The former abbot of St Adelbert Abbey in Egmond-Bininen, Br Gerard Mathijsen osb, was among those present at the presentation of the new translation of The Psalms of the Early Church. He was impressed by both the presentation and the translation itself on which a team from the St Irenaeus Orthodox Theological Institute, based at Radboud University in Nijmegen, worked for five years.
The Coptic community excels in stylish hospitality. The atmospheric setting was an excellent choice to launch this new edition. This took place during a content-rich session, with an ecumenical and interested audience, including several young people. The session in the church opened and closed with prayer, in which Coptic Orthodox Bishop Arseny presided, inviting all to join in prayer. This set the ecumenical tone.
In the liturgical tradition of the church, the psalms have traditionally occupied a prominent place. The ancient monks prayed daily the entire psalter, which they knew by heart, and still today the psalms form the main part of choral prayers.
Much other liturgical poetry, hymns and texts are also peppered with psalm quotations that are Christologised. As Father Michael Bakker writes in his introduction to this edition, the Emmaus story (Luke 24, 13-35) has had a great influence on the reading of Scripture. Indeed, the risen Lord explained to the two Emmaus disciples 'from all the prophets what was related to him in all the Scriptures'. Thus, Christians began to read holy scripture with new eyes. The later church poetry, the hymns, and the Church Fathers' interpretation of the biblical texts shed light on the Christ mystery from this perspective. The ancient church read Holy Scripture in the Greek text of the Septuagint, so the texts in the liturgy are grafted onto it. Translations that rely on the Hebrew text do not reflect this connection.
The Dutch-Flemish Bible Society has provided a fine presentation of the text. In very concise form, the introduction and the two appendices offer a wealth of information for which the user will be grateful.
The publication aims to be a helping hand to the various traditions of the churches of the Orthodox East, and the hope is that this book can appeal especially to the new generation seeking to connect with the lore.
The translation team has apparently acquired a taste for it: Dr Michael Bakker indicated that they want to continue translation work, and are thinking about the writings of Evagrius Ponticus, and even a Dutch edition of the Philokalia. This would realise the dream of Fr Christofoor Wagenaar, who did a lot of work for this half a century ago. Meanwhile, the presence of Orthodoxy in its various traditions, especially the Byzantine, Syrian and Coptic, has greatly increased and those communities show a vitality that attracts others too. It was no coincidence that NOS was paying attention to this event just today. What was coincidental (?) was that in Rome on 9 November Pope Francis included Isaac the Syrian in the Latin Martyrologium.
© Willem Jan de Bruin
- Psalmen van de Vroege Kerk, vertaald uit de Septuaginta
- NBG, € 24,95
