Rear view of family housing in Bari, Italy – 2017. This is near St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Basilica, which houses his myrrh-streaming relics. They were moved in the 11th century from his original shrine in Myra, Turkey, to Bari, Italy- for protection, when Myra came under Saracen rule.
This year, secular Family Day also falls on the ancient and beautiful Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple.
Happy Feast Day and Family Day to my family, near and far… Related by blood or Spirit. May God grant all your petitions according to your salvation!
Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ~ Exodus 20:12
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell in unity! ~Psalm 133:1
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. ~ Proverbs 6:20
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. ~ Proverbs 17:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her… ~ Proverbs 31:28
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ~ Isaiah 66:13
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. ~ St. Matthew 12:50.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named… ~Ephesians 3:14-15
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:20
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers… ~ 1 Timothy 5:1
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ~ 1 Timothy 5:8
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation… ~ 1 Peter 2:2
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ~ 1 Peter 4:8