Bound by the bonds of matrimony, we replace for each other's hands, feet, and hearing. Marriage makes even the weak twice as strong... The common concerns of the spouses ease their sorrows and common joys delight both of them. For unanimous spouses, wealth is made more pleasant, and in poverty, unanimity itself is more pleasant than wealth. For them, the marital bond is the key to chastity and desire, the seal of the necessary affection. St. Gregory the Theologian (15:59).

Bodily beauty, not combined with spiritual virtue, can captivate spouses for twenty or thirty days, and then it will have no power, but having revealed the bad qualities of the spouses, it will destroy love (37, 232).

If you need to do something for each other's pleasure, you need to adorn the soul, and not dress up the body and destroy it. It is not so much (external) that makes spouses loving, but chastity (kindness), affection and readiness to die for each other. St. John Chrysostom (42, 441).

"Husband, show his wife due favor; like a woman to her husband" (1 Corinthians 7:3). Marriage is honorable, and marriage is blessed by God. Blessed is it, but in order to preserve the power of the Creator in the birth of those like oneself and to oneself;

the continuation of the human race, so that the spouses may become parents and see themselves as fruitful olive plantations. Blessed is he who enters into a conjugal union with this holy intention, he chooses a spouse not out of passion, but looks at her virtues. ... Such an election, as based on prudence, will make the marriage blessed and the spouses happy. Their life will be dissolved in love, nothing will be able to tempt their virtues: for virtue, and not passion, governs their souls. The fruit of their womb is blameless: the child will play in their arms and be comforted by their holy kisses. To bring him up in good manners will be their first concern. And it will not be difficult for them to bring him up in good manners:

being virtuous themselves and setting a constant example of goodness, they will not give an infant a chance to see any temptation. He will wear their image on his face, but he will keep the same image in his morals. Such a son will be a joy to his parents and will make others jealous of them.

When the parents enrich themselves with this treasure, then their house will be in the best order; will be like a cup filled with fragrant wine, a virtuous wife can also be a prudent housewife.

How holy and inseparable this union is, the Apostle Paul explains: "The wife has no authority over her own body, but the husband; neither does the husband have authority over his own body, but the wife" (1 Corinthians 7:4). And in another place he explains this union even more important: "This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church" (Ephesians 5:32). The Church is united with Christ, as the body is so inseparable from the head, that neither Christ without the Church, nor the Church without Christ, can exist. Truly, the mystery of marriage is great, if it is to be a great sign of the eternal union of Christ with the Church. Platon, Metropolitan of Moscow (106, 194-197).

We will answer to God for the souls of children

The birth of children became the greatest consolation for people when they became mortal. That is why the humane God, in order to immediately mitigate the punishment of the forefathers and weaken the fear of death, granted the birth of children, manifesting in it... the image of the Resurrection (38, 162).

Even if our whole life is prosperous, we will be severely punished if we do not care about the salvation of our children (35:83).

Children are not an accidental acquisition, we are responsible for saving them. St. John Chrysostom (46, 1112).

Whoever wants to bring up his children well, brings them up in strictness and labor, so that, having distinguished themselves in knowledge and behavior, they may in time receive the fruits of their labors (49:139).

At any age, there are various worries and fears about children, and many labors. St. Nilus of Sinai (35:42).