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Censers used in the church, known as a [[Wikipedia:thurible|thurible]] in the [[Western Rite]], are used during offices or services, such as [[Vespers]], [[Orthros]], and the [[Divine Liturgy]]. ''Censing'' is the practice of swinging a censer suspended from chains towards something or someone, typically an icon or person, so that smoke from the burning incense travels in that direction. If a [[deacon]] is present, he typically does much of the censing, otherwise the job falls to the [[priest]]. Unordained servers or acolytes are permitted to prepare and carry the censer, but may not swing it during prayers.
To the Orthodox, burning incense generally represents the prayers of the people faithful rising towards [[Heaven]]as a sweet smelling spiritual fragrance. One commonly sung [[psalm]] during the censing is "Let my prayer rise like incense before You, the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice." Some Orthodox Christians use a standing censer on their home altars. The [[censer]] used in the liturgical services of the [[Church]] contains a dish/recepticle which represents the Church. Some commentators suggest that this represents the Holy [[Theotokos]] because like she contained within her womb the Divine Fire, so too, the [[censer]] contains the burning coal of faith. This dish is supported by four chains each of which carries three bells. The twelve bells represent the voices of the disciples proclaiming the [[Gospel]] based on the teachings of the four [[Evangelists]] here represented by the chains.
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