Handmade Beeswax Candles

On our online shop, we offer high-quality candles and Easter candles, all handmade in the candle workshops of Mount Athos, specifically at the Cell of Saint Nicholas. All candles are made exclusively from pure beeswax and are available in various sizes. The smallest candles range from 20–22 cm in height, followed by the medium-size candles at 26–27 cm, and the larger candles at 36–37 cm. At the 36 cm size, we also offer short beeswax candles, likewise crafted from pure beeswax. The largest available size of candles in our online store is the 45–47 cm Easter candles. Among our most special items are the Mount Athos Easter candles, lampada, available in five different designs, depicting:
– the Vine,
– the Cross,
– the Basket,
– the Roses,
– and the Chapel.

All our candles and Easter candles are made from 100% pure beeswax on Mount Athos. Beeswax makes the candles in our online store ideal both for ecclesiastical use and for prayer at home. This is due to the natural qualities of beeswax. It does not produce smoke, and its completely natural, non-toxic composition helps maintain a clean and high-quality atmosphere, making it suitable for any form of use.

On our website, you will find a variety of Athonite monastic wax products such as:

  1. High-quality candles and Easter candles, all handmade on Mount Athos and crafted from pure, natural beeswax.

  2. Pure Athonite beeswax in blocks, handmade by the monks of Mount Athos. This natural product can be used for waxing the aluminum vessels used in the preparation of prosphora (holy bread).

  3. Monastic aromatic scented candles, crafted on Mount Athos, featuring a wooden wick and presented in a glass jar.

  4. Pure raw beeswax, known for its therapeutic and beneficial properties.

As faithful Christians, we have all entered the church and, almost instinctively, our first movement is to walk toward the candle stand and to light our own. Many Christians may make this gesture out of habit. Yet behind this habit lies the true meaning of lighting a candle in church, a meaning every believer should know. The candle is connected to Jesus Christ Himself, as it stands upright in the candle stand just as Jesus Christ stood upright on the Cross. According to St. Symeon, the candle symbolizes the purity of the soul, just as the beeswax from which it is made is pure and naturally produced by the bee. At the same time, the candle is associated with the believer’s love and peace, as well as with the light of Jesus Christ that illuminates our lives. Within the broader symbolism of the candle, St. Nikodemos the Athonite teaches that the lighting of a candle brings forgiveness of sins both for those who light the candles and for those for whom the candles are lit. In our online shop, you can find pure beeswax candles, specially crafted for use in the holy space of the church and in the house.

Most faithful light separate candles for each member of their family when they go to church. According to Christian tradition, upon entering the temple, the believer lights one candle for the living, for the health and well-being of relatives, and one candle for the departed, in memory and for the eternal rest of those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Separate candles are often lit for individuals who are facing particular difficulties. However, what truly matters is not the number of candles, but the prayer that accompanies them.

If the Easter candle (Pascha lampada) has not been completely burned, we may take it back to the church and light it again in the candle stand (votive candle stand) until it is fully consumed. We can also give our candle a second life by melting it down and using the beeswax to make our own beeswax ointment. In our online shop, you can find Mount Athos Easter candles in five designs, handcrafted from 100% pure beeswax.

Pure beeswax, used for all the candles and Easter candles available in our online shop, holds significant advantages over the common paraffin candles found on the market. Beeswax candles stand out for their quality and functionality. They burn cleanly and evenly without dripping, offering a long-lasting and steady flame. As the beeswax candle burns, it releases beneficial negative ions into the atmosphere, which naturally help purify the air. These negative ions bind with positive ions that hold dust, pollen, and odors in suspension, thus improving the environment of the space. Their light is warm, gentle, and humble, and their natural fragrance spreads subtly without any toxicity. In contrast, common paraffin church candles may be an economical choice, but they are not the appropriate or preferred option. Paraffin is a petroleum-derived product with a characteristic petroleum odor. Even after undergoing multiple refining processes to remove oils, volatile substances, and colorants, paraffin remains a non-natural and less pure material. For this reason, it is neither recommended nor favored by the Church, which upholds the use of pure, natural beeswax.