Early Christian Lamps
In Early Christianity lamps, fire and light are conceived as symbols, if not as visible manifestations, of the divine nature and the divine presence. 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. There is no evidence of any ceremonial use of lights in Christian worship during its first two centuries. It is recorded, that on the occasion of St. Paul's preaching at Alexandria in Troas there were many lights in the upper chamber; but this was at night. And the most that can be hazarded is that a specially large number were lighted as a festive illumination, as in modern Church festivals. As to a purely ceremonial use, such early evidence as exists is all the other way. Tertullian writes of the Christian practice during the 2nd century: "on days of rejoicing, he says, we do not shade our door-posts with laurels nor encroach upon the day-light with lamp laurels" ('). Lactantius, writin ...
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