Diocesan News
Cork’s Bishops dedicate globe candle stand at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
On Saturday 7th November, the weekend when All Souls and Remembrance are observed at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, Cork’s two Bishops, Dr Paul Colton and Dr Fintan Gavin, conducted a short liturgy of dedication of a new votive candle stand for use in the Cathedral’s memorial prayer space.
Originally commissioned from a manufacturer in Sweden to feature at the heart of a memorial space for the remainder of the current Decade of Centenaries, it was decided to use it at the current time to invite people to remember those who have died of Covid–19.
Bishop Colton explained: ‘In my journeys in the Nordic and Baltic countries I have often admired the votive candle stands in churches of the Evangelical Lutheran churches there with which the Church of Ireland is in full communion, as a result of the Porvoo Agreement. I have long thought that it would be symbolic to have such a globe–shaped candle stand here and, thanks to my good friend, Dr Johan Dalman, Bishop of Strängnäs, we were put in touch with a manufacturer in Sweden. Lighting candles on a globe is highly symbolic, not least, of our prayers in the context of this global Coronavirus Pandemic, as well as of our Christian hope in Christ, the light of the world.’
The Cathedral was open to visitors for private prayer and remembrance throughout the day.
First, however, the new candle stand was dedicated in a short Service that was broadcast online on the St Fin Barre’s Cathedral webcam.
The short dedication ceremony, introduced by the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, may be viewed here:
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