Script: Russian & Trad. Chinese Publisher: Krutitsy Patriarchal Metochion, Moscow/Brotherhood of SS Peter & Paul, Hong Kong Date: November 2007 Format/Pages: Hardcover ISBN: N/A Availability: ship from Hong Kong Price: $12.98 USD (90 RMB; 100 HKD)
In Moscow, a print run of 1500 copies of the Russian-Chinese dictionary of Orthodox vocabulary made history as the first of its kind. The availability of this dictionary is an important milestone in the process of building a standard Orthodox lexicon for Chinese translation initiatives.
This dictionary compiled by Marina V. Rumyantseva (ISAA) is published with the funding from Orthodox Brotherhood of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Hong Kong and Krutitsy Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow. Work on the dictionary involved the help of specialists from Fu Jen Roman Catholic University of Taiwan, Beijing Normal University and University of Thessaloniki.
The Dictionary in question represents a first attempt to build up a lexicon which would consist of translations from Russian into Chinese of the key terms and concepts related to the Services of the Russian Orthodox Church and the spiritual practice of the faithful. It is directed primarily toward those Chinese who would like to acquire some idea about Orthodoxy in general and the Orthodox Service in Russia in particular. It is quite clear that without having this basic knowledge it is not just impossible to make one's decision about receiving Holy Baptism and participating in the Church life in Russia but is not possible either to involve oneself into study of Russian culture, and especially do translations of texts that do not have necessarily ecclesiastical context.
Notwithstanding the modest size, this Dictionary involves a large spectrum of vocabulary: in it are included the names of the Orthodox Services and Feasts, the Sacraments of the Church, the basic Service books, hymns and prayers, the holy vessels and priestly vestments, definitions of concepts related to the understanding of sins and virtues etc. In most cases necessary explanations are given clarifying the sense of the concepts in question.
In this lexicon its place have found words from the Holy Scripture often used in the Orthodox practice, words from prayers and hymns, as well as names of a large number of saints and theologians with accompanying short commentaries.
Recommended for both Russian and/or Chinese inquirers to get acquainted with Chinese Orthodox vocabulary and their definitions in regards to the Orthodox Faith. For those doing Chinese translation projects, this reference work will greatly assist them to adhere to a uniform lexical standard. This lexical standard and its subsequent revision is governed by the OFASC Commission on Translation.