Incense is one of the most ancient and sacred offerings in Orthodox Christianity. It is a fragrant substance that, when burned, produces a sweet-smelling smoke that ascends toward Heaven.
In its physical form, incense is made from pure resins and aromatic substances such as cedar resin, frankincense, and natural essences.
Spiritually, it symbolizes prayer, grace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Incense is not a mere tradition or decoration; it is a divine commandment and an essential part of the life of the Church.
It is used in the Divine Liturgy, in our homes, and in every Orthodox Christian’s daily life as a visible sign of worship and communion with God.
The Necessary Materials of Incense
According to the command of God to Moses in the Old Testament, incense was to be made of four pure ingredients: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, each in equal measure.
As it is written:
“Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight. And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy.”
Exodus 30:34–35
From these divine instructions, the faithful learned that the ingredients must be pure and offered with reverence.
In modern times, Orthodox monasteries continue this sacred work. Monks and nuns mix cedar resin from Lebanon with aromatic oils and prayer, kneading the incense by hand, often while chanting the Jesus Prayer.
Each grain of incense is, in a sense, a small act of worship, a gift of love toward God. For this reason, Orthodox Christians are encouraged to buy incense from Orthodox monasteries, where it is made with faith and prayer, rather than from commercial stores.
As the saints teach, the incense we offer must be the best we can give, just as Abel offered his finest lambs to God.
The Beginning of the Tradition of Burning Incense
The burning of incense began in the earliest days of humanity. In the Book of Genesis, the story of Cain and Abel teaches us the meaning of sacrifice.
When God commanded Adam’s sons to offer sacrifices, each brought what he had. Abel offered the best of his flock with a pure heart, and his offering rose as smoke straight to Heaven.
Cain offered carelessly, giving what he found, and his smoke scattered, showing that his heart was divided.
This story is not simply about fire and smoke. It is about the heart of the one who offers. The upward movement of Abel’s smoke became the first symbol of prayer that rises purely toward God.
In the Orthodox Church, incense continues this same act of love. We offer it to God, just as Abel did, with humility and reverence, praying that our offering may be accepted. As the psalmist says:
“Let my prayer be directed as incense before You, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 140:2, LXX
Why We Burn Incense
We burn incense as an act of worship, as a visible sign of prayer, and as a symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit. The fragrance fills the church or the home, just as divine grace fills the heart of the believer.
When we burn incense, the visible smoke reminds us that our prayers rise toward Heaven.
The sweetness of its scent represents the virtues of the Holy Spirit, the presence of peace, purity, and divine love.
The coal represents Christ’s humanity, and the fire represents His divinity. As the fire and the coal unite, so in Christ are joined the divine and human natures. When incense is placed upon the glowing coal, it produces fragrance, symbolizing the operation of grace in a purified soul.
Saint John Chrysostom says:
“As incense gives forth fragrance only when touched by fire, so does the prayer of man ascend with power only when inflamed by the Holy Spirit.”
Thus, incense is not a superstition, but a living theology expressed in action.
What Happens When We Burn Incense
When incense is offered in faith, the home or the church is sanctified. The invisible presence of God descends upon the place, and evil spirits flee.
As we say the Jesus Prayer while incensing—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”—the sweet fragrance becomes a spiritual weapon.
Demons cannot endure the presence of holy prayer and blessed incense.
The Apostolic Fathers wrote that the burning of incense is not only symbolic but real: through it, the faithful participate in the purification and sanctification of creation. Just as the fire transforms matter into light and fragrance, the Holy Spirit transforms the soul that prays with faith.
The Symbolism of Incense in Orthodox Christianity
Incense carries many layers of meaning within Orthodox Christianity.
It symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It represents the grace and fragrance of the Holy Spirit. It shows the unity of the faithful who, like grains of incense, are brought together in the fire of divine love.
The censer itself is rich in symbolism. The base represents the earth, the bowl represents the womb of the Virgin Mary, the charcoal is Christ, the fire is His divinity, and the smoke is the Holy Spirit.
The Censer in the Church
In the Church, the censer used by the priest is different from the simple censers we use in our homes. The church censer is a sacred instrument with deep symbolism. It hangs from four chains, three of which represent the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—while the fourth holds them together, showing that the Three are One God.
The censer also bears twelve small bells, symbolizing the Twelve Apostles who carried the Gospel to all nations.
When the priest swings the censer during the Divine Liturgy and the bells ring gently, Saint Cosmas of Aetolia teaches that he is silently addressing each believer:
“Do you accept what the Apostles taught? Do you recognize this Lord? Do you believe in Him?”
At that sacred moment, we do not make the sign of the Cross; instead, we bow our heads humbly and answer in our hearts: “Yes, I believe.”
When Should We Burn Incense in Our Homes
In the life of the Orthodox Christian, incense is not limited to the Divine Liturgy. It sanctifies the home and family life.
We should burn incense every day, ideally twice a day—in the morning and in the evening:
- In the morning, we give thanks for the night that has passed and ask the Lord to bless our day.
- In the evening, we thank Him for the day’s blessings and pray for peace and protection through the night.
During incense offering, we begin at our icon corner, then incense each room of the house, including bedrooms, doors, and windows, making the sign of the Cross in each direction.
As we incense, we may say the prayer:
“Let my prayer be directed as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 140:2, LXX
And also:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Moreover, we may chant:
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.
What Should We Say When We Burn Incense
Incense should never be burned in silence or without prayer. As the fragrant smoke rises, our heart too must rise toward Heaven in prayer and thanksgiving.
When we light the charcoal, we begin by praying the Our Father, saying with reverence:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
After finishing the Lord’s Prayer, we may chant hymns to the Theotokos and call upon the mercy of Christ, saying:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
“Most Holy Theotokos, save us.”
“Let my prayer be directed as incense before You.”
Through these holy prayers, the offering of incense becomes an act of worship, not mere ritual.
Our homes are transformed into small temples filled with grace, and our families are united in the same living faith that sanctified the hearts of the early Christians.
Why the Priest Censes in Church
When the priest burns incense in the church, he does not do so as a mere ritual. He represents Christ Himself, offering the prayers of the faithful to the Heavenly Father.
As the censer moves, it sanctifies the altar, the holy icons, and the people. The priest prays quietly:
“Incense we offer unto Thee, O Christ our God, as a sweet fragrance of spiritual grace; receive it upon Thy heavenly altar and send down upon us the grace of Thy All-Holy Spirit.”
This prayer recalls Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles as tongues of fire. The incense represents that same fire of divine grace that descends again upon the Church.
Why We Do Not Make the Sign of the Cross When the Priest Censes Us
When the priest censes us, we do not make the sign of the Cross; we simply bow our heads slightly.
This is because, as Saint Cosmas of Aetolia taught, the priest is asking a question with his action: “Do you believe in the Lord whom the Apostles preached?”
Our bow is the silent answer: “Yes, I believe.”
This humble gesture is an expression of obedience and faith, a quiet acknowledgment that we receive the blessing of God with reverence.
What To Do With the Leftover Charcoal
After burning incense, we never throw the remaining coal or ashes in the trash. These are blessed materials that have been offered to God.
We collect them carefully and later dispose of them with reverence, either by burying them in clean soil where no one walks, or by releasing them into a river or the sea.
The same applies to burned vigil wicks, old palm leaves, and other blessed items. Everything that has been used in prayer must be returned to the earth with respect.
The Importance of Using Orthodox Incense
Orthodox Christians must take care not to buy incense at random. Many commercial products are poorly made, artificial, or even impure.
We should always prefer incense prepared in Orthodox monasteries, where it is made prayerfully, using pure materials, and blessed for liturgical use. Offering low-quality or careless incense to God is like Cain’s offering—it shows indifference.
God deserves our best. The monks who prepare incense do so as an act of prayer and sacrifice. The fragrance that fills our churches and homes is not only from natural resins but from the prayer that accompanies its making.
Here you will find premium handmade incense by Orthodox monks.
The Spiritual Foundation for the Blessing of Incense in the Home
The offering of incense in the home is not an isolated act. It is part of a living spiritual life that connects the believer to the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The fragrance of incense fills the home with holiness, but its power and blessing depend on the spiritual state of those who offer it. For the home to have full coverage and protection from the Holy Spirit, the entire life of the family must be rooted in the life of the Church.
Incense alone cannot sanctify a home if the heart is far from God. Just as fire needs air to burn, so incense needs faith and repentance to rise as a pleasing fragrance before the Lord.
The Fathers of the Church teach that the grace of the Holy Spirit dwells where there is humility, repentance, and communion with the life of Christ.
Therefore, the faithful who wish to have their homes truly blessed must live according to the spiritual path that the Orthodox Church teaches: to confess regularly, to fast, to attend the Divine Liturgy every Sunday, and to receive Holy Communion with a pure heart.
Confession cleanses the soul from sin, removing the barriers that darken the heart. Through confession, we stand before Christ as children before a loving Father, receiving His forgiveness and mercy.
Fasting disciplines the body and mind, freeing us from passions and helping us focus on prayer. It prepares the soul to receive grace, just as the censer must be clean to receive the incense.
Attending the Divine Liturgy every Sunday is not merely a custom but a commandment of love. In the Liturgy, Heaven and earth unite. The faithful join the angels and saints in worship, offering to God the sacrifice of praise.
As the priest offers incense before the Holy Altar, the prayers of the Church rise together to the throne of God.
Above all, the culmination of this spiritual life is the Holy Communion, the true union with Christ Himself. When we receive His Body and Blood with repentance and faith, the heart becomes a living temple.
The fragrance of holiness that incense represents becomes a reality within us, for the Holy Spirit dwells in the soul that has been purified and united with Christ.
As the Apostle Paul writes:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?”
1 Corinthians 6:19
Differences Between the Modern World and Orthodox Christianity About Incense
- The modern world sees incense as decoration or aroma therapy; Orthodox Christianity sees it as sacred prayer.
- The world uses incense for relaxation; the Church uses it for sanctification.
- The world burns incense for mood and comfort; the Church burns it for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- The world views smoke as scent; the Church views it as prayer rising to Heaven.
- The world buys incense for personal pleasure; the faithful offer it as a gift to God.
- The world looks for exotic smells; the Church looks for purity and holiness.
- The world burns incense without prayer; the Church burns incense only with prayer.
How to Explain Incense to Children
Parents can explain incense to their children simply and lovingly. They can say:
“When we light incense, we are talking to God. The sweet smell reminds us that our prayers rise to Heaven, just like the smoke. It’s our way of saying, ‘Lord, I love You.’ The censer reminds us of the Virgin Mary who carried Jesus inside her, and the little coal is like Jesus, who burns with love for all people.”
Children can learn to help by bringing the censer carefully, by praying with their parents, and by remembering that the whole house becomes a little church when we burn incense with faith.