Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria sent paternal wishes to all children and their parents on the International Children’s Day.
“On today’s International Children’s Day, we wish all children health and joy, growth and respect for parents! We also wish the parents health, strength and virtue, and to remember that with their lives, words and deeds they are the role models for their children,” he said.
“May parental prayers never cease, so that with sincere faith, strong hope and trust in God and the Mother of God, they beg for support and protection for their children. Only in this way the Bulgarian family will be able to return to its deep, healthy roots and become a real ‘home church’,” he said and added “the Orthodox spirit and tradition are neglected and, unfortunately, often even rejected.”
He also addressed the parents: “Love, cherish and care for your children, and make every effort that we all, as a society, do not allow even a drop of a child’s tear to be shed. Especially be merciful to children who are in difficulty and disadvantaged, who lack of parental care and parental love. Make efforts to help them, remembering that ‘angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.'” (Matt. 18:10).
