Synodal Translation
ru
The Синодальный перевод (Synodal Translation) is the Russian biblical translation authorized by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, and has been the most widely used biblical text among Russian-speaking Christians for over a century and a half. The New Testament was published in 1862 and the Old Testament was completed in 1876, marking the result of a long process initiated in the early nineteenth century that faced various political and ecclesiastical vicissitudes throughout its execution.
From a methodological perspective, the Synodal Translation was produced from the original Hebrew (Masoretic Text) for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament, with reference also to the Septuagint and the Church Slavonic tradition. The translators, among whom figures such as Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow played a central role, sought a balance between fidelity to the originals and respect for the Orthodox liturgical tradition, producing a text in elevated, dignified, and theologically precise Russian, while maintaining a certain proximity to Church Slavonic.
The historical context of the Synodal Translation is marked by the cultural and religious reforms of nineteenth-century Russia, at a time when the need was recognized for a Bible accessible to the people in their mother tongue, since Church Slavonic, though sacred, was progressively less understood by ordinary faithful. After its publication, the Synodal Translation quickly became the standard not only for the Russian Orthodox Church, but also for Russian Protestant communities and Russian-speaking believers in the countries of the former Soviet Union and the diaspora.
The Синодальный перевод is in the public domain due to its age, which permits its free reproduction and distribution. This status has been fundamental to its widespread dissemination across all digital and printed platforms, ensuring that this historic translation remains the biblical reference point for millions of Russian-speaking Christians worldwide, transcending confessional boundaries among Orthodox, Protestants, and Catholics.