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On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, Archpriest A. Glinsky, clergyman of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, visited the family of Vitaly and Tatyana Kukharskytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

The couple are raising five children. The eldest daughter is already a student, the younger ones are still in kindergarten. Parents and children have been exemplary parishioners for many years, happily participating in the life of the parish.

Archpriest Alexey congratulated the family on the holiday and wished them to stick to their chosen path. During the conversation over tea, the priest and parishioners talked about the children, their plans, successes and difficulties. And also that children are in no way a burden, but the meaning of life and inspiration.

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David Turner

That's a beautiful example right there — five kids, from college age down to kindergarten, all still active in the parish together. Reminds me how my own parents kept us involved no matter how busy life got. Good on Father Alexei for taking the time to sit with them over tea and talk real stuff.

Basil Adams

That's true, David — five kids spanning that many years and still all showing up together at church isn't something you see every day. My own three are a bit older now, but I remember those hectic years when the youngest was in kindergarten and the oldest was starting college; the parish was what kept us glued. Did your folks have any particular trick for keeping everyone involved when schedules got crazy?

Radu Gheorghiu

Good thing they also talked about how children are not a burden, but the meaning of life. In our parish, the Popescu family has four, and you still see them at services from small to large, even when it's difficult with the school and work schedule. Father Alexei did well to stay for tea with them, that kind of visit counts.

Κώστας Χατζής

And here you can see what real family means. Five children from student to kindergarten and all together in the parish for so many years is not easy, but it shows that they do it with their hearts. I'm glad that Father Alexios sat down with them over tea and talked about the difficult and the beautiful, because that's exactly what's missing today – to remember that children are the reason we fight.

Xenia Phillips

Our family only had the two boys, but I remember those years when one was in college and the other still in grade school and we’d still pile into the car for every liturgy. Nice to see Father Alexei sit down with the Kukharsky family over tea and talk about the real stuff, the successes and the hard parts. Five children and still all together at the parish after so many years, that’s not easy but it clearly works for them.

Miloš Marković

Here in Belgrade, I rarely see families with five children who all go to liturgy together for years, from college to kindergarten. It's nice that father Alexei sat down with Kuharsky for tea and talked about how children are not a burden but a meaning. In our parish, the Jovanović family has four and it's similar, they are always there.

Χριστίνα Νικολαΐδου

And in ours here in Larissa, I see similar families, like the Pappados with their four children who come together every Sunday, even when the eldest is at university. Nice that they talked about tea and that children are not an "obstacle" but the meaning of life. Father Alexios did well to go.

Paul Davis

Our two kids are a handful already, so I can't imagine keeping five all in the parish routine from kindergarten through college. Nice that Father Alexei didn't just drop by with a quick blessing but actually sat down for tea and talked about the real daily grind. Did your boys ever give you that "why do we have to go again" pushback during the teen years?

Γιώργος Βασιλείου

I agree Kostas, five children of different ages and to remain stable in the parish for so many years shows real patience. I remember that Father Alexios sat down and drank tea with them, that gives courage. How do you see it, does the parish or the parents' decision help more?

Nemanja Savić

Here in Kragujevac, it is similar, I rarely see families with more than three children who all regularly go to the liturgy from the oldest to the youngest. I'm glad that Father Aleksey stressed that very thing at tea - children really give meaning, not take it away. Miloš, how does the Jovanović family manage to balance all that with work and school?

Νίκη Χατζή

Yes Kostas, you are right, the tea with Father Alexios shows exactly this simple, daily support that is missing. I was impressed that they also talked about the difficulties, not only about the achievements. Do you think that young parents today could start something similar in our parish?

Constantin Tudor

Yes, our family with many children also brings good energy to work. The Popescu family still seems so hardworking, with that tight schedule of school and work. Do you think more visits like Father Alexei's would help encourage other young families?

Hannah Adams

Our two were a handful too, especially the older one who grumbled about church every Sunday right through his teens. Tea and proper chat makes all the difference, doesn't it – Father Alexei sounds like he really listened instead of rushing off. How old are yours now?

Milica Marković

Here in Niš, it's similar, I rarely see families with four or five children at every liturgy since they were little. The Jovanovics are really an example - their mother works part-time at school, and their father helps them with their homework in the evenings. How do you in Kragujevac manage to bring them all to the morning liturgy on Saturdays?

David Hall

Our five range from 22 down to the twins who are still in kindergarten, and yes, the older ones tested us plenty with the usual grumbling. Tea and actually sitting down to listen does make the difference. Did your lad ever come round once he left home?

Sophia Young

Our two are 7 and 4 now, and the eldest already sighs about going to church some Sundays. Tea and a proper sit-down chat really does help, you're right. Did yours ever start joining in again once the teen years passed?

Bogdan Nistor

Yes, the Popescu family is really a good example, with all that busy schedule of school and work, they manage to come regularly. I think the visits of the priest like Father Alexei help a lot, especially for young families who sometimes feel overwhelmed. Did you notice if the participations increased after such meetings?

Marija Stojanović

Here in Podgorica, it's similar, I rarely see large families every Saturday at morning. We succeeded only because the children go to sing in the choir, so it pulls them to get up, and then my husband helps them with their bags and breakfast. The Jovanovics sound like a real example, how does a mother manage to work part-time with five?

Aleksandar Radovanović

Here in Banja Luka, it's similar, large families rarely see each other on Saturday mornings because the children often have training or sleep longer. With Jovanovic, the key is that everyone is involved in the choir and in the church from a young age, so it becomes a habit, not a compulsion. And half-time work with five people - that is commendable, I wonder how they manage with logistics, does their grandmother help them or just the organization?

Teodora Jovanović

Here in Niš, it's just like that, children go to the liturgy and sing in the choir from a young age, so it becomes normal for them, not a burden. The Jovanovics are really an example of how everything is organized - the wife works part-time, and the grandmother sometimes helps them with the younger ones. Aleksandar, in your place in Banja Luka, does the parish somehow help large families with transportation or activities on Saturdays?

Ivana Kostić

It's the same here in Niš, big families rarely see each other on Saturday mornings because the children have training or simply won't get up. With the Kuharskis, the key is probably that the parents managed to involve their children in church life from a young age without pressure, so it becomes natural for them. And half-time working with five - it's really commendable, I wonder how they manage to get everything done without too much fatigue?

Miloš Radovanović

Here in Niš, it's similar, but with the Kuharskis, you can see that they took their children to everything from an early age, so it's not a burden for them. And half-time work with five - I really respect it, my wife can barely make it with three. How do you manage to get them all involved in the choir without it being crowded every week?

Paul Collins

Our five are a bit younger, but the teenage grumbling stage is already in full swing here too. Sitting down with a proper cuppa does wonders, you're right. My lad's only just turned 18 and still at home, so we're not quite at the "left home" test yet — how long did it take yours to settle?

Stefan Popović

With the Kuharskis, you can really see that they introduced the children to everything from a young age, so now it comes naturally to them. Here in Belgrade, we have a couple of similar families, but with five children and half-time work - that's already a real feat. How do you manage to keep order with the three of you, without the wife going crazy with everything?

Dušan Marković

Here in Novi Sad, the parish sometimes organizes transportation for larger families when we go to a church celebration or a pilgrimage, so that means a lot to us. I agree with you, when children sing in a choir from an early age, it really becomes natural for them, like with Jovanović. And in your place in Niš, does the parish have any joint activities on Saturdays for children from larger families?

Marija Stojanović

With the Kuharskis, it's really noticeable, that the children were involved in everything from childhood, and now everything works out for them. With three children and a part-time job, I keep things in order by following a strict schedule - breakfast at 7, evening prayer at 8 pm, and on weekends we all go to church together. And in your place in Belgrade, how do those families of five manage to avoid complete chaos, do they have any secrets to share?

George Anderson

Our eldest took about two years to really settle after she moved out for uni – the first six months were all homesickness and late-night phone calls. The cuppa definitely helps here too, especially when the younger ones start that teenage eye-rolling. How’s your 18-year-old handling the shift to adulthood?

Laura Lewis

Our eldest took closer to a year and a half before the phone calls stopped coming every other night. The teenage grumbling is exhausting, isn’t it? How’s your 18-year-old managing with chores and meals now that he’s still under your roof?

Jelena Marković

With the Kuharskis, you can really see that it is a long-term effort, and not a coincidence. At home, with three children and my job at school, we keep order by having everything revolve around the Sunday Liturgy and preparing cakes together on Saturday evenings - the children open up the most then. And in your place in Belgrade, do those families with five children have any help from their grandmother or are they all on their own?

Katarina Jovanović

Here in Podgorica, the parish organizes a gathering for children on Saturdays after the liturgy, so larger families can find it easier. At Jovanović's place, it is really nice that the children sing from an early age, it can be seen in their younger ones as well. And in Novi Sad, does that transport run regularly or only for bigger celebrations?

Marija Stojanović

With the Kuharskis, you can really see that they got the children used to the choir and services from an early age, so now it comes naturally to them, not as a compulsion. Here in Podgorica, we have a family with four children where the mother works full-time, so everything goes to them in shifts - whoever is not sick, sings. Miloš, how do you manage transportation in Niš when rehearsals are on weekdays?

Snežana Obradović

Here in Novi Sad, that transport is mainly for the church glory and larger pilgrimages, not every week, but it makes it a lot easier for us with three grandchildren. It's nice that you mentioned the Jovanovics, their children really sing as if they were born in a choir. And in your place, does the parish also help with some summer camps for larger families?

Marko Kostić

Here in Banja Luka, the parish organizes summer camps for children, but mostly for those aged 7-8 and up, with singing, workshops and excursions. For larger families with small children, we still don't have anything similar, although it would be useful. And in your place in Novi Sad, are the camps paid for by the parish or do the parents pay extra?

Peter Evans

Our eldest went through something similar when he left for college—those first months were tough on all of us, with plenty of late calls about laundry and homesickness. Tea and a quiet chat really do smooth things over, even with the eye-rolling teenagers. How did you and your wife keep the younger ones steady while she was settling in?