Introduction. The themes of good and evil, familiarizing the younger generation with the universal values of Good, Truth, and Beauty have been in the focus of the world pedagogical and ethical thought since ancient times, but are especially relevant in the modern era of the postmodern discrediting of all standards. The research purpose is to form a more complete theoretical understanding of the problem of the formation of children’s moral culture in the light of the Christian-anthropological worldview and the patristic doctrine of virtues. Materials and methods. The study was conducted using general scientific theoretical methods: hermeneutic analysis, generalization, synthesis, abstraction, induction and deduction, interpretation of results. Results. As a result of the study, the following definition of the phenomenon of “moral culture” in the context of the Christian-anthropological worldview was given. Moral culture is a system of moral and ethical guidelines and personality traits based on absolute moral values and Christian virtues: abstinence, chastity, mercy, meekness, joy, courage, humility, and love. Moral culture is manifested in the moral behavior and actions of a person and determined by the moral consciousness of an individual striving for self-improvement, heartfelt purity, and good deeds – through the feat of Christian life, overcoming vices and passions. Researchers come to the conclusion that the highest Christian virtue – sacrificial love for God and people – is impossible without the virtue of humility, which is considered in moral theology as a measure of holiness, the foundation of the entire structure of a person’s spiritual and moral life. Discussion and conclusion. Moral culture formation is of intimate and discrete nature, it continues throughout a person’s life, representing its highest goal and ideal. Morality cannot be formed, assimilated exclusively by external influence, it is based on the individual autonomy, the synergy of a person’s own efforts, and the action of Divine grace. Researchers conclude that moralization and moral terror are unacceptable in the formation of children’s moral culture. The research results can be taken into account in the practical activities of teachers working in Orthodox general education and weekend schools, as well as in family education.

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.