Every hymn fails
that seeks to match
the multitude of your many mercies.
For even if we offer you, O holy King,
songs equal in number to the sand,
we achieve nothing worthy
of what you have given us, who cry to you:
Alleluia!
– Akathistos Hymn, Kontakion 10, trans. Ephrem Lash
LT 101 Introduction to Liturgical Translation is designed for people who are translating, or preparing to translate, liturgical texts of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church into a language that they speak fluently. It can be used as a textbook during courses or in less formal training situations. This training programme was created by mission specialists of the Translation Program of OCMC - Orthodox Christian Mission Center.
By completing this training programme, you will:
Gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of Eastern Orthodox Christian liturgical translation;
Develop skills and learn methods for using these principles to achieve meaningful translations that can be used in Eastern Orthodox Christian worship, and that represent the original texts faithfully and effectively;
Discover the beauty of your own language and develop a vision for empowering people to worship God “in spirit and truth” using the rich resources of that language; and
Experience the benefits of cooperation and teamwork in the translation process, adapting the methods to fit the local situation.
Before starting this course, you must:
In order to successfully complete this training programme, you will need:
Access to a computer or mobile device with an internet connection; and
Time to study every day.
You will need a reliable internet connection.
You will need to dedicate some time every day towards studying the materials and completing the exercises.