We have already mentioned that the core of church life is our Lord Jesus Christ. He should also be the core of family life.

A child should recognize Christ not from a picture book, but from the mood, the way of life, the thinking, the mutual relationships of family members. If he becomes acquainted with Christ in such a manner, then Christ will become near and dear to his soul for his entire life.

It was thus that early Christians, martyrs and the Church fathers were brought up in their Christian families. It suffices to remember the rearing of the three sisters - Faith, Hope and Charity - by their mother Sophia, or the saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostome by their mothers.