Oil Lamp Christian Symbol

Olive oil was the most common fuel and although lamps could hold enough oil to last through the night housewives had to get up during the night and trim the wick.

Oil lamp christian symbol. In the bible olive oil is placed besides water wine and bread as a major christianity symbol. The lamps of christians were decorated with christian symbols. Oil lamps are a form of lighting and were used as an alternative to candles before the use of electric lights. With its significance priests may receive olive oil during an anointment.

The early christians called the evening vesper luxnikon or the lamp service. An oil lamp is an object used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil based fuel source. In early christianity lamps fire and light are conceived as symbols if not as visible manifestations of the divine nature and the divine presence. The use of oil lamps among the jews and gentiles persisted but took on new meaning with the coming of the christians when oil lamps were converted for use in churches and for private shrines in christian homes.

In the christian world view christ is the true light and christians are viewed as children of light at perpetual war with the powers of darkness. Lamp with griffin head handle 300s 400s. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day although their use is less common in modern times. Bronze oil lamps with griffin head handles and christian symbolic decoration were common from the 4th through the 6th centuries and have survived in considerable numbers all over the mediterranean world.

There is no evidence of any ceremonial use of lights in christian worship during its first two. Virgins are often symbols of churches or individual christians most likely the latter in this case.