Russian Orthodox Patriarch Consecrates Tyvan Cathedral, Meets with Kamby Lama

As part of his recent pastoral visit to Siberia Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow visited the Republic of Tyva, where he consecrated the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyzyl, the Tyvan capital, and received a copy of a translation of the Bible into the Tyvan language. During his time in the republic, the first by a head of the Russian Orthodox Church to Tyva, Patriarch Kirill also met with the leader of the Tyva's large Buddhist community, the Kamby Lama. More (in Russian) here and here.

Russian Orthodox Church Releases Ukrainian-Language Book of the Gospels

The Russian Orthodox Church has published a Book of the Gospels for use in the divine services in the Ukrainian language. More (in Russian) here.

Bishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk Interviewed on Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan

Bishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and the Orthodox Church in Circassia, administrator of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox parishes in Turkmenistan, has granted an interview on the status of the Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan. Overall the situation seems to be improving, with the parishes coming under the direct authority of the Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Christian religious literature being allowed into the country, and several new parishes currently in the process of being registered with the Turkmenistani government.

During the interview Bishop Theophylact also discussed his recent pastoral visit to Turkmenistan over Pascha and the ongoing efforts to translate the divine services into Turkmen. More (in Russian) here.

Tyvan-Language Bible to be Released

In connection with the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Tyva the Russian Orthodox Church is releasing the first full translation of the Bible into the Tyvan language. More (in Russian) here.

Gospels to be Published in Modern Georgian

The Georgian Orthodox Church is preparing to release a translation of the Gospels into modern Georgian from Greek and ecclesiastical Georgian undertaken with the blessing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (Gudushauri-Shiolashvili) of Mtskheta-Tbilisi. The work of translating the four Gospels has been underway for some 15 years. More (in Greek) here.

Malankara Orthodox Holy Synod Hears Appeal on English-Language Service Books

During its winter session, which started today, the Holy Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will be considering an appeal from a senior clergyman of the Church in the United States that concrete steps be taken immediately to publish the services of the West Syrian Rite followed by the Malankara Orthodox Church in English so that the Church's youth abroad aren't lost to sects. The Church has considered the issue in the past, but nothing has yet to materialize on an official level. More here.

Finnish Orthodox Church Approves New Translations

At a recent meeting of the Local Synod of the Finnish Orthodox Church a Finnish-language translation of the Septuagint was approved and blessed for use in the divine services of the Finnish Orthodox Church, as was a new translation of the Great Litany. More here.

Order Renews Chinese Translation Grant

The Order of St. Ignatius of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America has renewed a grant to the Fellowship of All Saints of China to enable it to translate into Chinese and publish the full Prologue from Ochrid compiled by St. Nicholas (Velimirovich) of Libertyville. More here.

Chinese-Language Outreach Discussed in Moscow

The Moscow Theological Academy recently held a meeting on how to further Chinese-language outreach to Chinese immigrants in the countries of the former USSR. More here.

Russian Orthodox Church to Serve in Kazakh

Glory to God for all things! The Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan is preparing to publish official service books in the Kazakh language so that the services can be celebrated in either Slavonic or Kazakh. The country's theological seminary already mandated the study of Kazakh by future pastors and last year's patriarchal Paschal epistle was published in both Russian and Kazakh in the country, but by God's mercy soon churches with Kazakh Orthodox members will be able to pray in their members' native tongue. More here.