Thus we must teach our children now, educating in them the highest Christian morality, so that they may live, so that we may live, and the world may not be completely drowned in evil. Thus, by our example and our labor, we must educate our children. Live according to your conscience, live according to the truth.

Let us always remember our responsibility and bring to mind the words of holy men: "A small tree where you bend it, there it will grow. The new vessel will emit the smell that you will give it when you pour into it either a stinking liquid or a fragrant and pure one."

Confessing God's goodness and God's Providence in the family for all to hear, let us give our children the first lessons in the knowledge of God and prayer. This will be the most important lesson of piety, which will remain in the heart for life and keep the child in this life for Eternal Life. And I will conclude with the words of the holy teacher of the Church, John Chrysostom: "There is no higher art than the art of education. A wise educator creates a living image, looking at which, God and people rejoice." Thus, so that we do not weep now from our children, so that we do not weep for them and ourselves when they grow up, and so that the present tears do not become the beginning of future tears, let us not do God's work – the upbringing of children – with negligence.

Our friends, if we do not even now feel the danger threatening us of the spiritual savagery of mankind, which is gradually losing the image and likeness of God, if we do not suspend the process of apostasy and the loss of faith in our families, in ourselves, then the time is near when the words of Christ the Savior will be realized: "... When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). Amen.

September 9 (22), 1991

Homily on the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!