The Burning Vigil Lamp Cries 'Have Mercy' to God for the One Who Lit It

Elder Ephraim of the Skete of St Andrew teaches that a lit vigil lamp is itself a prayer. For as long as the lamp burns, it cries 'Eleison, Eleison, Eleison', that is, 'Have mercy', to God for the person who lit it. The elder says the devil knows this, and so he plants logismoi, tempting thoughts, in people's minds, suggesting that keeping a lit lamp poses a danger of fire.

The elder also speaks about the oil. He says we should always put the best oil in the vigil lamp. Then he adds a humble qualification of his own: he would say, humbly, that a person may put in whatever oil he can afford. What matters is that he offers the best oil of his heart together with whatever oil he can manage at the time, so that he keeps at least one vigil lamp burning.

Such a lamp, he writes, is 'presves eleous', an intercessor of mercy, toward Heaven. The saying ends with the signature of the elder himself, Gerontas Ephraim of the Skete of St Andrew. The whole text rests on two points: the burning lamp prays for the one who lights it, and the enemy attacks this practice with thoughts of danger in order to stop it.

The elder's answer to the temptation is to keep the lamp lit, with the best oil one has, and above all with the oil of the heart.