Liturgy

In the Preface to The Festal Menaion (Faber & Faber, London, 1969), Mother Mary and (then) Archimandrite Kallistos Ware wrote this of their own work:

“We are deeply conscious of its many defects. We have made every effort to provide a text that is dignified and accurate; but the task of translating the Orthodox service books is beset by formidable difficulties, and it is impossible to hope for anything that approaches perfection. Greek liturgical poetry at its best combines a marvellous beauty of language with a rigorous precision in theological expression. Much of that beauty and that precision is invariably lost in the transition… On many occasions we have been tempted to give up in discouragement. But always one thing has led us to persevere — our knowledge that on the practical level there is an urgent and specific need for English texts. So voluminous are the Orthodox service books that it will require many years of work by different translators before a full English version is made available.”

An analogous situation exists when it comes to Ukrainian in liturgy; a language until relatively recently banished from the Church in precisely those regions where native speakers formed the Orthodox majority. Important work is ongoing to address the lack of adequate translations; and that effort should be met with the same humility, gratitude and enthusiasm afforded those continuing Mother Mary’s and Metropolitan Kallistos’ work in English — and for precisely the same reason:

“Without translations which they can consult at home or take to church, these Orthodox are being spiritually starved, cut off as they are from a full participation in communal prayer.”

He said to him a third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

John 21:17