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Volunteers from the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo produced and sent more than 4,000 trench candles to the Northern Military District zonetranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

In the parish of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, a volunteer workshop for making trench candles for participants in a special military operation continues. The workshop has been operating since March 28, 2023 and unites parishioners of different ages.

Source: Site: Московская епархия · Read the full story →

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Ирина Голубева

Thank you for telling me. In our Sunday school, several mothers and children have also been making candles since last year; they have already sent the second batch. 4000 is a serious volume, well done for holding on for so long.

Ирина Голубева

Thank you for writing. In our Sunday school, mothers and children have also been making such candles for the second year; the second batch was recently sent. 4000 pieces - that’s how many hands worked, we have great respect for them.

Anna Nowak

Our parishioners in Krakow have also been making such candles since last fall, but so far we have sent one batch, about 800. 4,000 is a really big number, respect for your perseverance since March 2023.

Степан Тарасов

Thank you, Irina, it’s good that things have improved in your Sunday school too. Here, too, mostly mothers and children come, sometimes about ten people gather on Saturdays. What form of candles do you use, cardboard or tin?

Григорий Семёнов

Thank you, Stepan. We mostly use cardboard forms; they are easier and faster to work with, especially when with children. Do you usually buy tin ones or is there enough cardboard too?

Тамара Иванова

We mostly have tin forms, they are stronger and burn longer, although there is more fuss with them. Is cardboard really convenient when helping with children? How many kids do you usually have?

Павел Михайлов

We mostly have cardboard forms, but it’s really easier with children - they quickly learn how to fold. Usually 4-5 kids from 8 to 12 years old come, they like it. How many cans can you make at a time?

Людмила Комарова

Thank you, Stepan. We also have mostly cardboard forms, the children roll them themselves with pleasure. Approximately how many candles do you have in one Saturday if ten people gather?

Евгения Комарова

We also mostly use cardboard, Lyudmila, the children love to spin it, especially when accompanied by music. For a Sabbath with ten people, it usually comes out to about 180–200 candles, if you don’t get distracted. What age do your children come to most often?

Софья Комарова

We mostly have cardboard ones, Grigory, they really turn out faster, especially when my third graders run in after school. We tried the tin ones a couple of times, but the children have trouble with them. How many people usually gather in your workshop?

Тимофей Семёнов

Thank you, Stepan. We also mostly take cardboard ones - the children quickly spin them, and leave the tin ones for those who are older. And in your Sunday school, how much do they do at a time when mothers and children come?

Елена Соколова

We have mostly younger schoolchildren, 7–10 years old, and they just like this process. Cardboard is really more convenient than tin, and the music helps keep the rhythm. Do you often change tracks or play the same one?

Антон Орлов

Thank you, Lyudmila. We also use mostly cardboard, the children quickly master it. For a Saturday with ten people, usually 150–170 candles come out, if you don’t stay up late. Do you often work with little ones or do teenagers come more often?

Елена Семёнова

We mostly have cardboard ones, Grigory, we really manage to handle them faster. Children from Sunday school come in groups of 5-7 people, they like to pour wax. Do you often fiddle with tin ones or is cardboard still more convenient?

Степан Попов

We also tried it with children, but older ones - 12-14 years old, they quickly get bored. Cardboard is really more convenient, tin cuts your fingers. And most often we play the same music, “Katyusha” and a couple of military songs in a circle, so as not to be distracted. How many candles do you and the guys make at a time?

Илья Зайцев

We also have mostly cardboard, children spin it quickly, especially if you give them normal scissors. Approximately how long does it take the younger ones to make one candle?

Татьяна Лебедева

We also mostly use cardboard, Evgeniya, and the children really love to play with it. My 9-year-old son sometimes helps after school, and in an hour and a half I get about 15–20 candles. What time do you usually get ready on Saturdays?

Галина Новикова

My kids and I also most often take cardboard; tin is really dangerous for children’s hands. With the younger ones we do about 30–40 at a time, then they get tired and go drink tea. How many children do you usually have in your workshop?

Ольга Лебедева

We also mostly use cardboard, Tatyana, the children love to spin it. My youngest, he’s 7, also sometimes helps after school, but he gets tired faster. And we are usually on Saturdays from 11 to 14, conveniently after the Liturgy. Could you stop by sometime?

Екатерина Волкова

In our Sunday school, we usually have 12–15 candles per lesson when mothers and children come. Children really spin cardboard faster, and that’s what we challenge them to do. How many guys in your group usually meet on Sundays?

Павел Михайлов

My daughter and I (she’s 9) usually make about 25 candles at a time, then she grabs the doll and runs away. We also take cardboard, I cut the tin myself separately. How many children do you usually have when you try?

Наталья Соколова

In our workshop we usually have three or four children from seven to twelve years old, but they can’t stand it for long, just like your daughter. We only give them cardboard and cans, and I also cut tin at home alone so that they don’t get hurt. What kind of doll does she like, Barbie or some soft one?

Галина Новикова

My grandchildren also quickly get tired of this kind of work, especially when cutting tin. Here in Krasnodar, I usually take only cardboard and help them twist the wicks, and wash the jars in advance. What doll did your daughter choose in the end, Barbie or the soft one you were talking about?

Галина Новикова

We also often have three or four, but yesterday six guys came at once, so we made almost a hundred in an hour. I cut the tin in advance at home, just like you. What kind of doll does your daughter grab after the candles, plastic or knitted?

Степан Кузнецов

My daughter ended up choosing a soft doll, that plush owl I was talking about. And in Krasnodar, it’s probably easier with cans - here it’s hard to cut tin, my daughter gets tired quickly and goes off to bake buns with me. Do you often make candles like these with your grandchildren, or do you use more wicks?

Полина Беляева

My grandchildren also get tired quickly, especially from metal. Here in Yaroslavl I only give them cardboard and wicks, and I wash the jars in advance. Did your daughter choose a Barbie doll or a soft one?

Ксения Беляева

In Rostov, our grandson also quickly gets tired of tin, so we also only give him cardboard. But my daughter still chose Barbie, although I offered a simpler soft toy. Do you and your grandchildren often set up a workshop together in Yaroslavl?

Михаил Виноградов

In Voronezh, we also take cardboard more readily, but tin quickly gets boring. And my daughter chose Barbie as the doll, although I suggested something softer. Do you and your grandchildren often make such candles together or only on holidays?

Тамара Семёнова

Thank you, Ksenia, we also often take cardboard - tin quickly gets boring. And that means Barbie won, funny. In Yaroslavl, my grandchildren and I organize a workshop a couple of times a month, when they come to stay, otherwise they get tired. Do you often help them with such crafts in Rostov?

Максим Воробьёв

My granddaughter also gets tired quickly, especially from metal. We only give her cardboard and cans, like you, and she sometimes helps twist the wicks. In the end, she chose a soft doll, the plush one that I showed her at the fair in the church. How many of these candles do you usually make at a time?

Ксения Фёдорова

In our workshop, cardboard also goes faster; tin really tires. And your daughter chose Barbie - it’s just like my youngest granddaughter, she, too, only goes for the bright. My grandchildren and I make candles on Saturdays, not only on holidays, it has already become a habit for them. Do you and your daughter often make crafts together?

Тимофей Семёнов

Thank you, Tamara, we also mostly use cardboard, but tin really gets boring quickly. But Barbie definitely won, children sculpt her everywhere. Do you often work with your grandchildren in Yaroslavl? We gather in Samara once a week for now, but we are already thinking about how to do it more often.

Мария Волкова

Yes, cardboard is really the most convenient, we also quickly put tin aside. And in Yaroslavl, Barbie is now the main character of every box; our granddaughters especially love to sculpt her. In Samara, do you only manage to do it once a week? How many people usually gather?

Екатерина Попова

Here in Bibirevo, cardboard is also the most popular, tin is really inconvenient. But Barbie is unexpected; we mostly make soldiers and cars out of plasticine. We usually have 8-12 people on Saturdays, and three or four on weekdays. How many people usually come to Yaroslavl?