About us and our Candles

The Monastery and The Monks

The Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco was founded in 1996 as a community of Orthodox Christian monks. Currently the brotherhood consists of around 4 monks and novices. We are located on 42 acres of scenic Ponderosa forest near the town of Manton, California, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Mt. Lassen National Park. Manton is less than an hour's drive from both Red Bluff and Redding.

The brotherhood was originally located at Point Reyes Station, California, at St. Eugene's Hermitage, a small facility which belonged to the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America, where there had been a monastic presence for over 50 years. Due to growth in numbers and industries, the Monastery moved northwards to Manton in the summer of 2006.

We are informed and inspired by the living tradition of the ancient monastic centers, including those of Mt. Athos in Greece and Valaam in Russia. We strive to be faithful to holy tradition while adapting to the realities of contemporary America. Most of the monastics in the monastery are Americans, and the prayers and church services are conducted in English. The aim of our life is simple obedience to the commandments of Christ and the Holy Scriptures. We strive to earn our living by making candles, publishing, keeping bees and operating a bookstore. We also grow some of our own food.

Please feel free to visit our Monastery website here.

Our Monastery Handmade Beeswax Candles

From the early days at St. Eugene's Hermitage in Pt. Reyes until today, the main source of our income has been candle production. 

Our Handmade All-Natural Beeswax Candles Fill your home with bright, yet warm beeswax candlelight and a wonderful honey scent. Beeswax burns brighter, cleaner, and longer than any other candle. It is also drips-less and produces no smoke.  Like everything we offer to God, our candles are not made with anything artificial -- they are 100% natural beeswax with all-cotton wicking. All our candles are handmade at the Monastery of St. John.

How we make our Handmade Taper Candles

Beeswax collected from honeycomb is formed into large, 40-pound bricks by the beekeeper. For candle making, these bricks are melted in a large, 50-gallon double-boiler vat. Frames are strung with natural, all-cotton wicking of the appropriate thickness. Then the frames are dipped one-by-one into the vat of molten wax. Layer upon layer is added to the candles in each successive dip until they reach the desired thickness. While still warm, the candles are cut out of the frame with a sharp knife. The wicks are trimmed and the finished candles are carefully placed in boxes for shipment.

How we Make Our Molded Candles 

Beeswax collected from honeycomb is formed into large, 40-pound bricks by the beekeeper. For candle making, these bricks are melted in a large, 50-gallon double-boiler vat. The molds are prepared with wicks.  Then wax is dipped from the vat and poured into the molds.  Once the wax cools the candles are taken out of the molds and the wicks are trimmed.  The finished candles are carefully packed in boxes for shipment.

Purchasing our Candles

Our Monastery Candles can be purchased here online or by contacting us using the information on the contact page

Reference chart for our candles

Candle Size	Approx. Burn Time	Approx. Candles Per Lb.	Suggested Uses
1/8“x11.5“	0.8 hours	110	Reading, Lamp Lighting
1/4“x115“	2 hrs.	45	Church sandboxes, Lamp lighting, Reading
3/8“x115“	3.5 hrs.	25	Church sandboxes.
7/16“x 11.5“	4.2 hrs.	20	Russian-style church candle stands.
3/4“x 11.5“	10 hrs.	7	Russian-style church candle stands.
7/8“ x115“	12 hrs.	5.5	Dining room and altar use; will fit in most standard candelabra.
3/5“x 18“	15 hrs.	4	Bishop’s candlesticks (bends nicely); will fit in some candelabra.
7/8 x18“	18 hrs.	3.3	Baptismal candle; altar use; will fit in most standard candelabra; home decoration.