First Catholic breviary published in Russian language
A religious work receiving a major financial contribution from Prince Ranieri of Monaco.
Verona (AsiaNews) It will be a particular Pascal Triduum this year for the Russian speaking Catholic community. For the first time ever, Russian speaking Catholics will have a complete version of the Liturgy of the Hours in their own language. While the text is making a trial run, its use has already been approved by the Russian Catholic Bishops' Conference.
"Its release has been long-awaited not only in Russia, but in all former Soviet-block countries," said Fr. Pierre Dumoulin, president of the Russian breviary's preparation committee. "Until now only a psalm book for four weeks of ordinary time existed. Now the text is complete with the Liturgy of the Hours and is available to faithful in the two-volume edition."
"The first (volume) contains psalms and antiphons for the entire liturgical calendar. The second contains the Office of Readings. In a region which suffered such totalitarian atheism this work represents an important challenge to the resurgent Catholic Church."
The preparation work of the Russian breviary took more than 3 years. It was carried out by a special committee of bible scholars, philology experts and a group of Russian Catholic priests and seminarians. A complete revision of psalms and biblical hymns was necessary so as to make the text conform to the original and that of the Vulgate used by the Latin-rite Church.
"The translation of the Latin hymns into Russian was a very difficulty task and was done with the help of a music commission. In terms of the readings, the biblical texts are those of the official "synodal" version. The texts of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church were for the most part unedited and thus are a new patrimony for the Church in Russia," said Fr. Dumoulin.
The Paoline Press published and will distribute the Russian edition of the breviary. French donors and Prince Ranieri of Monaco helped cover costs involved.
Printing expenses were covered by the "Russian Church Aid" fund founded by an American priest and by money left in Verona native Msgr. Bernardo Antonini's will, former vice-rector of the Russia Seminary (1994-99) and vice-rector of the Kazakhstan Seminary. Fr. Antonini passed away in 2002.
The Russian breviary was based on the spiritual will of Fr. Antonini, and hence is dedicated to his memory. Fr. Antonini was a tireless in his apostolic activities and now, through the new breviary in published his honor, will go down in history as one the most active and beloved workers for the revival of the Catholic Church in Russia and former Soviet Union.
"The second volume opens with a prayer to Mother Teresa inviting us to give our every effort to apostolic service, " said Fr. Dumoulin. "(The breviary provides) a program for all Catholic clergy and faithful to follow in a part of the world where Catholicism has not too few difficulties."
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