A video showing a Celestial Church prophet selling a giant candle for ₦1.5 million during a Sunday service at Ephphata Parish has sparked widespread backlash across social media platforms, DAILY POST reports.

The now-viral video, first shared by TikTok user @yourariesqueenofficial, shows a bidding session conducted during worship, with the prophet starting the price at ₦500,000. The auction ended when a young man in the congregation purchased the candle for ₦1.5 million.

 “A giant candle was sold today at Ephphata Parish. Omo, I was wowed,” the user captioned the video. “It was later sold for ₦1.5 million. Celestial with doings. Hmmmm.”

The incident has drawn heavy criticism online, with many Nigerians questioning the commercialization of spiritual practices and the apparent blending of worship with materialism.

Some notable reactions include:

@Ayoola0527: “If it works so effectively, those who want to sell it would have kept it for themselves.”

@Omobolajipounds: “Pastor dey auction candle inside church.”

@Olakennyd: “Pastors can never be broke in Nigeria. We’re so gullible here.”

@Kiksman: “Na so church turn auction center.”

Others linked the act to exploitation and drew parallels with biblical stories where Jesus opposed commercial activities in the temple.

@Davey_Mamman: “When Jesus dey scatter market dey flog people then… e sure me say na those white garment people him mean.”

@Asarailu: “If him come back see wetin dem dey do inside church now, him go just weak.”

As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of the Celestial Church or the Ephphata Parish has not issued any official statement regarding the incident.

The candle sale, believed by some to be symbolic or spiritual, has renewed debate over exploitative practices in Nigerian churches, especially where faith is intertwined with high financial demands.