Archbishop Stefan congratulated the first-year students of GomSMU on the beginning of the academic yeartranslated

Knowledge Day opens the new academic year for schoolchildren, students and teachers. This is a time of new tasks, meetings and plans, and for freshmen it is the beginning of an important stage associated with choosing a future profession and acquiring first professional knowledge.

On September 1, 2026, more than 800 first-year students gathered at a ceremony at the Gomel State Medical University dedicated to the beginning of the new academic year. The event was attended by His Eminence Stefan, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin.

Rector of GomSMU Irina Vladimirovna Nazarenko, welcoming the students, noted that the current enrollment has become the largest in the history of the university.

Addressing the first-year students and teachers, Archbishop Stefan congratulated them on the beginning of the school year and wished God's help in their studies and teaching work.

Speaking about the future profession of the students, the Bishop recalled the tradition of medical service in Christianity and cited as an example the holy doctors - unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the Monk Agapit of Pechersk, as well as St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky).

Separately, Archbishop Stefan drew the attention of future doctors to the fact that...