Incense

St. John of Kronstadt: The Church, through the temple and Divine service, acts upon the entire man . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. John of Kronstadt / By
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“The Church, through the temple and Divine service, acts upon the entire man, educates him wholly; acts upon his sight, hearing, smelling, feeling, taste, imagination, mind, and will, by the splendour of the icons and of the whole temple, by the ringing of bells, by the singing of the choir, by the fragrance of the incense, the kissing of the Gospel, of the cross and the holy icons, by the prosphoras, the singing, and sweet sound of the readings of the Scriptures.”

+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback]  or  [hardback]

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St. Macarius of Optina: Concerning prayer in church, know that it is higher than . . .

Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Macarius of Optina / By
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“Concerning prayer in church, know that it is higher than prayers at home, for it is raised by a whole group of people, among which many are most pure prayers, offering to God from humble hearts, which He accepts as fragrant incense. Along with these our prayers are also accepted, even though they are feeble and worthless.”

+ St. Macarius of Optina, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

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St. Basil the Great: . . . a psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense.

Needs Source, Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers, St. Basil the Great / By
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“A psalm implies serenity of soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God?

So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond, as it were, toward unity, and joining the people into a harmonious union of one choir, produces also the greatest of blessings, charity. A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women.

It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market place of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church. It brightens the feast days; it creates a sorrow which is in accordance with God.

For, a psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense.”

— St. Basil the Great

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St. John of Kronstadt: When you look at the candles . . .

St. John of Kronstadt, Sayings from Saints, Elders, and Fathers / By

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“‘When you look at the candles and lamps burning in church, rise in thought from the material fire to the immaterial fire of the Holy Ghost,’ for our God is a consuming fire.” When you see and smell the fragrant incense, rise in thought to the spiritual fragrance of the Holy Ghost, ‘for we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ.’”

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

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