Dikirion and trikirion

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Dikirion (in Greek δικήριον) and trikirion (in Greek, τρικήριον ) are liturgical candlesticks, used by a bishop of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches to bless the congregation.

The candlesticks are often quite ornate [1]. The bishop holds the trikirion in his right hand and the dikirion in his left and makes the sign of the cross with both [2].

Both dikirion and trikirion have a flat base, so that they may stand upright. Above this base is a vertical shaft terminating in candleholders. The dikirion holds two candles, representing the dual nature of Jesus, and the trikirion holds three, representing the three persons of the Holy Trinity. The candleholders are mounted at an angle so that the candles cross each other. In some Russian traditions, the candles are shaped when inserted into their holders so that they are merged where they intersect and burn with a single flame. A particularly fancy variation on this has the candles merge in a double and triple spiral. In other traditions, the candles are tied together with ribbons at the point of intersection.

During a hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the dikirion and trikirion are kept respectively on the northeast and southeast corners of the Altar or on stands placed next to these corners. When they are needed by the bishop, they are carried to him by subdeacons, who may also carry them during the Great Entrance. One of them may be carried by the deacon during the censing by the bishop [3] or by one of the subdeacons during the censing by the deacon.

There exists a special form of the trikirion used at Easter - the Paschal trikirion (Slavonic: Троица/Troitsa). This paschal form of the trikirion is carried by priests as well as bishops, and sometimes will have colred candles in it (red, green and gold).