By Lauren Thompson & Amber Beck. Edited by Kathryn S. McCloud.
A thurible is a metal censer in which incense is burned during religious services. The thurible is suspended from chains and is gently swung by the priest or thurifer in order to spread the fragrant smoke of the incense. A thurifer is an acolyte that carries the thurible. In many religious ceremonies all five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste & smell) must be used during worship. In Orthodox worship these senses are engaged by: looking at religious imagery throughout the church and at the altar, listening to the liturgy and songs, ingesting the Eucharist bread and wine, and smelling the incense. Additionally, the smoke from the thurible is believed to be a physical representation of the prayers of the church as they rise toward heaven. In the Christian tradition, a thurible is commonly used for Divine Liturgy, vespers and matins, although it may be used on a variety of other special occasions.
The thurible at the Institute of Texan Cultures belonged to Father Nahas of the Antiochian Patriarchate from the ancient church of Antioch. Father Nahas used this thurible to burn frankincense, a natural, aromatic resin from Boswellia trees. Frankincense was one of the gifts that were presented to Jesus by the magi at the time of his birth, making it a commonly used type of incense in many Christian churches.
Father Nickolas Nahas was ordained in 1916, shortly before immigrating to the United States with his family. At that time the Russian Orthodox Church was the dominant division of the Orthodox Church in the country. The Russian Church was one of the first to reach the United States (through Alaska) and, as the most established, was responsible for the administration of allOrthodox churches in the country. However, following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Russian church was unable to continue its oversight of the American orthodox communities. Without this centralized leadership, Orthodox churches in the United States sought leadership from their countries of origin. This has allowed a number of different ethnic versions of Orthodox Christianity to flourish in the United States to this day. Father Nahas, coming from Lebanon, became part of the Antiochian Orthodox church in America. The Church of Antioch is one of the five ancient Patriarchates of the Christian Church. The Church was established in 42 A.D. by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas.
In 1935, Father Nahas made the decision to become a traveling priest. Father Nahas served as a priest in a number of churches, including: St. George Eastern Orthodox Church in Kearney, Nebraska; St. George Orthodox Church in Houston, Texas; St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas; and St. Michael Church in Beaumont, Texas. In his role as priest, Father Nahas performed some of the first marriages between Lebanese immigrants and non-Lebanese people in the United States. The Church of Antioch currently has over 250 parishes in North America, 21 of which are in Texas.
FAQs
A thurible is a metal censer in which incense is burned during religious services. The thurible is suspended from chains and is gently swung by the priest or thurifer in order to spread the fragrant smoke of the incense. A thurifer is an acolyte that carries the thurible.
Who swings the thurible? ›
The server or acolyte who carries and swings the thurible in which incense is burned during the eucharist and other liturgies. The thurifer, the celebrant, the deacon, or other ministers may use the thurible in the ceremonial censing of people or objects such as the gospel book or altar.
What is the name of the incense burner in Orthodox church? ›
thurible, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals.
What is the large incense burner in the Catholic Church? ›
The famous botafumeiro of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is an enormous incense burner for liturgical use. Its swaying across the length of the naves of the church has become known throughout the world. The Galician word, used to name it since the 19th century, literally means smoke expeller.
Why do Catholics swing incense? ›
The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God.
Can Catholics hold Joss stick? ›
Some priests have officially responded to this question in public forums, discussions or even through CatholicNews articles. Some say that it is okay to hold joss sticks as a mark of respect for the dead. Others say that joss sticks are no different from the candles that Catholics light and hold in memory of the dead.
How many times do you swing the thurible? ›
“The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible, then going on to incense the cross and the altar.”
What is the purpose of a Catholic thurible? ›
The thurible is used in some of the key moments of the Eucharistic celebration: the beginning, before the reading of the Gospel, during the Offertory, and at the moment of consecration. During the funeral, the priest spreads the smoke of the thurible on the coffin containing the corpse to bless and purify it.
What is a thurible also called? ›
The thurible is also known as a censer. The term is derived from the Latin for “incense.” Fragrant smoke is produced when incense is spooned onto hot charcoals inside the thurible.
What is the difference between a thurible and a censer? ›
Censers are designed to burn a variety of different incense. The moving censer on chains (in some instances called thurible) used by Christians (in particular Catholics) have an inner chamber where hot coal is placed.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat ...
Why do Jews burn incense? ›
The Zohar (Ki Tisa) states that the purpose of burning the holy incense was to mitigate and render impending judgments less severe.
Can a Catholic burn incense at home? ›
You can also use Catholic incense to drive any negative energy like spirit out of your home. Burning incense at your home is an act of purifying your house from any negative energy.
What scent is Catholic incense? ›
There are different types of incense, but two stand out in the Catholic Church – frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense, a gum resin, fills the air with a sweet, citrusy, and slightly piney aroma. Myrrh, on the other hand, offers a more complex scent - rich, smoky, and slightly bitter.
What is incense in the Bible? ›
Figuratively, incense was symbolical of ascending prayer. The multitude were praying while Zacharias offered incense (Luke 1:10, thumiama), and in Revelation 5:8; 8:3, the incense in the heavenly temple is connected and even identified (5:8) with "the prayers of the saints."
What is the Catholic use of thurible? ›
The Use of the Thurible
Incense is one of the richest signs of prayer and worship in our liturgy. We read about frankincense as one of the gifts of the Magi at the nativity of Our Lord. We read of the prayers of the faithful rising as incense in the throneroom of heaven in Revelations.
How many swings of the thurible? ›
The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible before going on to incense the cross and the altar.
What is the Catholic ceremony incense? ›
In the Mass, incense can be used during the Entrance Procession, at the beginning of Mass where the priest incenses the cross and altar, at the proclamation of the Gospel, and incensing the offerings of bread and wine as well as the altar, the cross, the priest and the people at the beginning of the Liturgy of the ...
