Features of translation of the commentary on the Revelation of Saint John by Nersēs Lambronatsʻi
Keywords:
Nersēs Lambronatsʻi, Nersēs Shnorhali, Constantine of Hierapolis, Andrew of Caesarea, commentary, Book of Revelation, translation, adaptation, Armenian traditionAbstract
The article discusses Nersēs Lambronatsʻi’s (1153– 1198) translation and adaptation of the commentary on the Book of Revelation. It reveals the motivations that prompted Nersēs to undertake the translation, which holds significant value within the Armenian Apostolic Church legacy. As a source for his translation Lambronatsʻi used the Greek original by Andrew of Caesarea (AD 563–614). In his colophons, Lambronatsʻi notes that he delivered the Greek original to the Catholicos of Rumkale, Gregory IV Tgha (1173–1193), who entrusted with its translation the metropolitan of Hierapolis, Constantine. It was with Constantine that Lambronatsʻi made the initial translation of the Commentary. But why is the translation now attributed only to Lambronatsʻi in Armenian literature? The fact is that Constantine was Greek, most likely had not mastered Classical Armenian, and so turned the original text into the colloquial Armenian of that time. Subsequently Lambronatsʻi himself revised the translation and adapted it to the patterns of literary Armenian. Furthermore, he made many changes to the text, adapting it to Armenian religious thought, so that the Armenian text is valuable as an almost independent work. This research highlights the textual discrepancies between existing printed versions and ancient manuscripts, justifying the necessity for a new critical edition of the text.Downloads
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