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A new academic year has begun at the medical college for future nursestranslated

September 16, 2026 · 1 min read

On September 15, the head of the diocesan course “Sister of Mercy,” Priest Dimitry Subbotin, met with first-year students of the Ulyanovsk Medical College named after A.L. Polenov at UlSU. The meeting marked the beginning of a new academic year for the students of the sisterhood.

The future sisters got to know each other and their mentors, discussed the upcoming work, internal regulations and the training program for the year.

— The main difference between this course and regular vocational education is active service. The pupils carry out church obediences and provide patronage to people in need of help: they help lonely elderly parishioners of churches, care for seriously ill people at home, and visit social institutions,” noted Priest Dimitry Subbotin. — Modern female students are first of all instilled with traditional values: they are taught the basics of Christian morality, proper interaction with people and active love for their neighbors. The program has the status of additional education for medical students and trains personnel who combine high professionalism with deep spiritual culture.

At the end of the meeting, the course director answered questions from the first-year students.

Well…

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Gregory Mitchell

Good to see Father Dimitry Subbotin meeting the first-year girls at the Ulyanovsk medical college. The part about them doing real obedience — helping lonely elderly parishioners and caring for the bedridden at home — sounds like the kind of hands-on work that sticks with you. Hope the new students find it as grounding as it looks on paper.

Ana Pavlović

It is good that Father Dimitrije Subbotin introduces the girls to each other and to obedience right at the beginning. Helping lonely elderly parishioners and caring for seriously ill people at home - that is what is most remembered. Here in Novi Sad, the sisters have been doing the same for years, and it can be seen that it is changing them and those they help.

Daniel Davis

Yeah, that hands-on bit Father Dimitry mentioned really stood out – helping lonely elderly parishioners and looking after the bedridden at home is where it all sinks in. Sounds like the Ulyanovsk girls are getting the same solid start our sisters have been doing for years. Good to see the course kicking off with that focus.

Michael Smith

Father Dimitry Subbotin hit the nail on the head when he said the real difference is the active service, not just the textbooks. Our own parish sisters have been doing that same home visits for the bedridden and helping the lonely old folks for years, and you can see it shapes them. Looking forward to hearing how the Ulyanovsk first-years settle in.

Hannah Adams

Yes, that active service part really does make all the difference. Our choir ladies who also help with the parish visiting scheme say the same — it’s one thing learning the medical side, quite another sitting with an old person who’s alone all week. How long have your parish sisters been running those home visits?