In Moscow took place the presentation of the Chinese edition of the book of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill “word of the pastor”

    

December 7, 2018 in the “President Hotel” in Moscow held a presentation of the Chinese translation of the book of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill “word of the pastor”, according to patriarhiei. The publication was presented by the Chairman of the Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culturematters of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon.

The presentation was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Ambassador-at-large of the MFA of Russia E. Y. Tomihin, councillor for culture of the Embassy of China in Russia Gong Jiajia, chief editor of the Publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Balashikha Nikolay, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal missionary Department of the hegumen Serapion (Mitko), the Abbot of the Chinese Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow, Archpriest Igor Zuev, rector of the Church of Origin of Honest trees Holy cross (vsemilostivogo Spasa) in Sochi Archpriest Boris Tokarev, rector of the Church of the Holy apostles Peter and Paul in Hong Kong Archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyaev, the translator of the book Professor at the Institute of strategic cooperation of Russia and China at Tsinghua University, sun Yue, editors Professor, Department of Oriental languages of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation A. V. Semenov, Professor, head of Department interpretation of the Higher courses of foreign languages Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia T. G. Semenova, Russian Orientalists and Chinese Russianists.

In his address, the DECR Chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk emphasized that the proposed Chinese reader book is a living word of Christ, born of personal reflection and personal experience of faith of the Patriarch. “On every page we see the author’s call to the reader to think about the most important and pressing issues in human life and society, culture and politics, the relation of the Church to what is happening in the country, in the world, — said the Hierarch. The fact that the book has been translated into 14 languages, suggests that the reflections contained in it relevant to modern man, who thinks about the meaning of human life, regardless of what corner of the world he lives in Russia or in China, in Europe or in Asia.”

As testified by Bishop Hilarion, Russia and China are friendly neighbouring great powers with the richest spiritual and cultural traditions. “For almost four centuries the history of our relations in political, economic, cultural, religious spheres, because throughout this time Christianity has historically been one of the important bridges linking our peoples,” — said the Archbishop. He also expressed the hope that the present Chinese reader book will be for many a personal guide from the Primate of the Russian Church, because it contains deep knowledge about the faith, about religion, about the gospel, about the old Testament.

“After reading this book, modern man can understand what the Orthodox faith in a living experience, — said, in particular, Metropolitan Hilarion. — The main task which was put by the author of the presented current work is to convey to the reader that the Word of God relevant to our lives < … > that the gospel is not only a historical document, it has a direct relation to human life”.

Then the attendees asked the Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culture of Pskov and Porkhov, Metropolitan Tikhon:

“For us it was a special honor to publish a book of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill in the Chinese language, because, firstly, it is a wonderful book, which we published in our publishing house when I was head of Sretensky monastery, and, secondly, this book is directed to Chinese reader.

In the Patriarchal Council for culture has developed a very warm relationship with Shanghai University, where there is a wonderful faculty of the Russian language. Those humanitarian projects that we are together now ongoing, very important to us. And students from Shanghai who are interested and professionally engaged in literature, history, and our students of Moscow universities very much need to personally communicate and discuss those topics that are common and important to them. Discussing projects with Shanghai University, we talked about the need to try to convey to the Chinese reader the essence of the Orthodox faith, without which it is very difficult to understand Russian culture, the great Russian literature.

The voice of the Patriarch is particularly important, for it is the voice of the man who has gone through a lot with his generation, with their parents, passed the whole confessional way of the Church of the twentieth century. Through this book, his Holiness talks about his faith, about the faith of their compatriots, ancestors of the Russian people and our highest ideals. Therefore, the representatives of Shanghai University were interested in how to open to Chinese professionals and all those interested in Russian culture, Russian history, this amazing door leading to the knowledge of our mentality and our lives.

We thought hard about what book to choose, as suddenly realized that this book is, and it has many times been reprinted. His Holiness at first surprised when we asked for his permission to publish his book. He thought, for it was for him unexpected, but then happily agreed. I was lucky enough to bring His Holiness the advance copy of this book. The Patriarch took a long time flipping through, intently, it was clear that for him this expensive edition. And he was blessed to distribute the book in Russia. We hope that the interest in this field of the study of Russian history and Russian culture will continue to grow, and that more than one book telling about the soul of the Russian people, will be released in the Chinese language.”

Then made Ambassador at large of the MFA of Russia E. Y. Tomihin, which, in particular, said: “the Book presented today in the Chinese language, to me as a sinologist, who has long been studying the Chinese language, it is very interesting to hold. This edition is without exaggeration — the contribution of Russian Sinology and Chinese studies. And in China, and in Russia the vast majority of people share the same values is a social ideals, moral values, the moral foundations of the family. And I am sure that this book and other similar works that come out in Russian and Chinese languages, aimed at deepening mutual understanding, strengthening friendship and peace between our peoples.”

Addressing the meeting, the translator of the book Professor sun Yue stressed that “the word of the shepherd” — “contemporary Christian work” that has educational value. “In the edition of several genres intertwined: theology, history, philosophy, psychology, and journalism,” said sun Yue, while noting that the book is compared to the eponymous television program is much richer in content due to the additional and unexpected interpretations of famous biblical stories. According to the interpreter edition, the book “pastor’s Word” in the Chinese language plays an important role in the development of cultural exchange between China and Russia.

“Recently, the Institute of strategic cooperation of Russia and China at Tsinghua University, which was created to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with educational and research institutions of Russia and China, begins a scientific study on the topic “the Russian Orthodox spiritual mission in Beijing and its influence on the development of Oriental studies,” said sun Yue. — During the discussion several issues we spoke to our young staff that future research activities will be developed on the basis of the Russian Orthodox traditional culture and sacred history. The only way we will be able to understand the existing relationship between the two countries, steps aimed at the development of Orthodox Church life will contribute to the strengthening of peace and accord in the Chinese society, deepening understanding, promoting cooperation and good relations between our peoples.”

Further included presentations by editors — Professor of the Department of Oriental languages of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation A. V. Semenov and Professor, head of the Department of the interpretation of the Higher courses of foreign languages Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia T. G. Semenova.

“The Chinese who study the history and culture of Russia, and who come to our country on fact-finding missions by reading the book “pastor’s Word” will find answers to questions about the historical development of Russia, about the role of Orthodox Christianity in this development”, — said A. Semenov. According to him, the book “pastor’s Word” can give a powerful moral charge modern Chinese reader who thinks about good and evil, about the meaning of human life. “Patriarch Kirill’s book is a moral guide in the achievement of harmony of Russian-Chinese relations of partnership and strategic cooperation”, — said Professor of the Department of Oriental languages of the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Russia.

In turn, head of the Department of the interpretation of the Higher courses of foreign languages of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation T. G. Semenov noted that the Chinese edition of “words of the shepherd” will be interesting not only Chinese-reader as a religious-philosophical work, but also Russian sinologists who study the Chinese language in all its manifestations. “Written in simple, straightforward language, the book allows the reader to look differently at the events that took place more than two thousand years ago, and realize that everything that happened then has a direct relationship with modernity, and to this day has a huge impact on our lives. It is very important that the translator of the book Mr. sun Yue was able to fully and accurately convey the spirit and letter of the work”, — said T. G. Semenova.

At the end of the presentation, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culture of the Pskov and Porkhovskomu Metropolitan Tikhon, the translator of the book Professor of the Institute of strategic cooperation of Russia and China at Tsinghua University, sun Yue and all who worked on its publication. The Archbishop also thanked all participants and expressed hope that Patriarch Kirill’s book “pastor’s Word”, published in the Chinese language, will find its way to the hearts of the Chinese believers.

“His Holiness Patriarch Kirill repeatedly visited the people’s Republic of China, met with descendants of the Albazinians, who still keep the Orthodox faith. His Holiness also met with many Chinese believers and in your heart is love for China. And the book that we have presented today is an interesting, deep and at the same time written in simple and clear language, gift of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the faithful of China,” — said the head of the DECR.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.