Statement of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia on the initiative to celebrate the Day of the Family, Love and Faithfulness
18.06.2008 · Архив 2005-2009, Документы
In the 20th century Russia has experienced many turbulent events that almost put our Fatherland on the brink of extinction. We have experienced changes of the state system, desecration of the holy places, wars, and economic disorder. The institute of family deprived of the high religious ideal had suffered mostly. The consequences of the destruction of this ideal were so drastic that today we see a feasible danger of the extinction of Russia.
We have managed to overcome many difficulties in the life of our people. However, we need not only social and economic measures to overcome our demographical crisis, but also the moral potential of the nation preserved first of all in the Russian Orthodox Church.
I am confident that being guided by many examples of successful families, we can overcome negative demographic tendency, and revive an yearning for parenthood, love and sacrificial attitude to children. |It is only in this way that we can find hope for the future.
The commemoration day of Ss Petr and Fevronia celebrated on July 8 can be chosen as a worthy date for the annual Day of the Family in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church knows many other historical examples of truly Christians families, found in the life of Ss Mikhail of Tver and Anna of Kashino, Dmitry Donskoy and Eudokia (monastic name – Euphrosynia) of Moscow, Juliania of Vyazma, Xenia of Petersburg, and the Imperial Passion-Bearers, as well as in the life of many our compatriots, whose memory is cherished in family tradition and in Russian culture.
As we want to strengthen the institute of family again, we should also use the yet less known family stories of the Orthodox Christians of the time of persecution in the 1920-40s and the decades that followed when parents did their best to upring rational and responsible Christians willing to raise their families in society that often seriously challenged their faith.
I support an initiative to celebrate the Day of the Family, Love and Faithfulness every year and hope that it will promote the lofty moral values in Russia without which neither the life of individuals, nor the prosperity of society can be accomplished.