Question first appeared on
December 3, 2000
During Vespers (at the time of Advent/Christmas Lent)
I noticed that you, Father Scott, used the censer with bells. During Great Lent
I observed that you use the censer without bells. Am I right? Why the
difference?
Ordinarily,
I follow the Orthodox tradition of using a censer without bells during the major
fasting periods of the Church, Great Lent and Advent. What you witnessed at
Saturday vespers for the first Sunday of Advent a few weeks back was my
error-I used the wrong censer. I caught myself before matins on Sunday
morning and switched to a censer without bells.
Bells
are joyous and signify a spirit of celebration. Since lenten periods reflect a
spirit conducive to meditation and spiritual introspection, they are best served
quietly. In some Orthodox traditions the priest or bishop uses a
hand-censer rather than the "swinging" chaincenser.
For
the festive and non-Lenten periods of the year I use a censer with bells
to emphasize the joy in Orthodox worship.
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