Candles in an Acrostic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Candlemas

This feast day has many names, including Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Luke 2:22-40 describes the presentation of the child in the temple, after the prescribed time has passed before the mother can be purified after having given birth.

The name Candlemas came about as it is on this day that all the candles to be used by the church for the coming year are blessed.

Answer: Hanukkah

This festival (also Chanukah or Hanukah) runs for eight days, with an additional candle being lit each day, representing the miracle of the oil required for rededicating the temple, that was only enough to last for one day, somehow lasting for the required eight days. Hanukkah usually falls in the month of December. Reference is made in John 10:22-3 (KJV) to Jesus attending the Feast of Dedication, which is another name for Hannukah.

Answer: Resurrection

The Paschal candle represents the resurrected Christ, as described in John 1:4-5 (KJV), "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." This candle is lit at Easter, and remains lit throughout the Easter season, or in some cases until Ascension Day, some forty days later.

The word "Paschal" has come to us from the Hebrew Pesach (passover) through Latin (Pascha), and is also seen in the French and Spanish terms for Easter (Pâques and Pascua).

Answer: Icon corner

There are many descriptions online of how to set up an icon corner, where it should be located (an east-facing wall), what icons to include as well as items such as candles or lamps, a Bible and how everything should be arranged.

Besides icons depicting the Holy Trinity and various aspects of Christ's life an icon corner may include more personal icons representing baptism, marriage and so on, or remembrances of deceased loved ones.

Answer: Solomon

The King James Version's somewhat ambiguous use of the pronoun "he" is made more clear in the International Standard Version's "Solomon made ten gold lamp stands..." The golden candlesticks had been made to a prescribed pattern and placed in the temple with five on either side of the sanctuary.
Reference is made to their construction and placement in other parts of the Bible, notably Exodus 25 and 1 Chronicles 28.

Answer: Tarsus

Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, was on his way to Damascus when he was struck blind by a dazzling light sent from the heavens. He had been speaking against Jesus and his disciples, and this served to lead him to see the error of the path he had set himself upon. He went on to preach in the synagogues that Jesus was Christ, having been converted to that belief.

Answer: Michael

Archangels are angels of very high rank, and while the Roman Catholic church only names three (Gabriel, Michael and Raphael), some other denominations recognize others by name, including Uriel, while still others only recognize Gabriel and Michael.

Michael is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and is depicted as being the leader of the Army of God against Satan.

Answer: Advent

Advent is the period of the year immediately preceding the celebration of the birth of the child Jesus in Bethlehem. The masses, readings and other means of celebration vary from one religious tradition to another, but each of the four Sundays preceding the birth celebration has its own distinct rituals.

The wreath described is an Advent wreath, and the four coloured candles each symbolize some aspect of the season, though this also varies between religious traditions. One such says they represent forgiveness, faith, joy (usually the pink candle) and a reign of justice and peace.

Answer: Simeon

During a visitation from the Holy Spirit, Simeon had been told that he would not die until he had met the Christ child, born of a virgin. By some traditions, he was over 200 years old when he held the child and said a prayer in the temple. This meeting is part of the presentation ceremony commemorated by the feast known as Candlemas, as described earlier.

Answer: Christmas

The Christmas story of "no room at the inn" leading to the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable, where he was laid in a manger by his mother, the Virgin Mary, is one that will be familiar to many, if not most of us. The story, with slight variations, can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament.

The decorating of Christmas trees with candles became a tradition many, many years later.