A city project in Troitsk
1876–2026
The Synodal translation made the Bible clear and accessible in Russian. Our project invites you to take a step toward it: copy a few lines from the New Testament and, if you wish, talk about what you have read.
Project volunteers meet residents of Troitsk, invite them to copy a few lines from the New Testament and talk with anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible.
Tap a photo to view it larger. Here are meetings with residents, copying lines from the New Testament and conversations about the Bible.
Hello.
You are at an installation dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Synodal Bible translation.
Today it is familiar to open the Bible in Russian — in a book, on a phone, on a website or in an app. But the path to that was long and difficult.
For many centuries Scripture in Rus’ was read in Church Slavonic — the language of worship and church tradition.
Yet living Russian speech kept changing. More and more people could no longer easily read and understand the biblical text on their own.
In the early nineteenth century came an important turn. According to contemporaries, in 1812 Prince Alexander Golitsyn introduced Emperor Alexander I to the Bible. The emperor began reading Scripture in a French translation.
In 1813 the Russian Bible Society was founded by imperial decree, and in 1816 systematic work on a Russian translation began.
The Gospels appeared in 1818, and the New Testament in the 1820s. Then the project was paused for nearly thirty years.
Officially the translation stopped. In practice the work continued. Gerasim Pavsky kept translating Old Testament books. Makariy Glukharyov also worked on a Russian Bible.
Later, in the 1850s, the work was renewed. Four theological academies, theologians, philologists and scholars of ancient languages laboured on the text.
In 1876 the complete Bible in Russian appeared “with the blessing of the Holy Synod”. That is how the Synodal translation came to be.
It did not replace Church Slavonic in worship, but became the Bible for reading, understanding and spiritual instruction at home.
Today we invite you to become part of this story: copy a few lines from the New Testament and personally touch the words of the Gospel.
Because the Bible is not only a monument of history. It is a sacred book that speaks of God, of humanity, of the meaning of life, hope and Saviour Jesus Christ.
For many centuries Scripture was read and heard in Church Slavonic across Rus’. It was the language of worship, church books and spiritual culture.
The Slavic biblical tradition begins with Cyril and Methodius. Their work, continued by their disciples, became the foundation of spiritual life in Rus’.
One of the earliest monuments of the Slavic biblical text.
Before the full Russian edition, the Russian Church already had a rich Slavic biblical tradition. Key stages include gathering the full text and the arrival of printed editions.
The first complete Slavic biblical collection.
The first complete printed Slavic Bible.
The main liturgical Bible of the Russian Church before 1876.
By the early nineteenth century Russian had changed greatly. In church people heard Scripture in Church Slavonic, yet spoke Russian in daily life. A question arose: should people be able to read the Bible in a language they understand?
According to contemporaries, in 1812 Prince Alexander Golitsyn introduced Emperor Alexander I to the Bible. The emperor began reading Scripture in a French translation — a turning point.
In 1813 the Russian Bible Society was founded, and in 1816 systematic work on a Russian translation began. The Gospels appeared in 1818, and the full New Testament in 1821–1822.
In 1826 the official project was paused for nearly thirty years. The reasons included disputes about a Russian translation, concern for the place of the Church Slavonic Bible, and a changed attitude of the authorities toward Bible societies.
Officially the translation stopped. In practice, the work continued.
Even when the official project paused, translators kept working — among them the priest Gerasim Pavsky, a scholar of biblical Hebrew, and the Orthodox missionary Makariy Glukharyov.
Priest and Hebrew scholar; continued translating Old Testament books
Orthodox missionary; worked on the Russian Bible translation
In 1856–1858 work on the Russian translation was renewed. The New Testament was translated from Greek. The Old Testament from Hebrew, checked against the Slavic tradition, the Septuagint and other ancient translations.
Four theological academies, theologians, philologists, scholars of ancient languages and church editors worked on the text. It was a major ecclesial and scholarly effort across generations.
Church leader during the renewal of translation work
Theologian and translation contributor
Biblical scholar and translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Orientalist involved in biblical studies
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
Translation contributor
In 1876 the complete Bible in Russian appeared “with the blessing of the Holy Synod”. That is how the name Synodal translation became established.
It did not replace the Church Slavonic Bible in worship, but became the Bible for reading, understanding and spiritual instruction at home.
The Synodal translation shaped spiritual life, education, literature and the Russian language. Millions of people could read Scripture in clear Russian.
The Bible drew closer to family life, school, culture and personal faith.
The Synodal translation made it possible to read the Bible in clear Russian — at home, in family life and in personal reflection.
Scripture speaks of hope, responsibility and life’s deepest questions. We invite you not only to copy a few lines, but to consider what the Bible says to you personally.
