Virtue of temperance (self-restraint) as the foundation of moral culture in Orthodox pedagogy

Abstract

The subject of this research is the traditional moral value and virtue – temperance (self-restraint), which is examined in this research as the foundation of moral culture in Orthodox pedagogy. This topic is relevant in the modern era of post-modernism, where perceptions of good and evil are being diluted, forming a  eudaimonic type of culture (from the Greek: εὐδαιμονία [eu̯dai̯moníaː] meaning happiness), striving for indulgence and consumption. Its fruits are often the extreme forms of excess and various types of addictions, which destroy the health and lives of young generation. Eudaimonic type of culture is counterpoised by soteriological (from the Greek: σωτηρία sōtēria meaning salvation), based on the idea of salvation of human soul, dominant of eternal moral values and virtues, and their priority over material values. The novelty of this research consists in the practically oriented nature of lessons, aimed at growing in virtues of children and their parents, as well as determination of diagnostic tools and levels of achievement of the virtue of temperance among the course participants. Based on the monitoring of the program (October – November of 2019, with participation of 65 school students and 17 parents), a conclusion is made on the high level of correlation between temperance of the Sunday school students and their parents, and direct impact of parental example upon formation of moral culture in a child.