Dikirion ( el, δικήριον or δίκηρον) and trikirion (τρικήριον or τρίκηρον) are liturgical candlesticks, used by a bishop of the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic Churches to bless the clergy and faithful. The words mean "dual candle" and "triple candle", respectively, and may collectively be called by the Greek plural form, "δικηροτρίκηρα", ''dikērotríkēra''. The candlesticks are often quite ornate. The bishop holds the trikirion in his right hand and the dikirion in his left, and makes the

Sign of the Cross Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...

with both. Both the dikirion and the trikirion have flat bases, so that they may stand upright. Above this base is a vertical shaft terminating in candleholders. The dikirion holds two candles, representing the dual nature of Jesus, and the trikirion holds three, representing the three persons of the

Holy Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

. The candleholders are mounted at an angle so that candles placed in them cross each other. Sometimes in the Russian tradition, the candles are inserted into their holders, then softened then shaped in such a way that the separate candles meet and bend upwards to burn with a single flame. A particularly fancy variation on this has the candles merge in a double and triple spiral. In other traditions, the candles are tied together with large ribbons at the point of intersection. During a hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the dikirion and trikirion are kept respectively on the top left and right corners of the Holy Table (altar), or on stands placed next to these corners. When these are needed by the bishop, the candlesticks are brought to him by

subdeacon Subdeacon (or sub-deacon) is a minor order or ministry for men in various branches of Christianity. The subdeacon has a specific liturgical role and is placed between the acolyte (or reader) and the deacon in the order of precedence. Subdeacons in ...

s, who may also carry them during the Entrances. One of them may be carried by the deacon during the censing by the bishop or by one of the subdeacons during the censing by the deacon.

Paschal trikirion

There exists a special form of the trikirion used only at Pascha (Easter) - the Paschal trikirion ( Slavonic: Троица, ''Troitsa''). This Paschal form of the trikirion is carried by priests as well as bishops, and sometimes will have coloured candles in it (for instance, red, green and gold).

Theophany

Blessing of the holy water at Uspenski cathedral, 6 January 2009

Among the Ukrainian Eastern Christians ( Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox and

Ukrainian Catholic Ukrainian Catholic Church may refer to: * Latin Church in Ukraine * Greek Catholic Churches (Eastern Catholic communities of the Byzantine Rite, centered in Ukraine, in communion with the Church of Rome) ** Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church **Ukrai ...

), it is common for the priest or bishop to use a large three-branch candle for the Great Blessing of Waters on the Great Feast of Theophany (Epiphany). {{commons category, Dikirion and trikirion

External links

Photo of Bishop blessing with Dikirion and Trikirion
Christian religious objects Greek words and phrases Candles Eastern Christian liturgical objects da:Helligtrekongerslys