What is a Paschal Candle?

The Easter Candle is first lit each year at the Easter Vigil, the first of our Easter services celebrating the resurrection on Jesus. The light shines out in the dark cathedral as we remember how, in Jesus, God brings light out of darkness and life out of death.

The Bishop marks the candles with a cross (can you see behind the tree is a cross shape? The cross is sometimes called the Tree of Life), the numbers of the year (can you see the numbers 2023?) and the letters Alpha and Omega (can you see an A and an Ω shape? These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet used at the time of Jesus, like A and Z for us).

The Easter Candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ shining out in our lives, and will be lit for all the services here during the Easter season. It is also lit during the rest of the year when someone is baptised or confirmed, or when there is a funeral here, as we remember Christ’s promise of eternal light and everlasting life for those who follow him.