Pope Shenouda III
The lights of the church also symbolise the saints, to whom the Lord says: “Let your light so shine before men” (Matt.5: 16). On this occasion the Lord likens the saints to lighted lamps put on lampstands (Matt.5: 15). Also, the Holy Bible says: “the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt.13: 43). And the Lord Jesus Christ said to the Jews about John the Baptist as an example of those righteous: “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light” (John.5: 35). Since the church is full of angels and saints then it ought to be full of lights.