During the Easter Vigil and Easter season, there is an interesting feature one can see in the Duomo of Milan. Namely, suspended over the choir and in front of the historical high altar of the cathedral is a monumental candlestick. This candlestick contains the Paschal Candle. Most typically we see the paschal candlestick as a sort of monumental standing candlestick, akin to a 'standard' or candelabra magna. In the Metropolitan church of the Ambrosian rite however, this is where the Paschal Candle finds its home during Easter and Paschaltide more generally.
According to the Duomo of Milan, the candlestick dates to the early fifteenth century and is "composed of a wooden core covered with a bronze, brass and gilded copper structure in the form of a hexagonal pyramid. Each order hosts six niches decorated with late Gothic elements that house 23 small statues depicting apostles, prophets and characters of the Old Testament. The top-ending register is decorated with plant elements and carries the dish candle holders."
To give our readers a better sense of its monumental scale, here we can see it lowered, suspended before the historical high altar. (For the curious, the hanging textile seen behind the high altar is the padiglione.)
A beautiful and unique feature of the mother church of the Ambrosian rite.
-------
Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by:
You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.
