Today, on May 8, the Belarusian National Technical University hosted a commemorative event – a meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The participants – students, employees and guests of the university – gathered to honor the feat of the Soviet people, to remember those who fought on the fronts and worked in the rear for the sake of a common victory.
An important part of the program included a meeting in the Hall of Fame with a representative of the clergy – Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus. The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Karankevich, Head of the administration of the Sovetsky district of Minsk Alexander Shchekovich and Rector of the Belarusian National Technical University Sergey Kharytonchyk.
Before the meeting, guests were able to enjoy a performance by the University's People's Choir and view a thematic exhibition.
Sergey Kharytonchyk delivered a welcoming speech.:
– On the eve of such a great holiday as Victory Day, we are gathered here today. And it is a great honor for us that the distinguished guests agreed to take part in the meeting with us. And, of course, we took advantage of this opportunity and asked them to have a little chat with the staff of our university. I have an inner feeling that spring does not come until Vladyka comes to us. And I think it will begin today, because we will hear Vladyka's parting words and his blessing.
The spiritual and moral significance of Victory Day remains invariably great, and our attitude towards it is sacred. The Belarusian National Technical University has been cooperating with the Belarusian Orthodox Church for many years: the university annually hosts exhibitions and fairs, organizes excursions to monasteries and churches. As part of the event, the Metropolitan addressed all those present and presented a memorable gift to the university - the Bible of Matthew the Tenth. It has replenished the collection of valuable publications of the BNTU.
– The victory in the Great Patriotic War was achieved thanks to the inner spiritual strength, the strength of faith that our people possessed. And having gone through years of trials and hardships, our people were able to turn to this rich spiritual heritage and emerge victorious. Taking this opportunity, I would also like to donate the Bible of Matthew the Tenth to the university. Matthew was the tenth child in the family. This reminds modern people that families should be large, with many children. This is the joy and fullness of life, - the Patriarchal Exarch noted.
The next speaker to address the audience was Viktor Karankevich:
– The memory of the war in our country is passed down from generation to generation. And every year large-scale events are held in Belarus, which attract a large number of people. Everything is being done to preserve the truth about the war and the immortal feat of the Soviet people.And the most important thing is to prevent its distortion and attempts to erase the memory of future generations. The most dramatic events of the initial period of the war took place on Belarusian soil. It was in Belarus that the Nazis encountered resistance that they had not experienced in any of the military campaigns in Europe. The battles on Belarusian soil in June –August 1941 contributed to the disruption of the German plan.
At the end of the speech, all the speakers had a conversation, during which students and staff asked their questions.
The meeting with the participation of invited guests became the culmination of the day. The ranks of honored guests were joined by a student of BNTU, Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Belarus, winner of the Commonwealth Cup in biathlon, silver medalist of the Olympic Games in Beijing Anton Smolsky.
- This is not just a date on the calendar, this is a day when many nations unite and remember the heroism of people. Today we have the opportunity to breathe freely, learn and build the future thanks to the great feat of veterans. Our duty is not to forget what was, and to remember, and also to be proud, grateful and responsible for the future that they gave us.
Those present spoke about the heroism and exploits of our ancestors. Creative teams of the BNTU Department of Culture also performed. Their performances were filled with patriotism and the spirit of the war years.
The mission of the young: to preserve the common historical memory. That is why BNTU students from the post-Soviet countries were present today. Together with the cadets of the Military Technical Faculty they carried the flags of their countries.
In addition, the participants honored the memory of the victims with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the monument to students and teachers of the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute who died during the Great Patriotic War.
The event ended with a general commemorative photo session. Holding such events is a symbol of deep respect for the heroes and a reminder of the need to preserve peace and harmony on Belarusian soil.
We thank everyone who attended this important event today, not only for the university, but for the entire Belarusian nation. We congratulate everyone on the upcoming Victory Day and wish you a peaceful sky above your head! May the dedication and courage of the Soviet people remain in your memory forever.
