[B-Greek] MT 2:1-2 , 2:9 KALA CRISTOUGENNA!

frjsilver at optonline.net frjsilver at optonline.net
Mon Dec 25 18:50:32 EST 2006


Dear Friends --

During today's Divine Liturgy, for the first time in a LONG time, I heard the deacon read an English-language translation of the Nativity Gospel which accurately rendered 

MAGOI APO ANATOLWN PAREGENONTO EIS hIEROSOLUMA LEGONTES:  POU ESTIN hO    TECQEIS BASILEUS TWN IOUDAIWN:  EIDOMEN GAR TOU AUTOU TON ASTERA EN THi ANATOLHi

No more of this 'in the east', I think, which -- in addition to being incorrect --  leaves us wondering if the astrologers were 'in the east' when they saw the star, or if the star itself  was 'in the east' when they observed it. 

FROM the east they came, no doubt about it, but translations seem to be in a rut on this and other points.  The inaccurate yet commonly encountered renderings to which people are accustomed have great yet undeserved valence, and we translators sometimes reproduce these errors since we and the people in the pews have become inured to them, willy-nilly;  this isn't good.  

We have to study harder, do better work with these sacred texts.


CRISTOS GENNATAI, DOXASATE!

KALA CRISTOUGENNA KAI EUTUKHES TO NEON ETOS!

Peace and blessings of Christ's birth to all.

Father James Silver

Monk James
Orthodox Church in America








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