His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) sent a message on Thursday on the occasion of International Children's Day, stressing that the Church must provide pastoral guidance and spiritual support, especially through the Holy Sacraments, for all stages of family life.

'The Church has the mission of offering pastoral guidance and spiritual support - especially through the Holy Sacraments - for all stages of family life: strengthening the bonds of love among family members, the birth and upbringing of children, and preparing young people for marriage. At the same time, the Church affirms the dignity of the family in society, develops counselling programmes and spiritual and material assistance for families in difficulty, and provides appropriate religious education for children and young people,' the Patriarch said.

He highlighted the 'profound' connection between the mystery of the Church and the mystery of the family.

'The family is the 'church at home', in the words of Blessed Augustine, the first school of faith where the child begins to understand the mystery of God's parental love for all people and where filial and fraternal love in Christ is learned. In a world that is spiritually indifferent or confused, the family faces numerous challenges: the demographic crisis, uncertainty about the future, the fragmentation of ties between generations, individual selfishness, the distortion of authority, and the impact of technology and mass media on education,' Patriarch Daniel pointed out.

According to him, 2026, proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as the Commemorative Year of the Pastoral Care of the Christian Family, invites 'a profound reflection on how holiness can flourish within the family home, transforming the house of every believer into a space of faith and generous love.'

'The Christian family is called to rediscover models of holy living in the many saintly families throughout Church history, where Christian virtues were taught and practised: persistent prayer, patience, forgiveness, helping those in need, discernment and sacrificial love. We pray to the Holy Trinity, the Source of life and eternal love, to pour out Its abundant gifts upon parents and children, so that they may cultivate the enduring values of the Christian family that bears witness to the faith,' the high-ranking cleric also conveyed.

This year, International Children's Day coincides with the Feast of the Holy Trinity, while the Sunday of Parents and Children - the first Sunday after June 1, established by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church through Decision no. 629 of March 12, 2009 - coincides with All Saints' Sunday. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)