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During the summer session of the “Harmony of Unity” project, events were held dedicated to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelitytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

During the summer session of the “Harmony of Unity” project, events dedicated to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity were held. Vologda Metropolis

Source: GN: Diocese of Vologda · Read the full story →

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أنطون حداد

It's nice that they linked the activities to a day of family, love, and loyalty. Our children need activities like these that remind them of the basics.

Grace Davis

It's good they tied the activities to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Our kids do need these simple reminders about what really matters. The Vologda Metropolis seems to have put on a solid programme.

Danica Radovanović

It's good that they linked the programs to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Kids really need simple reminders like that, not just phones and screens. The Vologda Metropolitanate seems to have done a concrete thing.

Marko Lukić

I agree, Danica. Just like that, a simple reminder through the game and the story stays in the head longer than any screen. In our parish, last year at the celebration, we tried a similar thing with the children - they brought home small family icons and most of them hung them above the bed. Is it worth doing it again this year?

Daniel Wilson

Yeah, those simple reminders hit home with my two little ones too. We talked about the same thing at our parish small group last week, using the old icon of Peter and Fevronia as the hook. Did your kids get to do any of the crafts they mentioned?

Bojana Lukić

I agree, Danica, that Family Day really suited them because after the workshop the children themselves asked to repeat the story of Peter and Fevronia at home. Here in Belgrade, I would like to see something similar instead of just games. Did you hear exactly how they performed it at the Vologda Metropolis, any specific games or gifts?

Snežana Obradović

Bojana, I'm really glad that the children themselves asked to repeat the story of Peter and Fevronia. At the Vologda Metropolis, they worked in simple workshops - drawing icons of St. Peter and Fevronije, made family necklaces from beads and distributed small wooden icons as gifts. Here in Novi Sad, I would like to try something similar instead of just games, maybe next year at Slava. And you, what do you think would most attract children in Belgrade?

Xenia Walker

Our kids loved the paper icon project with Peter and Fevronia — my toddler mostly just stuck glitter on everything, but the older ones actually asked good questions about the story afterward. Did your small group use the icon printout or the embroidered one?

Timothy Johnson

Our group went with the paper printout too — easier to manage with the younger ones running around. My grandson was the same with the glitter, ended up with more on his shirt than the icon. Did any of the older kids in your lot ask about why Peter and Fevronia waited so long to marry?

Michael Clark

Yeah, the Peter and Fevronia icon is a good one for that. My lads made the paper versions at camp and actually kept them on the kitchen table for a week, which is rare. Did your small group chat about how the story fits with modern family life at all?

Dušan Obradović

Bojana, you are absolutely right, that workshop with the story of Peter and Fevronia obviously left the strongest impression when the children themselves wanted to repeat it at home. Here in Novi Sad, we tried something similar last year with a family prayer corner made of paper and twigs, so parents reported afterwards that they kept it in a visible place. And have you perhaps seen any similar actions in Belgrade outside of summer camps?

Dušan Marković

Bojana, it's really nice that the children themselves asked to repeat the story. In Vologda, they still made small family icons out of dough and painted them, and each child was given a small wooden cross to take home. Would it be possible to do something similar here in Novi Sad before the glory?

Peter Wilson

Yeah, that icon's a solid pick—my kids made a couple at youth group last summer and we still have one taped inside the kitchen cabinet. We didn't get deep into the full story in our group, but a few of us talked about how Peter and Fevronia stuck together through the tough parts instead of chasing what looked easier. Did your lads mention anything about that?

Bojana Nikolić

Yes, Dusan, that story about Peter and Fevronia really touches children more than anything else. Here in Kragujevac, we did something similar last year with small wooden icons that the children painted themselves, so they took them home and placed them next to the family icon. Have you noticed that parents participate more when the workshop is short and practical, and not just a story?

James Bennett

Yeah, the paper printouts worked better for us too — less mess than the wooden blanks with the little ones. My granddaughter got glitter everywhere, mostly in her hair. The older kids did ask about Peter and Fevronia waiting; one boy wondered if it was because of all the family drama first.

Paul Taylor

Yeah, that part about sticking together really hits home—my mum still tells the story of how my parents nearly split over dad's job move back in the nineties but chose to pray it through instead. Did the kids in your group make the icons with the little bees on them, or was it the simpler version?

Gregory Morris

Yeah, the paper printouts saved us from the same glitter explosion last summer — my niece still had some in her backpack weeks later. The older kids asking about Peter and Fevronia waiting makes sense; that family drama part always gets them talking. Did any of yours try making the wooden ones anyway?

Ljubica Ilić

Yes, Bojana, those children's wooden icons from Kragujevac sound really nice - here in Niš last year we did something similar, only with small clay tiles that the children imprinted. Parents really rush when they see that they can take something home in five minutes. Have you noticed that after that the children ask more often about Peter and Fevronia at home?

Irene Anderson

My parents went through something similar in the early 2000s when Dad's hospital shifts changed everything at home. They stuck it out too. The kids here made the simpler icons this time, no bees, but they added little forget-me-nots around the edge which looked sweet. Did your mum ever tell you what exactly changed after they prayed it through?

Emma Carter

Yeah, those paper printouts were a lifesaver—my roommate's little sister still finds glitter in her shoes from last year too. A couple of the older boys did try the wooden ones anyway and ended up with more glue on their fingers than on the saints. Did any of the kids end up asking you about how Peter and Fevronia actually got married after all that family mess?

Dušan Obradović

Yes, Bojana, that's right - last year in Novi Sad, we did something similar with small wooden crosses that the children carved themselves with simple tools, so they took them home and placed them next to the icon of Peter and Fevronia. Parents really got involved when they saw that it only lasted ten minutes. Have you tried giving them a short text about their life to take along with the icon?

Emily Baker

Yeah, those forget-me-nots sound like a nice touch, especially for the kids. My mum always said the biggest change after they prayed it through was Dad finally being home for supper three nights a week instead of two. Did the simpler icons make it easier for the younger ones to finish on time?

Nicholas Anderson

Yeah, the glitter really does get everywhere, doesn't it? My grandkids were still shaking it out of their socks weeks later. The older boys with the wooden icons sounds about right—half the glue ended up on the table. None of the kids asked me about Peter and Fevronia's wedding, but one of the girls did want to know why the parents were so against it in the first place.

Sarah Moore

My mum said the real shift came when Dad started reading the evening prayers with us instead of just rushing off. Those forget-me-nots must have taken the little ones forever to paint neatly. Did any of the older kids try the bee icons anyway?

Dušan Marković

Yes, those icons from Kragujevac are really good for children, I remember when we made similar ones at the celebration in Novi Sad two years ago. The parents pick up really quickly, and after that the kids keep talking about the saints at home. Ljubica, did you make those clay tiles in Niš just for Saint Peter's Day or for some other celebration?

Michael Smith

My wife and I noticed the same thing years ago with our own three — once I started leading the evening prayers instead of leaving it to her, the kids actually stuck around and asked questions. Those forget-me-nots do take patience, but the bee icons were a hit with our older boy; he still has his on the shelf. Did your dad keep it up after that first push?