Censer (Dhoopakutti)

The Censer (Phirmo in Syriac; Thumiaterion in Greek; Machtah/MiqTereth in Hebrew; Thurible in West; Encensier /Thuribulum – Latin) is a highly symbolic object used for burning incense. Traditionally, the censer symbolizes the Universe, the Holy Trinity, the Twelve Apostles, the Four Evangelists, Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and prayers of the faithful. The bowl or receptacle of the censer symbolizes the earth, and the lid symbolizes heaven, thus the connecting the earth below to the heaven above. The censer also symbolises the body of Christ, the burning incense inside it is the Holy Spirit and the fragrance represents the Gospel and works of Jesus Christ.

The four chains represent the Holy Trinity. The first chain stands for God, the Father, the second and the third for the God the Son, (the divine and human form) and the fourth chain represents the Holy Spirit. The chains conjoining on the circular disc at the top with the hook represents the unity in Holy Trinity, the Alpha and Omega, and Censing signifies that we offer our prayers to the One Holy Triune God. The Chains also symbolises the Four Corners of the Earth thus the Omnipresence of Triune God in the world. Each link in the chain represents a generation.

The twelve tinklets stands for the 12 apostles and the sound of the tinklets reminds us of the apostolic voice ringing in the Church proclaiming the Gospel of Christ based on the teachings of the four Gospel Writers, here represented by the four chains. Each chain is made of 72 links representing the 72 apostles, Jesus Christ sent out (Lk. 10: 1). The black coal stands for sinners and fire represents Holy Spirit. Just as the coal glows and shines with fire, similarly in the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, the sinner is transformed and the burning coal of faith.

There is another interpretation that the censer is the Blessed Virgin Mother, the Holy Theotokos and the fire is the blessed divine Child. The Cross on the receptacle lid, is connected from top of the lid above, symbolises Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos who connected the Heaven to the Church, conceived and bore within herself the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, she contained within her womb the Divine Fire. The censer likewise recalls John the Baptist going forth before Christ to prepare His way.

Censer was in use since the Old Testament times. The incense was presented on “the golden altar” in a vessel before the Lord in the temple ( Ex. 30: 1-9 ).  “And you shall make an altar for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood….”. The priest were to fill the censer with live coal from the sacred fire on the altar of burnt-offering, and carried it into the sanctuary, there threw upon the burning coals the sweet incense ( Lev, 16: 12 – 13 ). The cloud of smoke, went up, filling the apartment with fragrance. The Lord had commanded Aaron, through Moses “And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil” (Lev. 16: 12).

Incense is a mix of spices and gums that we burn during services to produce fragrant smoke. The incense is the life and the fragrance represented the good works proceeding from Christ, as well as the prayers of believers, rising as sweet fragrances to the presence of God. The celebrant offers incense and blesses the censer and blesses the whole Church. It also shows the grace of the Holy Trinity Just as the sweet-smelling incense-smoke rises up, so our prayers and praises rise towards heaven (Ps. 141: 2).

Incense and censer are the symbols of Christ, who “offered Himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5: 2) and ‘the prayers of the saints ascend before God as an incense’ (Rev. 5: 8). Therefore the offering of incense means that the prayers of the Church ascend towards God as a fragrant offering that pleases God. The incense is placed on hot burning charcoal in the bowl of the censer, and when the censer is swung rhythmically, to and fro, the smoke billows outwards and upwards the aromatic smoke from the burning incense, with its sweet fragrance of frankincense and myrrh, rises and fills the sanctuary and symbolically perfumes the whole Church.

The offering of the incense is sweet smelling sacrifice and acceptable to God (Ex. 31: 9; Num. 16: 6). It reminds us of the Lord’s sacrifice, which is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5: 2). It also represents the prayers of the community of saints, who are always present with us (Rev. 5: 8; 8: 4). When the censer is waved at us, we bow down our heads and make the sign of cross to show veneration. This is because, Christ dwells in us, all faithful believers proclaim that we are partakers of His divine body. When we bow and make the sign of cross, we are to remember all these events and pledge to sacrifice our lives, for Christ. When we smell incense or see the fragrant cloud of smoke rising, we might be reminded of the holiness of God, the sweetness of God, the presence of God.”