On the eve of the Day of the Baptism of Rus, on July 24, 2026, a warm and helpful meeting was held at the women's clinic of the Makeyevka City Maternity Hospital. Archpriest Dimitri Remenyak, rector of Archangel Michael's church, visited the institution's patients to talk with expectant moms and dads about the most important thing — family values in a rapidly changing modern world.
The meeting was timed to coincide with the upcoming holiday, because it was the Baptism of Russia by Holy Prince Vladimir that marked the beginning of the formation of the traditional way of life of our people, where the family has always been revered as a small Church based on love and loyalty. It was these enduring truths that became the leitmotif of the entire conversation.
Father Dimitri elaborated on the spiritual laws that an Orthodox family lives by. He stressed that true love is not so much a vivid feeling as daily work, sacrifice and the desire to give rather than demand. According to him, it is loyalty and the preservation of family traditions that become the shield that protects marriage from the destructive fads of the time.
Archpriest Dimitri paid special attention to the role of women in the family. Contrary to many modern trends, the priest recalled his wife's high vocation: to be the keeper of the hearth and the helper of her husband. This has nothing to do with the restriction of freedom, on the contrary, it is a great service of love. The priest wished future mothers to know true maternal happiness, which, according to him, is inseparable from maternal prayer. The prayer of parents, as Father Dimitri emphasized, is the strongest protection for a child in all ways of his life.
The topic of parenting was not left without discussion. We talked about the enormous impact our environment has on children's development, and how important it is to keep peace and harmony within the family so that the home becomes a fortress of faith and piety for the child. Separately, the priest touched upon the commandment of reverence for parents, reminding that children learn love and gratitude by looking primarily at their own mom and dad.
The discussion of the topic of choosing godparents became extremely important and topical. Father Dimitri explained that the adoptive parents are not a tribute to a formal tradition, but spiritual mentors whose task is to help parents raise their children in the Orthodox faith. Therefore, their choice should not be taken lightly.
In the context of preparations for the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest also touched upon a dangerous trend in the modern world — the fascination with neo-paganism and superstitions associated with the birth and baptism of infants. The priest warned those present against believing in "evil eyes", mystical "spoilage" and pagan rituals, recalling that a Christian protects himself and his children solely by the power of the Sign of the Cross, prayer and participation in the Sacraments of the Church.
At the end of the meeting, Archpriest Dimitri Remenyak congratulated everyone on the upcoming Day of the Baptism of Rus and wished the future parents God's help. He expressed the hope that the babies who are expected to appear within these walls will become not only a joy for their families, but also good children of the Holy Church, who firmly preserve the heritage of their ancestors.