1. God’s Purpose in Creating the Family

His Holiness Pope Shenouda explained that God did not create man to live alone, but created Eve to be with Adam, forming the first family in existence. The family is the nucleus of humanity, from which all people descended.

2. The Essence of Christian Marriage

Christian marriage is not just a relationship between a man and a woman, but a holy union that includes God Himself. God joins the couple together, and what God unites, no man should separate. When God is present, marriage cannot fail.

3. Marriage as Responsibility, Not Emotion

In the Church’s teaching, marriage is a sacred responsibility—spiritual, educational, and social. Therefore, those entering it must be mature in spirit and wisdom, aiming to build a holy home that lives in the fear of God.

4. Love Between Spouses as Christ’s Love for the Church

Christian marriage should be based on self-giving love, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. The husband should love his wife as his own body, and the wife should honor her husband with love and respect.

5. The Parents’ Role in Raising Children

His Holiness emphasized that parents are the first teachers of the child. They must raise their children in God’s knowledge and fear, and plant in them the Word of Scripture daily. Every Christian home should be a small church with prayer and a family altar.

6. The Family as a Small Church

The Christian home is a sacred place where God dwells, and children learn prayer, obedience, and mutual love. Forgiveness and understanding should prevail so that the home becomes a living example for society.

7. The Power of Example and Blessing

Parents are called to be role models in faith and conduct, for the blessing of the parents is a blessing from God Himself and deeply influences the children’s lives spiritually and materially.

8. A Family Filled with the Holy Spirit

The true family is one filled with the Holy Spirit, where every member becomes a source of blessing for others. It is a home full of love, respect, and dedication to God—like the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

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