“Children are a testimony to the blessing poured out by God upon the world, renewing in our hearts an awareness of the greatness of the gift of life,” said His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and Patriarchal Exarch, on Monday, on the occasion of International Children’s Day.
His Eminence highlighted the value of childhood and the responsibilities that families, the Church, and society bear towards younger generations.
“As servants of the Church, parents, teachers, and those responsible for our communities and our world, we all have the duty to support the education and lives of children, protecting them from every form of abuse, deprivation, need, manipulation, exploitation and poverty, while offering them protection and guidance.”
“In their eyes, filled with the wonder of discovering the beauty of God’s creation, we rediscover the freshness of faith, the purity of heart and the power to continually renew our lives and our hope,” Metropolitan Nifon added.
An Example of Spiritual Purity
Metropolitan Nifon went on to emphasise the essential role of the family and the Church in educating the younger generation, “having as their foundation the values of Christ’s Gospel—the source of dignity, freedom and responsibility.”
“The Church and the family are privileged institutions in providing children with reliable moral and existential reference points, as well as that magnificent treasury of faith and culture which has fundamentally shaped our civilisation.”
“May the joy of peace and communion flourish in your lives, together with trust and care for our fellow human beings, as well as the fruitfulness of the Christian values that illuminated the historical journey of our forebears—a treasure of great price.”
The Archbishop of Târgoviște explained that children are “the springtime of the Church and of our world” and a source of hope for all humanity.
“You will succeed in transforming today’s society and healing it of everything that darkens its beauty and damages its harmony.”
“We thank our Heavenly Father for all of you, the sons and daughters of our community, true rays of light reflecting joy, confidence and hope amid the darkness of the world. We pray that He may grant you health, help, peace and success in every good work, so that you may grow in wisdom and grace before God and before people,” Metropolitan Nifon concluded.
Photo: Târgoviște Archdiocese
