TRANSLATION OF LITURGICAL TEXTS

TRANSLATION OF LITURGICAL TEXTS. Translation of biblical, patristic, and liturgical texts, usually from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into the languages of the peoples surrounding or making up the Empire-i.e., Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopian, Armenian, Georgian, and later on Church Slavic, Arabic, Romanian, etc.-was a feature of the Eastern Church from the earliest years. By the time of Byzantium (q.v.) proper, from the 6th c. on, a style of translation emerged that continued to hold the field until very recently. With the Peshitta (Syriac Bible, 5th c.), the translations of the Syriac golden age, and the work of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius (qq.v.) and their disciples, translators sought an exceedingly literal translation of Greek-even slavish-so some might argue today.