The Flaming Chalice

The chalice is embraced by Unitarian Universalists as a symbol of our faith.

The flaming chalice is the most widely recognized symbol of Unitarian Universalism. Seen in our sanctuaries, classrooms, offices, and homes, it is often lit at the beginning of worship, gatherings, meetings,and times of meditation, reflection, and prayer. It represents freedom, compassion, as well as our shared commitment to faith and justice, and the sacred worth of every person through our sustaining power of community.

Its origins are rooted in a very real moment of moral courage.

The chalice dates back to World War II. It was created in the early 1940s by Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist and refugee who had fled Nazi-occupied Europe, for the Unitarian Service Committee (now the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) to assist refugees escaping fascism and persecution. During the war, the chalice was used as a symbol on official documents and safe houses that helped people escape Nazi persecution. In that context, the flame became a sign of hope, resistance, and sanctuary; a quiet but powerful declaration that love and conscience would not be extinguished.

The design itself carries layered meaning.

The chalice, an ancient vessel, has long symbolized community, covenant, mutual care and the sacred nature of gathered life. The flame evokes the spark of conscience, the light of reason, and the fire of commitment that calls people to act when justice is threatened. Together, the flaming chalice became a sign of sanctuary and remind us that faith is not static; it is lived, tended, and carried into the world.

Today, the flaming chalice continues to evolve.

It is carried at protests, displayed in moments of celebration and grief, and adapted by communities to reflect cultural diversity and expanding understandings of justice. It reminds us that our faith is not only something we believe, but something we live. When we light the chalice, we honor those who came before us, affirm our commitment to love and liberation, and recommit ourselves to being a beacon of hope in a complex and changing world.

Lighting the chalice is both a ritual and a promise.

Lighting the chalice at the beginning of worship is a ritual act, marking the transition from the busyness of daily life into a shared space of reflection, connection, and purpose. While the words spoken during chalice lighting vary from congregation to congregation, the meaning remains consistent: we gather in the light of shared values and shared responsibility. It marks the space as sacred, centers us in our values, and invites us to show up fully bringing our whole selves into community.

When we extinguish the flame …

we carry its light with us, committing to live out Unitarian Universalist values through acts of love, courage, and service.