The flaming chalice combines two archetypes-a drinking vessel and a flame - and as a religious symbol has different meanings to different beholders.

Meaning

To many, the chalice represents the spirit of compassion. Sharing, generosity, sustenance, and love are some of the meanings symbolized by a chalice.

The flame represents to many the light of reason, a metaphor for truth and reason. A flame can also symbolize witness, sacrifice, testing, courage, and illumination.

Or perhaps you could interpret the chalice as the ground of being, and the flame as the universal search for meaning, compassion, and purpose.

There is no one, official, interpretation of the flaming chalice symbol. Like our faith, it is a constant well-spring for new meanings and enlightenment, the discovery of new truths, in the spirit of reason, justice, and compassion.

History

The chalice symbol is often shown surrounded by two linked rings. Two linked rings was used as an early symbol for the Unitarian Universalist Association, showing the joining of the previous denominations of Unitarianism and Universalism.

The symbol has its origins in a logo designed by Austrian refugee Hans Deutsch for the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) (now the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) during World War II. The USC was formed to assist Eastern Europeans, primarily Jews, who needed to escape Nazi persecution. The flaming chalice design was made into a seal for papers and a badge for agents moving refugees to freedom. Thus, the symbol of a flaming chalice stood in the beginning for a life of service. Today, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee remains as an important global human rights organization.

Our Fellowship has created a banner, which shows yet another unique representation of the chalice.

Chalice Lightings

At the opening of most Unitarian Universalist worship services, we light a flame inside a chalice, accompanied by a reading. The texts used during these "chalice lightings" will be different every Sunday. This simple ceremony inspires and binds us together as a congregation.

Here is one example:

We gather this hour as people of faith
with joys and sorrow,
gifts and needs.
We light this beacon of hope,
sign of our quest for truth and meaning,
in celebration of the life we share together.

Here is another example:

We light this chalice
to remind ourselves
to treat all people kindly
because they are our brothers and sisters
to take good care of the earth,
because it is our home
and to try to live lives,
filled with goodness and love
because that is how we will become,
the best men and women we can be.

And another example:

We light this chalice
to celebrate Unitarian Universalism.
We are the church
of the open mind,
the loving hearts,
and the helping hands.
We care for the earth,
and work for peace and justice
in our time.

A delightful, and global source of new monthly readings for Chalice Lightings are available as a free e-mail subscription from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.

Usage

Outside of weekly worship services, many smaller gatherings of Unitarian Universalists also incorporate a lit chalice, often accompanied by readings, as a symbol or reminder of the religious nature of the gathering.

The flaming chalice may be used as a logo, or in artwork like the pennant above, as well as in tangible 3-dimensional form. Individual Unitarian Universalists might display a flaming chalice on clothing, jewelry, their cars, or in their homes as a symbol of their faith, much as Christians might display a cross or Jews a Star of David.

The flaming chalice symbol has evolved as our common, unifying, visual metaphor. Its beauty is in its simplicity — yet so filled with deeper meanings and messages.

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For more information:

The Flaming Chalice by Don Hotchkiss (UUA Pamphlet)

The Flaming Chalice - Wikipedia entry

Acknowledgements: This page was adapted from the two foregoing sources, plus a chalice page from the UU Society of Black Hawk County, Iowa and another from the UU Fellowship of Tyler (TX), and from a sermon of the same title by Rev. Chuck Freeman at the Live Oak UU Fellowship in Austin, Texas.