FATHERHOOD AS A FACTOR IN FORMING THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY UPBRINGING

Abstract

Abstract. Today, mankind stands on the verge of changing the traditional notions of relations in society: the vector of upbringing for the future generation changes, the main roles of the traditional society are called obsolete archetypes, which are worth to be rid of, the role of the father in the life of the family is leveled off. Very often, consu-mer design of family relationships displaces father to the role of the financier, collector means of subsistence. Modernity overlooks the father՚s main calling: to be the spiritual core of his family, which is based on supremacy and responsibility. First of all, the fatherhood crisis is a moral crisis and the core of this crisis lie in all manifestations of human activity, both social and personal life. In relation to this crisis, we have to answer two ques-tions: how a father sees and understands himself as a father, and the other, how a father is seen and perceived by his children and his family. Proceeding from this, fatherhood begins with the awareness of one՚s involvement in the formation of a new person, which is just conceived by him. And the first principle of fatherhood is the forma-tion of sacrifice, to give oneself for the sake of another. Formation of fatherhood is based on the love of two, with sacrificial love for the sake of another. Through the sacrificial love of a husband and wife, the unity of two in one spiritual flesh, in a small church, a new person is born, a new life begins; husband and wife form a new quality of re-lationships – parents and children. Without love, full fatherhood can not take place. Fatherhood is an internal change of a man, a kind of spiritual and physiological type that can not be introduced, but only chosen. This is some spiritual feat which a man takes of his own free will. This is the man՚s responsible deed – to be a father.