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Sell me this candle!, - social media users under 18 years old, sincerely believing that priests must certainly “drive Mercedes”, changed the phrase of the protagonist of the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” in their own way. Indeed, many, entering the temple, first of all go to the candle box, and then to the icons. Candles are perhaps the most popular church "goods".
“The cost of one candle is a trade secret of the manufacturer. It consists of the cost of raw materials, depreciation of equipment, rent, wages of workers, taxes, overheads, etc., ”explains Alexander, the owner of a small candle business in the Moscow region.
In addition, the production of candles is mostly waste-free: cinders are recycled - judging by the ads on the network, private manufacturers buy them for about 20 rubles per kilogram. Another option: 10 cinders are exchanged for 1 candle.
“The cost of a candle is an order of magnitude less than a penny. And the average cost in the temple is from 5 to 10 rubles, ”the rector of one of the churches near Moscow anonymously shares.
“The candle is second only to heroin in terms of margin,” he jokes.
In the 19th century, the famous codifier of legislation, Mikhail Speransky, left a significant mark on the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was he who contributed to the restoration of the exclusive right granted to her by Peter I to trade in candles. As a result, the church received super profits from this, because before the advent of electricity, candles were one of the most sought-after goods.
The proceeds went not only to the salaries of the priests, but also to the development of the education system. Today, as the owners of small candle factories say, the clergy are obliged to purchase candles from the Sofrino church enterprise. But this does not mean at all that the share of “Sofrino” candles in all churches is 100%.
“This is purely a disciplinary issue. The fact is that “Sofrino” is an all-church production plant. If the ruling bishop in the diocese makes such a demand (to buy candles in Sofrino - ed.), then he does this so that financial support goes to the Church, and not to some outside manufacturers. There is no free market in the Church, it is governed by its internal laws,” explains Hieromonk Macarius (Markish), host of the Internet project Questions to the Father on the Yelitsa network.
And if in trade the price is an agreement between the seller and the buyer, then, he notes, in this case we are talking about a material donation. Of course, it should not be less than the cost of the item. This rule does not apply to requests and prayers - here "just a request for alms."
“We are not in a very good position in the face of the state, because, on the one hand, religious organizations are not taxed. On the other hand, trade requires the payment of taxes. Therefore, there are some inconsistencies in our legislation. And people involved in church and financial affairs have to go through some difficulties, ”complains Father Macarius.
Prices for candles, as well as for all church utensils, are set by the rector of each particular temple. If we take Moscow, then in general, the difference in price for small - and the most popular - candles is insignificant: the cheapest in many churches costs 10 rubles, and in some - 5.
But the cost of large candles varies greatly. For example, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, such a candle costs 300 rubles, and in lesser-known places it is half the price. In many temples, you can find this practice: small candles lie in front of the donation box, they have no fixed value.
“Candles, at least simple ones, in the vast majority of churches are given out for donations, as required by His Holiness the Patriarch. The meaning of candles is not in quantity. Therefore, if you buy them in a hardware store or the Sofrino store, and then place them on all the candlesticks, this can only lead to smoky premises, ”emphasizes Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, deputy head of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, rector of the Church of Seraphim of Sarov on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment in Moscow.
“The candle is a more graphic image of absolute sacrifice. It burns and nothing remains of it. It is bestowed from oneself as a gratitude or as a material expression of our prayer petition to God, not meaning that it will be materialized in some way,” says Archpriest Maxim.
For example, if a person donates bells to a temple, the name of the donor will be written on them, which “will remain for centuries”. And nothing will remain of an ordinary candle.
“This, in fact, is the very right relationship between God and man, which should not be intruded by any other interest - PR, vanity or simply human gratitude. Only me and God: the candle burns out, and nothing is left of it, ”emphasizes the clergyman.
In addition, candles, like all church utensils, must be consecrated. Therefore, many priests recommend buying them in the temple.
*(Prices are given in Russian rubles)
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