Epress.am News from Armenia
Several years ago a candle in churches could be purchased at the price of 5 drams. Over the past 10 years, however, the price has risen from 5-10 to 60 drams, Hraparak newspaper reporter writes, stressing that the reason for this is that the Mother See of Etchmiadzin has a monopoly in the candle market and a desire to derive as much profit from sales as possible.
“The sale of candles is one of the sources of income of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Candles are produced in a foundry near the Saint Gayane Church [in Etchmiadzin] and are then distributed all over Armenia. Believers are deeply convinced that candles produced by the church are better because they are ‘sanctified.’ This gives [the church] a business advantage over their competitors – the old people who sell candles outside the churches of Etchmiadzin. The number of candles sold annually in each of the churches is difficult to calculate. Holy Etchmiadzin neither presents public reports nor issues receipts for sold candles or pays taxes. However, the dynamics of the candle market are quite calculable,” the reporter notes.
Priest Vahram Melikyan, press secretary of the Catholicos of All Armenians, refused to talk to the paper about the rise in candle prices.
“He said he is behind the wheel of his car and would call us back later. But he lied, which is not at all unexpected from the press secretary of Garegin II. We were rescued by Google, where we found Echmiadzin’s official position on the issue: ‘Lighting candles is a pious tradition. It’s the Armenians’ donation to the church. It is worth noting that the lighting of candles, in addition to its symbolic meaning, is a source of income for the Mother See of Etchmiadzin and the dioceses. Therefore, the rise in candle prices is not based only on economic calculations. The money generated candle sales helps the church to cover its administrative expenses and implement various social programs, organize the preservation of churches.’”