Dear University Family! Colleagues and Students!

From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you on the bright, majestic, and so dear to each of us holiday of Christmas, as well as on the coming New Year.

Christmas is a deep and warm celebration that has been a part of our souls since childhood, one that unites Ukrainian families and fills our homes with light, warmth, and quiet joy. Christmas is a remembrance of our lineage, our roots, and the traditions that sustain us even in the most difficult times. It is the light of the Christmas star that gathers the family together; it is the stillness of Christmas Eve, sincere prayer, and the feeling of God’s presence nearby. The birth of Christ reminds us of the greatest value — love for one’s neighbor — as well as the power of mercy, faith, and hope that help us endure even when it seems that darkness is overwhelming.

For Ukrainian families, Christmas has always been a symbol of unity, home, and warmth. Today, these feelings are especially precious, as we celebrate in the midst of war. We are able to live, work, teach, and study only thanks to those who defend our country. Among them are our colleagues, staff members, and university students.

With deep sorrow and, at the same time, profound gratitude, today we think of those who cannot be at home this Christmas, who cannot embrace their loved ones or hear carols in their own homes. You are our heroes. We are sincerely proud of you, we pray for you, and we eagerly await your return to a peaceful life, to your families, and to our university community.

I sincerely thank all members of the university family for helping our defenders take personal responsibility. I thank the volunteers who support the military and their families, assist internally displaced persons, and provide training in tactical and prehospital emergency care; the staff of the university’s clinical departments who save the lives of our defenders and work for their physical and mental recovery. Special thanks to everyone who responded to the administration’s calls for financial support for our warriors and made their contribution to our common cause. In this great war, there are no small deeds. Every step you take matters, and each of you is a vital part of Ukraine’s defense.

Despite the war, fatigue, and numerous trials, our university has lived through the past year with dignity. We endured, did not stop, and continued to work. Thanks to your dedication, professionalism, and mutual support, we achieved important results in education and research, maintained the quality of learning, developed science, and remained a center of knowledge, responsibility, and humanity. Despite the country’s serious financial challenges, the university managed to maintain financial stability, responsibly fulfill all its obligations, and ensure uninterrupted operation and development. This is our shared achievement, and I sincerely thank each of you.

Dear friends! I sincerely wish everyone strong health, inner warmth, resilience, and bright faith in the New Year. I hope it will become a year of peace for Ukraine, a year of our defenders’ return home, and a year of growth and positive change for our university and every family.

During the Christmas season, we turn to God with special hope, asking for His protection and care for our defenders. In prayer, we ask for strength, courage, and God’s support for them, and we thank Him for their bravery and self-sacrifice in defending our native land. We sincerely believe in Ukraine’s victory and that our shared dream of a peaceful, free, and happy life will surely come true — for our children and for us.

May the light of Christmas embrace each of us with warmth, grant peace of mind, harmony, and quiet confidence in the future. May love and concord dwell in our homes, and may hope that leads us forward grow stronger in our hearts!

Christ is born! Let us glorify Him!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!

Acting Rector of TNMU — Mykhailo Korda