Ukrainian Bible Society

Ukrainian Bible Society ( _uk. Українське Біблійне Товариство)- religious non-profit organization, established by representatives of different Christian denominations in Ukraine, who recognize the Bible as the Word of God. It is a member of the international association of United Bible Societies, which currently involves 144 national institutions of similar kind.

The Ukrainian Bible Society main task is to translate, publish and distribute the books of Old Testament, New Testament and the whole Bible.

The Bible Society in Ukraine began its work in 1815 as a network of several affiliates to the Russian Bible Society. After a long period of Soviet regime restrictions, the Ukrainian Bible Society was created in 1991. Among its initiators were the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptist Church, the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians (Pentecostal), Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Later they were joined by Lutheran community, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. [ [http://ukrbs.org/ukr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=88 Ukrainian Bible Society] ]

Yakov Dukhonchenko was the first President of the Ukrainian Bible Society since 1991. Hrihoriy Comendant is carrying out the President responsibilities at present time (2007).

The Organization has four branches in Kyiv (Central branch), Kherson (Southern branch), Kharkiv (Eastern branch) and Lviv (Western branch). There is also a special department for Bible translation into modern Ukrainian language by Father Rafail Turkoniak.

Activities

The Ukrainian Bible Society is an active supporter of the official celebration of the "Day of the Bible" since 2004, when the Bible Day was celebrated for the first time in Ukraine. In all countries of the world, the Day of the Bible is celebrated on the last Sunday of October. [ [http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;3432/ First Bible Day to be Officially Celebrated in Ukraine, by RISU] ]

In 2005, it distributed 174,721 copies of the Bible and 159,626 copies of the New Testament. [ [http://www.biblesociety.org/bs-ukr.htm Bible Society work in Ukraine] ]

The new edition of the Ukrainian-language Bible translation of Ivan Khomenko with corrections introduced by a special work group was presented at the Ukrainian Catholic University in October, 2007 [http://www.ucu.edu.ua/eng/current/chronicles/article;3148/ UCU NEWS] ] . This new edition had, by some estimations, an ecumenical character and included particular contributions of Catholics and Protestants. [http://www.ucu.edu.ua/eng/current/chronicles/article;3148/ UCU NEWS] ]

In 2008 the Ukrainian Bible Society launched a new project for the Bulgarians, one of the most numerous national communities in Ukraine. The assistance in obtaining Bibles in the Bulgarian language for the project was provided by the United Bible Societies. According to project plans, the Bibles will be presented to national cultural centers, libraries, educational institutions, religious institutions and many individual Bulgarians wishing to read the Bible in their native language [ [http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;21128/ Ukrainian Bible Society to Help Bulgarians in Ukraine Read Bible in their Native Language, RISU News] ] .

The cornerstone of a new building of UBS named "Bible House" was laid on Bauman Street in Kyiv in March, 2008 [ [http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;21511/ Bible Society will Have New Building in Kyiv] ] .

Bible translation into Ukrainian

The known history of the Bible translation into Ukrainian began in 16th century with Peresopnytsia Gospels, which included only four Gospels of the New Testament. Later in 17-19th centuries, when the Ukrainian territory was a part of the Russian Empire, several other translations were made secretly because of the Russian Government restrictions on Ukrainian language [ [http://ukrbs.org/ukr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=32 Ukrainian Bible Society, History of Bible Translations] ] [ [http://www.pravda.com.ua/en/news_print/2006/5/25/5302.htm Marta Onufriv, Ukrainska Pravda] ] . At present there are several translations of Holy Scripture into Ukrainian:
* Panteleimon Kulish translation;
* Pylyp Morachevskyi (1806-1879) translation of the New Testament [ [http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;19512/ Conference in Kyiv Marks Birth Anniversary of First Translator of Holy Gospels into Ukrainian] ] ;
* Ivan Khomenko translation;
* Metropolitan Ilarion (Ivan Ohienko) translation;
* Patriarch Filaret (Mykhailo Denysenko) translation;
* Rafail Turkoniak translation (in process, the New Testament is already published).

References

External links

* [http://ukrbs.org/ukr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=88 Ukrainian Bible Society Web site]
* [http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.php?param=pgs20064/90 Translations of the Bible into Ukrainian, "Welcome to Ukraine" Magazine]