May 7, 2025
Tradition in the Episcopal Church
by parishioner Dick Fichter with assistance from Rev. Dina
We have recently considered Lenten Reflections, celebrated Easter Sunday, and considered the various closings in the gospel of Mark. We are now in Eastertide with the Pascal Candle lit during Eastertide services. There is no mention of the candle in the Bible. However, it is defined in the Episcopal glossary and The Great Vigil of Easter, which includes The Lighting of the Pascal Candle on pages 287-289 of the BCP (Book of Common Prayer). It is the first service of Easter Day, which is held between sundown on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday.
The Pascal Candle is a large candle that symbolizes the risen Christ. It is often decorated with a cross, which symbolizes the resurrection, and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. It is customary for the Paschal candle to burn at all services from Easter through Pentecost.
After the Easter season, the Paschal candle is typically placed near the font. It is lit at baptisms, representing the new life in Christ that we share in baptism. The newly baptized person may be given a small baptismal candle that is lit from the Paschal candle, as we witnessed at this Easter’s Service. The Pascal Candle is a tradition in the Episcopal Church.
Church Tradition
In Christian theology, tradition originally referred simply to that which had been handed down to the church from the prophets and the apostles concerning belief in God and God’s redemptive work in Christ. Before the development of an authorized canon of Hebrew and Christian scriptures, the oral teaching of the Apostles and their successors formed the Christian tradition. Gradually, however, the term took on different meanings to include, for example, the authorized teaching of church councils and commonly accepted credal formulations. By the time of the Middle Ages, it had taken on the sense of an authentic body of teaching in addition to scripture. Such an understanding of tradition was rejected by the Reformers, who appealed only to the authority of scripture itself.
Article XXXIV of the Articles of Religion in the Book of Common Prayer took a mediating position, admitting the authority of traditions so long as they were not “repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority.” Anglicanism reflects balance in its devotion to scripture, tradition, and reason as sources of authority. See Authority, Sources of (in Anglicanism).
Epiphany’s Balance
From my perspective, this balance in devotion to scripture, tradition, and reason as sources of authority is Epiphany Episcopal’s hallmark. Liturgical worship, which clearly includes tradition, was clearly evident this Easter Sunday, as was the choir and Easter music. Liturgy is the church’s public worship of God. The term is derived from the Greek words for “people” and “work.” The church’s public worship of God is the work of the Christian people. The life of Christ active in the church by the Spirit is expressed through liturgy.
Our love of our traditional liturgy was made clear to Suzanne and me when our neighbors asked us to attend a church service with them and their children at a non-liturgical church. After the service, Suzanne and I both felt that we had gone to a Bible meeting, but not to a church service, since we really missed our traditional liturgy.
The work of the people at Epiphany in developing its traditions and supporting its liturgy is clearly manifested in their love as expressed by Jesus in his greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Many of the people who support Epiphany’s liturgy are not visible or thought about by the congregation unless there is a problem. Why is it so hot or cold in the nave, or why is the banner crooked or a candle not lit? What, no music! The workers know who they are, and we thank them for all of their work through God’s love in serving his will at Epiphany.
NEXT TIME, we will discuss some of Epiphany’s specific traditions!
