Our Symbol: The Flaming Chalice
A flame within a chalice is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. At First Unitarian, we light a chalice each Sunday in our worship service and in other gatherings.
Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love.
To Unitarian Universalists today the flaming chalice is a symbol of hope, the sacred, the quest for truth, the warmth of community, the light of reason, and more.
When we light a chalice in our Sunday service at First Unitarian, it symbolizes the creation of a reverent space for reflection, prayer, meditation, and singing.