Warsaw, January 2, 2023
Photo: orthodox.pl
Several years of dedicated labor have finally culminated in the publication of the Polish Orthodox Church’s own translation of the complete New Testament.
The commission established by the Polish Holy Synod recently completed its work on Revelation—the final book of the New Testament, the Church reports.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a great event for Orthodoxy in Poland,” the report reads. “Neither clergy nor laypeople will have to choose between numerous non-Orthodox New Testament translations for liturgical or home use.”
Next, the Church commission will translate the Old Testament as well.
The Polish Orthodox New Testament can be purchased at various Church outlets in Warsaw and online at www.sklep.cerkiew.pl.
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From His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa’s foreword to the new translation:
The Holy Bible is the most sacred of books for every Christian. It is a book whose words are full of the Holy Spirit. It is the source of the food necessary for life: the purest water and the best bread. It is the food that nourishes the believer who wants to find the Truths of life. It is a lamp that allows you to see the good way leading to salvation.
Thousands of tractates and treatises have been written on the role of the Holy Scriptures in the life of the Christian. It was taught by the Holy Fathers and eminent theologians. Everyone emphasized that there is no teaching that is better, more valuable and more important than that contained in the Bible. Reading the Word of God instills and develops faith, strengthens hope and all virtues. It instills love for God and neighbor, comforts, encourages and induces to penance, and converts sinners. It is in the Holy Scriptures that a true seeker finds answers to their tormenting questions, it encourages and inspires us to talk with God in prayer, and prayer inspired by the Holy Scriptures is the most important way to develop Christian spirituality. It is the reading of the Bible that leads to the knowledge of God and to self-knowledge; it is conducive to spiritual improvement. As the Book of Life, however, it should not only be read with words, but also with deeds.
God speaks to people through the Holy Scriptures, it is “God’s letter to people” (St. Gregory the Dialogist), in which we must find the content of truth appropriate it to the degree of our spiritual and intellectual development. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (Jn. 6:63), the Savior teaches, and the holy Apostle Paul adds: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Thus, there is no more universal guide to Christ than the Bible.
MMan shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Mt. 4:4); So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). So let us read the Holy Scriptures to learn from them the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn. 14:6), because all this is our Savior, Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. May the content of this Book of Books accompany us every day, inspire us to get to know God and pray with Him, may it be helpful for the salvation of each of us.
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