liturgy in daylight, but in order to use them to represent Christ - the uncreated light, without which we would wander in the dark even in broad daylight".

At the end of the second century, God performed a miracle in the Jerusalem Church: when there was no oil for the lamps in the temple on Passover, Bishop Narkis ordered that spring water be poured into the lamps - and they burned throughout Passover, as if they were filled with the best oil. When the persecution of the Church of Christ stopped, and peace came, the custom of lighting lamps and candles was preserved.

No Divine Service, nor any other priestly act, was served, just as it is not served today without lamps. In Old Testament times, a lamp was constantly burning in front of the book of the Law of Moses, symbolizing that the Law of God represents light for man in his life. And since in New Testament times, God's Law is contained in the Gospel, then in the Jerusalem Church they accepted as a rule that before the presentation of the Gospel, a lighted candle is carried, and during the reading of the Gospel, all the candles are lit, symbolizing that the light of the Gospel enlightens every person.

This custom was transferred to other local churches. As a consequence, they started lighting candles and lanterns not only in front of the Gospel, but also in front of the graves of martyrs, icons of saints, as well as as a sign of their own benevolence towards the holy place. In his epistle against the Vigilantes, Jerome claimed: "in all the Eastern Churches, during the reading of the Gospel, candles are lit in sunlight, and this is not to dispel darkness, but as a sign of joy, so that material light may represent another light... Someone else does this in honor of the martyrs".

"The lamp and the candles represent the eternal Light, as well as the light with which the righteous shine," says St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (VII century). The Holy Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council determined that in the Orthodox Church holy icons and relics, the Cross of Christ and the Holy Gospel are honored by burning incense and lighting candles. Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (XV century) writes that "candles are lit before the icons of the saints and for their good deeds in the world..."

THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF CANDLES, CANDLESTICKS, CANDLESTICKS AND LIGHTS IN THE CHURCH:

The light in the Orthodox Church represents the heavenly Divine light. It also signifies Christ as Light to the world, Light from Light, True Light, Which enlightens every man who comes into the world".

Ancient Byzantine-Russian churches had very narrow windows, due to which there was semi-darkness and twilight in them even on the sunniest day. But it is not darkness, nor the complete absence of light. This signifies earthly human life, plunged into the twilight of sin and ignorance, in which, however, the light of faith, the light of God, shines: "And he saw light in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome him" (Jn. 1, 5).

The twilight in the church signifies that thought spiritual twilight, the shroud, with which God's secrets are shrouded. The small, narrow windows in the ancient churches, which symbolized the sources of Divine light, created such an atmosphere in the churches, which fully corresponded to the mentioned gospel words and correctly depicted the nature of things in the spiritual realm of life.

Outside light was allowed into the interior of the church only as a reflection of immaterial light, and that in a very limited amount. Light in the narrower sense in the church's understanding represents only the Divine light, the light of Christ, the light of the future life in the Kingdom of God. This also determined the character of the interior lighting of the church. He never pointed himself out for the sake of being bright. The lamps in the church have always had a spiritual and symbolic meaning. They are also lit during the day, during daily services, when there is enough light from the windows. In constitutional cases, lamps in churches can be lit in very small numbers during evening and night services, and during the reading of the Sixth Psalm at the all-night vigil, all candles are extinguished, except for the candles in the middle of the church, where the reader stands, in front of the icons of Christ, the Mother of God and Saint to whom the church is dedicated. Then the twilight in the church is very thick, but it is never completely dark: "One could see light in the darkness". That is why during the holiday and Sunday services, all the lamps are lit, including the highest ones - panikandilo and pojeleji, then fully portraying God's light, which shines on the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven and already contains a celebrated event in a spiritual sense. The symbolic nature of light in the church is also confirmed by the composition of burning candles and lamps. In the old days, the faithful offered wax and oil to the church as voluntary sacrifices. The liturgist of the 15th century, blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, explaining the symbolic meaning of wax, says that pure wax signifies the purity and incorruption of the people who offer it. It is offered as a sign of our repentance in persistence and willingness to obey God similar to the softness and malleability of wax. Just as the wax made by bees after collecting nectar from flowers and trees symbolically signifies an offering to God as from all creation, so the burning of a wax candle, like the transformation of wax into fire, signifies deification, the transformation of earthly man into a new substance through the effect of fire and the warmth of Divine love. and blessings.

Oil, like wax, also signifies the purity and sincerity of man in his devotion to God. But oil also has its own special meaning. Jelej is the oil of the fruits of olive trees, olives. Even in the Old Testament, the Lord ordered Moses to offer pure oil without sediment as a sacrifice to God (Is. 27, 20). Witnessing the purity of human relations towards God, jelei is a sign of God's mercy towards people: it softens wounds, has a healing effect, enriches food. Candlesticks and candles have a great liturgical and secret meaning. They burn in the altar behind the Throne on a special candlestick with seven candles; a lamp or a candle is placed on the candlestick in the Upper Place, on the Throne, on the Altar, while lamps can also be lit in front of certain icons in the altar.

Candles are usually lit in the middle of the church in front of all the icons, and several of them are lit in front of especially revered icons: in addition, large candlesticks with holes for a large number of candles are placed, so that the faithful can place candles next to certain icons. A large candlestick is always placed in the middle of the church on the eastern side of the analogia, where the icon of the Saint who is celebrated that day is located. A special candlestick with a large candle is brought out at the small entrance at Vespers and at the big entrance at the Liturgy, as well as before the reading of the Gospel, when it is brought out at the entrances or for reading. That candle signifies the light of Christ's preaching, Christ Himself, as Light from Light, true Light. The candle on the candlestick has the same meaning, with which the priest together with the censer after the Liturgy of the Preconsecrated Gifts blesses the people with the words "The light of Christ enlightens all". Candles in the archbishop's kikirs and trikirs also have a special spiritual significance. During the censing of the church in constitutional cases, the deacon precedes the priest who performs the censing with a special deacon's candle, which signifies the light of the apostolic preaching, which precedes the reception of faith in Christ among the nations, that is, as if preceding Christ, Who comes to people. Lighted candles in the hands of priests are found in the constitutionally designated parts of the Divine Service. With a special candlestick with three candles, the priest blesses the people after Easter services. In the central part of the church, a large candlestick with a large number of candles descends from the dome, which are lit at certain moments - this is a panicadillo or panicandillo. From the domes of the side altars, similar candlesticks of a smaller scale, called polycandyla (polyelei), descend into the church from the sides. Polycandles have from seven to twelve candles, and panicandiles more than twelve.

There are various types of church candlesticks. Candlesticks of all kinds, in addition to practical indications, symbolize that spiritual sublimity, thanks to which the light of faith shines on the whole house, the whole world. Panikadylo (translated from Greek, candlesticks with many candles) descend from above into the central part of the church, and polycandyla, which are located in the side altars, with a large number of candles, represent the Heavenly Church as a gathering, a constellation of people, who are sanctified by the grace of the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the light of faith, in which the flame of love for God burns and who dwell inseparably in the light of the Kingdom of Heaven. That's why those candlesticks are lowered from above into that part of the church where the earthly Church is gathered, which is called to strive upward spiritually, towards its heavenly comrade. The heavenly Church illuminates the earthly Church with its light, dispelling the darkness from it - that is the meaning of the hanging panicandils and polycandils.

On the iconostasis and almost in front of every kiot in the church hang one or several lamps, and there is a candlestick with lighted candles. "The candlesticks, which burn in front of the icons, indicate that the Lord is an inaccessible light and fire for unrepentant sinners, and for the righteous, a purifying and life-giving fire; that the Mother of God is the Mother of light and that She is the purest unquenchable light, which shines on the whole universe, that She is the Blackberry that burns and does not burn, having received in Herself the Divine fire - the fiery Throne of the Almighty ... that the saints are lamps that burn and illuminate the whole world with their faith and virtues..." (St. righteous John of Kronstadt).

"The candles in front of the Savior's icons indicate that He is the true Light, which enlightens every person who comes into the world (Jn. 1, 9), and at the same time the Fire that ignites or enlivens our souls and bodies; the candles in front of the icons of the Mother of God signify that She is the Mother of the inaccessible Light, and at the same time Her burning love for the human race; that She carried the Divine fire in Her womb and, untouched by it, carries within Herself eternally the Divine fire that moved into Her; the candles in front of the icon of the saint signify the flaming love of the saint for God, for Whom they sacrificed everything that is dear to man in life... they signify that they are the beacons that burn and shine for us with their lives, their virtues and our fervent prayer men before God, who and the night they pray for us; lit candles signify both our fiery devotion to them and our sacrifice from the heart..."

The lamp, which hangs in front of the icon, symbolizes the ancient pillar of fire, which was brought out by Israel at night. The candles burning on the candlestick, placed around the lamp, remind the one who prays of the blackberry, the thorn bush, which burned, but did not burn, and in which God appeared to Moses. The blackberry, which burned but did not burn, was a special image of the Mother of God.

The candles, which are placed in regular circles, represent the carts that carried St. Elijah, and the circles themselves represent the wheels of those carts.

"The fire of lit ... candles and lamps, as well as the censer itself with burning coals and fragrant incense, represent to us the spiritual fire - the Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of tongues of fire on the apostles, burning our sinful vices, enlightening our minds and hearts, igniting our souls with the flame of love for God and for each other: the fire in front of the holy icons reminds us of the flaming love of the saints for God, for which they hated the world and all its charms, all injustice, reminding us that we too should serve God, to we pray with a burning spirit, which we usually fail to do, because our hearts have grown cold. Thus, everything in the church is instructive and there is nothing meaningless, unnecessary" (St. Righteous John of Kronstadt).

RULE FOR LIGHTING CANDLES IN THE CHURCH:

Lighting candles in the church is a special act, which is closely connected with the singing of songs and priestly acts. At daily Divine Services, when only one thing is expressed in all prayers: repentance, contrition and sorrow for sins, the lighting is also minimal: here and there a solitary candle or lamp burns. On holidays - such as Easter, when the victory of Christ the Savior over death and the devil is celebrated, or when people who have especially pleased God are celebrated, the church manifests its celebration with great light. At that time, polycandles are already lit, or as we say panikadila, which in Greek means a large number of candelabra. On the biggest Christian holiday - the bright Resurrection of Christ, not only the whole church is lit up, but also all the Orthodox stand with lit candles.

Therefore, the more joyful and solemn the Divine Service in the church, the more light there is. The Church Constitution stipulates that more candles are lit at more joyful and solemn services, and fewer at less solemn, or sad, fasting services. For this reason, fewer lamps are lit at vespers, midnight, and during the hours, than at vespers, matins, and the Liturgy.

During the reading of the Sixth Psalm, the candles in the church are extinguished. This is done so that the psalms, which express the awareness of one's sinful condition, and the great number of enemies who seek to destroy the soul and body, should be listened to with attention and fear, as the holy Fathers wrote, so that everyone standing in the dark could to sigh and cry.

Darkness during the reading of the Sixth Psalm especially contributes to concentration and turning to the interior of one's own soul. In the middle of the Sixth Psalm is a priest who, as if taking upon himself the title of Advocate and Redeemer of the whole human race, goes to the altar and in front of the Imperial Gate, as if in front of a closed paradise, offers God a prayer for all people, reciting light prayers in secret. One of the explanations of the light prayers indicates that they are called so because they contain thanks to God for the night light, which is given to us in candles, and a prayer that the Lord teaches us under the form of material light and teaches us to walk in the truth. Saint Basil the Great writes about such thanksgiving and prayer: "Our fathers found it appropriate not to receive God's grace in silence, but to give thanks as soon as it appears." In the prophetic verse "God the Lord appeared to us", two Advents of Christ are celebrated: the first, as if in the morning, in the flesh and poverty, and the second, in glory, which seems to happen at night, when the end of the world occurs.

At the time of the quiet litany, all the candles in the church are lit, thus symbolizing that they were illuminated by the glory of the Lord. At the Liturgy, as at the most solemn Divine Service, during all days of the year (that is, on weekdays and holidays), more candles are lit than at other services. The first candle is lit at the place where the Liturgy begins, which is the Altar. Then candles are lit on the Throne. "The candles that burn on the Throne depict the uncreated Triune Light, because the Lord lives in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6), and the Divine fire burns our impiety and our sins" (St. Righteous John of Kronstadt). Those candles are lit by the deacon or the priest himself. After that, candles are lit in front of the icons of the Savior, the Mother of God, the Saint to whom the church is dedicated, and other Saints.

At the beginning of the reading of the Holy Gospel, candles are lit, as in ancient times, throughout the church, symbolizing the light of Christ that enlightens the whole earth.

Lighting candles in the church is a part of the service, it is a sacrifice to God, and as unworthy behavior must not disturb the church order, so one must not create disorder by passing your candle through the entire church during the service, or what is worse, pushing toward the candlestick to place the candle themselves.

If you want to light a candle, then come before the service begins. It is sad to see people who, being late, came to half of the service, and how they then, in the most important and solemn moments of the Divine Service, when everyone is immersed in giving thanks to God, disrupt the church order, handing over their candles and distracting the attention of other believers.

If someone is late for the service, let them wait until the end of the Divine Service, and then, if they have such a desire or need, light a candle, without distracting the attention of others and without disrupting church order.

Candles and lamps are lit not only in the Church, but also in the homes of pious Christians. Venerable Seraphim, a great advocate before God for the living and the deceased, explained the great importance of candles and lamps like this: "I have...many people who take care of me and do good to my orphans. They bring me oil and candles And ask me to pray for them. And then when I start reading my rule I mention them individually. But since, due to the large number of names, I cannot mention them in every place of the rule, where it is necessary, because then I would not have time to finish my rule, then I light all those candles for them as a sacrifice to God, one candle for each, and others, I continuously light a candle; and in the place in the rule where I should mention them, I say: "Lord, remember all those people, Your servants, for whose souls I, poor You, lit these candles and lamps." And that it is not my, poor Seraphim's, human invention, or simply my care, based on nothing Divine, I will cite to you for this as a confirmation of the words from the Holy Scriptures. In the Bible, it is said that Moses heard the voice of the Lord, who said to him: "Moses, Moses! Tell your brother Aaron to light a candle in front of Me during the day and night: because that sacrifice is pleasant and pleasing to Me". That's why the Holy Church of God accepted as a custom to light candles in holy temples and houses of faithful Christians, in front of the holy icons of the Lord, the Mother of God, Holy Angels and Holy people, who pleased God".

As we can see, the church candle is a sacred heritage of Orthodoxy. She is a symbol of our spiritual alliance with the Holy Mother Church.

The candle reminds us of our baptism. Three candles are placed in the baptismal font itself, in honor of the Holy Trinity, in whose name the baptism is performed. Our godparents, pronouncing on our behalf vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, stood next to that baptismal font with candles in their hands. The candles they held in their hands showed their belief that this Mystery gives enlightenment to the soul of the one who is baptized, that this person goes from darkness to light and becomes a son of light, which is why baptism itself is called enlightenment.

The candle reminds us of our marriage. Candles are given to those getting engaged and married. Lighted candles in the hands of those who unite in the Sacrament of Marriage testify to the purity of their lives. Through the candles lit by the newlyweds, the purity of marriage seems to shine. The Sacrament of consecration is also served with candles. Seven candles are lit around a lamp or some other vessel with wine and oil, which represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and all believers hold lighted candles in their hands as a sign of their flaming prayer.

The funeral rite is also served with candles, and the candle reminds us that we too will lie in the grave, surrounded by four candlesticks with lighted candles, which symbolize the cross, and our relatives and friends will hold lighted candles in their hands during the memorial service, which represent the Divine the light with which the Christian was enlightened at baptism.

One look at a church candle can evoke in the soul of an Orthodox man the deepest thoughts about life and death, about sin and repentance, about sorrow and joy. A church candle says a lot, a lot, to the feelings and minds of believers.

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE CHURCH CANDLE - OUR SACRIFICES TO GOD

Candles, which the faithful buy in the church, in order to put them on the candlestick next to the icons, have several spiritual meanings: since the candle is bought, it is a sign of man's voluntary sacrifice to God and His church, the manifestation of man's readiness to obey God (the softness of the wax), his striving for deification, turning into a new substance (burning a candle). A candle is also a testimony of faith, of man's union with the Divine light. The candle represents the warmth and flame of man's love for the Lord, the Mother of God, the Angel or the Saint, next to whose icons the believer places his candle.

A lit candle is a symbol, a visible sign, which expresses our flaming love and benevolence towards the one for whom the candle is lit. And if there is no such love and favor, then the candle has no meaning, and our sacrifice is in vain. Unfortunately, this happens very often. Many who light candles "for health" and "peace of souls", for the success of some work, not only do not like those for whom they light candles, but do not even know for whom they light them.

It is accepted to light candles to one's Angel, that is, to the Saint, whose name we bear (1). And do many people know the life of that saint? And if they don't know him, can they love him?

Some of us remember God, the Mother of God, and the Saints only when they enter the church, and that for a few minutes, and think that it is enough to place a candle in front of the icon, and that their prayer will be fulfilled - as if they were to God, the Most Holy The Virgin and Saints need candles!

Often living as non-believers, as pagans, or even worse, not knowing the Law of God, we think that by placing a candle we have fulfilled our obligation, become pure and righteous - as if the candle can plead and propitiate God for us! Sometimes it's even worse. Some people not only do not consider it a sin to deceive someone, to rob someone, but also rejoice when they succeed. And then they think that if they lit a candle in the church or a lamp in the house in front of the icon on the holiday, that God will not be angry with them because of lies, fraud, insults of people.

What a terrible delusion these people are in! Without love for God and neighbor, as for oneself, without fulfilling the Lord's Commandments - we don't even need our candles. Nobody demands them from us. God wants us to love Him with all our hearts, honor Him with all our souls, zealously fulfill His holy commandments and glorify Him with our whole lives. His holy Pleasers are pleased that we imitate them, as they also imitated Christ (2), so that we may be like them and follow with all effort and care those who live as those who please God, and did not follow the enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose is the end of death. If we live in such a way that in our soul there is the light of God, and in our heart the fire of love for Him and those who have pleased Him and we zealously imitate them, - in that case we will place candles and light lamps in front of their icons: that and the other, as a visible manifestation our inner light and fire, they will be comfortable.

And if in our soul there is unfathomable darkness and if our life is sin and lawlessness, then what are our candles and lamps? Nothing! And it would be good if they were really nothing. No, they grieve the Lord God and His Saints and do not cause them love and mercy, but anger and punishment. Just imagine: who fraudulently and illegally collected millions of rubles and then thinks that with a fat candle he will not only cover all his illegal deeds, but that he will also deserve mercy from God - what does he want to do and what does he hope for? Does he want to deceive the Lord God and bribe His holy judgment? Yes, it's scary to think and say, but it's true. So why does such a man hold candles? Are they evidence that he loves God? If he loved God, he would live according to God's Law, and since he does not live according to God's commandments, it means that he does not love and know Him. So what do his candles represent? A lie and a deception - as all his words are a lie and a deception; as lie and deceit are all his curses; as all his works are lies and deceit. But words, curses, and deeds refer to men; and candles are offered to God and His People... And that's how they think to please the Lord God, Who sees our every deed, our every word and every thought! And it is strange how a man can be blinded. How can an honest man accept something from a thief and a robber? Not only does he not accept, but he considers it an insult if such a man dares to contact him. And then candles are placed on the basis of what was obtained by fraud and all kinds of injustice. Who do they think God is? Or do they really think that it is pleasing and pleasing to God that which would offend any honorable man? Fatal delusion! And it is even more dangerous because they completely calm down with their candles and are convinced that by placing them they can continue to commit lawlessness without fear or punishment.

No, it's not like that. Listen to what the Lord said to the Jews, who led a dishonorable and lawless life, and thought that if they offered some sacrifices to God, they were pleasing to Him and pure before Him. "What will a large number of your victims do to Me? You come before My face: but who needs it from your hands, to trample My court. You bring Me empty gifts. Smoking your Mi is disgusting. My soul does not see your fasts at the time of the new moon and festive gatherings. They are a burden to me, and I will not suffer your iniquities any more. When you raise your hands to Me - I will turn away My eyes from you. And no matter how much you pray, I will not listen to you". That's what the Lord God Himself complains about all the sacrifices that are offered to Him, - that is, for candles, - when they are offered by those who do not care about the most important thing - about pleasing Him with their lives! And if a prophet of God were to appear among us today, he would say to many in the Name of the Lord God: your candles are anathema to Me; my soul does not see your fasts and holidays. And who asked you to do that? Cleanse yourself first of your dishonesty; cast away the craftiness of your souls before My eyes, cease your craftiness, learn to do good, be righteous and honorable, and then come here with your candles. Otherwise, when you raise your hands to Me, - I will turn My eyes away from you; and even if you multiply your prayers - I will not hear you.

A pure heart is the best sacrifice to God. If you place a candle in front of the icon with a pure heart, and light the lamp, then they will be pleasing to Him and His Saints. And let your candle be the smallest of all the candles in the church, it will be more pleasing to the Lord than those fat candles, which were mentioned above. But, we repeat, candles and lamps, by themselves, without our faith and earnestness mean nothing; never forget that. Then do not place any hope in them: they will not save you unless you yourself take care and see to it; they will not propitiate God, unless you love Him with all your soul. Do not forget also that the Lord God will reject all your prayers and all your sacrifices, if you have evil in your heart against someone or are enmity with your neighbors. Here is what our Savior said: if you bring your gift to the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar and go and first reconcile with your brother, and then offer your gift (3). That's how it should be done. You come to the church to testify to the Lord God your love, your awe; but is it possible to truly love the Lord God, without loving your neighbors? Not. If someone says that he loves God, but hates his brother, it is a lie; for if you do not love your brother whom you see, how can you love God whom you do not see? And we have this commandment from Him, that while loving God, we should also love our brother.

According to the words of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt: "It is good to place candles in front of icons. But it is better if you offer the fire of love for Him and for your neighbor as a sacrifice to God. It is good if both are done together. And if you light candles, but in your heart you do not have love for God and your neighbor, and you do not live peacefully - then your sacrifice to God is in vain". And finally: you should buy candles only in the church where you came to pray. You should not bring candles with you, which were bought even in a pious place, but outside the church, and place them in front of the icons.

The candle, which was bought in the Church, is for the believer - an object of respect, and is intended to serve as a sacrifice to God, with the fragrance of spiritual bliss. A candle that was bought outside the church and then brought to the church is not a sacrifice.

Remarks:

1. Every newly baptized person receives the name of a saint, with whose prayers and patronage he entrusts himself for the rest of his life. In this way, the saint, as a prayer leader, patron and representative before God, represents another Guardian Angel for man (everyone receives a so-called Guardian Angel from God at birth), which is why he is called an Angel. This is where Angel Day comes from - the day of celebration of our saint.
2. Ch. 1 Cor. II, 1.
3. Mt. V, 23, 24.

taken from http://www.pravmir.ru/article_523.html
translation from Russian by Dr. Radmila Maksimović