This year, the Chruch celebration in memory of Princes Ss. Peter and Febronia of Murom, Patron Saints of Christian marriage, has been appointed as the official state holiday, Day of Love, Family and Fidelity. On that account, Patriarch Kirill has made the following statement:

– Dear brothers and sisters, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.

This wonderful holiday, timed to coincide with the church commemoration of Ss. Prince Peter and Princess Febronia of Murom stands witness to the importance of traditional family values in our life.

The ideals of a strong and close-knit family, marriage as a blessed union between a man and a woman, respect for the elderly, the sanctity of motherhood and love for children are important to millions of Russians regardless of their religious views, nationality or political preferences. The family is a pillar of society, a guarantee of its well-being and spiritual health: a child, surrounded in his family by love and care of his relatives, begins to learn the world around, receives moral education, learns to do good. Family is the school of love for the children, who then, entering adulthood, will pass this experience to their children.

In our resistance to destructive influences on the Russian society, the Russian Orthodox Church, in active cooperation with public organizations and representatives of other religions, has consistently proposed various legislative initiatives aimed, in particular, at helping parents with many children, protecting families from unwarranted outside interference, and opposing abortion. I hope that these and many other significant steps toward strengthening the moral foundations in the lives of our compatriots will have a successful continuation.

Source: Interfax (Russian)