18. LAMPS AND LIGHTING FIXTURES
Instructions will now be provided regarding the lamps and the suspended lighting fixtures on which the lamps are hung, located in the presence of the Most Holy Sacrament, the relics or the sacred images.
Above all, depending on the characteristics and importance of the church, the lamps will be of silver or brass, as is the custom in the church; although we know that in the major basilicas there were also some in gold, and they will have a small glass container inside for the light. In really cold mountain zones, where the glass containers often break in winter on account of the cold, small bronze [brass] containers may be used inside the lamps.
The form of the lamps
Since the form of the lamps varied in time, they are all acceptable provided they correspond to the customs of the church. The oblong forms, once most common, are however to be preferred. These lamps are wide at the top and in the bottom part, they get narrower in the middle almost as if they were tied, and are hung by three chains of the same metal, which are attached to the upper rim.
The form of the lighting fixtures
The lighting fixture, which supports a certain number of hanging lamps, round and fairly high, in the shape of a tower, can have dolphin supports for the lamps. This kind of lighting fixture is known to be ancient and is called “phara canthara”.
This type of lighting fixture should be used in the more important churches, especially if it is in brass and well made.
A second type of lighting fixture can consist of a small solid beam, all gilded and decorated with cornices. It may also have wooden dolphins on the upper part as was once the custom.
It will be as long as required for the number of lamps used for light.
A third type of lighting fixture, triangular in shape, can also be used when three hanging lamps are employed.
In the smaller churches three or five lamps will be hung on an elongated type of lighting fixture. In the larger churches there will be seven or thirteen. Arranged in an orderly row, they will be about half a cubit apart.
The number of lamps
Many lamps can be hung on the round lighting fixture, in the shape of a tower or column, depending on its structure. However care must be taken that there is an uneven number of lamps on every lighting fixture.
The location of the lighting fixture
Each lighting fixture, even if it has only one lamp, will be hung not at the side, but directly opposite, at a prescribed distance from, the altar, or the sacred relics, or the sacred image, after the addition of a guide rope on which to suspend it.
It will be hung far enough away from the altar steps so that if drops of oil should fall, they will not stain the priest or the cleric, when at the beginning of Mass both are on the lowest altar step. It will be raised up no less than seven cubits from the floor of the church, or more, depending on the characteristics of the building.
If only one of the lamps is to be lighted, it will be the one in the center.
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