A Local Fragrance: Beehives and Candles at the Monastery of St. John in Manton

During a worker bee’s five-to-six-week life span, it works tirelessly inside the hive and, in warmer months, is sent out to forage in the surrounding area. The concerted effort of the bees is necessary for the hive’s survival.

Before they are old enough to forage, while they are just 12 to 18 days old, the young worker bees’ wax glands become active. The glands secrete flakes of wax which are then chewed and molded into the hexagonal shape of the honeycomb. The honeycomb will store the fruit of their labor—the abundance of honey as well as larvae, pollen, royal jelly and propolis.

Bees set example for monastic life

In Manton’s Monastery of St. John, Father Innocent is both a beekeeper and candlemaker. “Before wax formation,” Father Innocent explains, “the very first job of a worker bee is to clean out its cell and the cells around it. Then they graduate to feeding and caring for the larvae. This is a picture of the life we lead as monastics. One of our four vows is stability, meaning we take care of each other and the area in which we live. Furthermore, as we labor to maintain that outward stability, we are seeking inward stability through Christ.”

One of the ways that the monks at the Monastery of St. John care for each other, their land and their community is through beekeeping and candle making. “We ship five to 6 tons of candles per year,” Father Innocent says. “The candles are 100% beeswax and we source the wax from our own beehives, from recycled candle remnants and from Heitkam’s Honey Bees in Orland or other beekeepers throughout the United States. Most of our candles are used for church worship services but some are for gifts and personal use.”

The beauty of beeswax

Historically, beeswax candles have represented purity and Divine Light. For centuries, churches have supported local beekeepers by using beeswax candles for their services. Long ago, beeswax candles were prized for burning cleaner than tallow candles and they gave off a much sweeter scent. The beeswax candles dipped and molded at St. John’s continue to bring a feeling of warmth and reverence to churches and homes.

“We hope our candles bring peace to those who burn them as well as to the ones making them,” says Father Innocent. Elliott, a Manton local, is employed by the monastery for candle making. Elliott does everything from building wooden wick frames to sitting in front of the large wax vat to methodically dip and form the taper candles. Pilgrims to the monastery often bring candle remnants from their churches and lend a hand in the candle shop—returning home with a box of fresh candles.

Monastery of St. John’s commitment to community

When a monk is tonsured at St. John’s it means a lifelong commitment to the monastery grounds. “Our retirement plan is our graveyard,” Father Innocent says. “We see our vow of stability as a chance to be conscious of where we live and to be good stewards of the land. The rhythms of prayer and work are repeated and we find God in our routine. We are also committed to our community. By using the post office regularly for our shipments, we are helping to keep the Manton Post Office open. This is just one thing that we hope can be a benefit to our community. If the bees lost their focus and failed to do their job, the hive would collapse. If we as monks were distracted, thinking something “out there” is better, our way of life would be unsustainable and we wouldn’t be of service to our community or provide the sweet fragrance of our candles.”

Father Innocent would love to give you, your family or school groups tours of the candle shop. Candles can also be purchased for a very reasonable price at their bookstore.

Call (530) 474-5964 and leave a message. Candle orders can be made through their website monasteryofstjohn.org