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As part of the
legacy handed
down from its
Jewish roots
incense is used
during all
services in the
Eastern Orthodox
Church. It is
burned as an
offering of
worship to God
even as it was
done in the
Jewish temple.
Traditionally,
the base of the
incense used is
the resin of "Boswellia
thurifera", also
known as
frankincense,
but the resin of
fir trees has
been used as
well. It is
usually mixed
with various
floral essential
oils giving it a
sweet smell.
Incense
represents the
sweetness of the
prayers of the
saints rising up
to God (Psalm
141:2,
Revelation 5:8,
Revelation 8:4).
The incense is
burned in an
ornate golden
censer that
hangs at the end
of Three chains
representing the
Trinity. In the
Greek tradition
there are 12
bells hung along
these chains
representing the
12 apostles; the
Slavic churches
usually do not
have bells. The
censer is used
(swung back and
forth) by the
priest/deacon to
venerate all
four sides of
the altar, the
holy gifts, the
clergy, the
icons, the
congregation,
and the church
structure
itself.
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