Object ID
2006.2.1.1
Object Name
Kandili
Material
Silver
Object Entities
Demetrios, St. (is related to)
Object Description
A silver-hanging kandili. There are three bulbous sections. The lowermost section has a small loop at the bottom. the part of the kandili itself is bolbous with a rounded line the encircles the middle of it. There is also some brown substance which seems to be sparrted at one side of it. from there is a stem that connects this to the middle and largest section of the kandili. THere is a lotus-like design that twists slightly up to the first half of the section. the leaves alternate plain and ornate spiraled leaf designs. Above this, the center of the section justs out to a ledge that goes all the way around and ocnnects the upper parts of the handles. The upper half of the section has ornate leaf-like designs that point to the upper part of the kandili. The third section, and the highest point of the kandili is shaped like a cup. There are diamond and triangle-shaped impressions around the outside. at the center of the triangle impressions are leaf or fern like designs. At the top of the cup is a punched out crown with alernating oval and circle shapes. Around the center of the kandili are three handles. They connect to the kandili at two points; the upper point at the center of the kandili and the lower point at the lower third of the kandili's middle section. On one side there is maroon paint. The handles are formed from strips of metal into designs reminiscent of stems and leaves with an ornate piece in the center that is round and has four stems and four leaves alternating aorund the piece, connecting it to the rest of the handle. Connected to the top of each handle is a chain which connects the hanging piece of the kandili. The chain links are thick and alternate between rounded rings and long pieces which have rounded cross shapes at each end. The top piece of the kandili which these connect to and which the rest of the kandili suspends from is rounded at the top and open at the bottom which flares outward at hte edges. It has two tiers upward and at the top is a loop with a hole drilled at the bottom.
Origin
Used at St. Demetrios Orthodox Church in Chicago, IL. for over 30 years.

Kandilis are lamps that hang in front of icons in Orthodox churches and the personal homes of Orthodox Christians. They are traditionally lit with oil and are lit once a day. The flame represents Christ's sacrifice and the eternal mercy of God.

Kandilis typically tend to be silver but in some cases have a round glass bulb in a variety of colors.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Kandili, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/7518. Accessed 11/12/25.