His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel underlined that the Vatopedi Psalter “is the result of intensive cooperation between the fathers of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos and a group of professors from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology ‘Patriarch Justinian’ of the University of Bucharest, under the coordination of the Reverend Professor Constantin Coman.”
His Beatitude participated Tuesday evening in the launch of the Vatopedi Psalter, an event held in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace.
“The launch of the Psalter in a bilingual Greek-Romanian edition takes place in the context of the visit to Bucharest, July 11–16, 2025, of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, and is part of a series of theological and academic events organized by the Romanian Patriarchate in 2025,” noted Patriarch Daniel.
The Patriarch of Romania noted that the appearance of a bilingual Greek-Romanian edition of the Psalter is a remarkable editorial and spiritual event, enriching the liturgical, theological, and cultural heritage of both Romanian and universal Orthodoxy.
Full Message:
The Bilingual Psalter – An Exceptional Editorial and Spiritual Event
With special spiritual joy, we participate today, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace, at the official launch of the Psalter in a bilingual Greek-Romanian edition, the result of intense cooperation between the fathers of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos and a group of professors from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Patriarch Justinian” of the University of Bucharest, under the coordination of the Reverend Professor Constantin Coman.
This Psalter, printed in Greece at Gramma Printing House and elegantly bound by Kypris Bindery in hard covers, is published under the aegis of the same Holy Vatopedi Monastery, just like the bilingual New Testament edition released in 2022 by the same team of dedicated contributors. It stands as a beautiful testimony to the good relations of fellowship and communion between the Holy Vatopedi Monastery and the Romanian Patriarchate.
The launch of the bilingual Greek-Romanian Psalter takes place within the visit to Bucharest of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery, from July 11–16, 2025. It fits into the series of theological and academic events organized by the Romanian Patriarchate in 2025 to mark the Centennial of the elevation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the rank of Patriarchate and the 140th anniversary of the recognition of its autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In the spirituality of the Orthodox Church, the Psalter holds a very special significance. It is an emblematic book of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, as well as an inexhaustible source of prayer, praise, and spiritual elevation.
It expresses all the soul’s states in dialogue with God: praise, thanksgiving, repentance, humility, trust, and pleas for help in suffering, temptations, and hardships. Thus, the Psalter is used both in church services and in personal prayer, contributing to the spiritual edification of believers, to their purification from passions, and to their strengthening in faith.
The publication of a bilingual Greek-Romanian Psalter is a notable editorial and spiritual event, enriching the liturgical, theological, and cultural heritage of Romanian and universal Orthodoxy.
In addition to its bilingual character, the uniqueness of this work lies in the fact that the Greek text included in this edition reproduces the version of the Psalter that circulated in Byzantine manuscripts, returning to the ecclesial-liturgical text specific to the Orthodox East.
Moreover, the work is published with the highest typographical quality, adorned with authentic Byzantine miniatures taken from manuscripts preserved in the Vatopedi Monastery library. These illustrations are not merely decorative elements but true icons of the Psalms’ words, meant to lift the mind and heart towards the divine.
Additionally, a particular feature of this Psalter is that the method used in translation remains faithful and respects philological accuracy while also considering other criteria specific to theological and liturgical texts: “Continuity with the tradition of Psalter translation into Romanian; Renewal where the need to recover a deeper meaning of the text was evident; Avoiding overlapping the hermeneutical act with the act of translation to leave open the possibility for multiple interpretations arising from the apophatic nature of Scripture; Verifying understanding derived from philological and historical-critical research with the hesychastic and philocalic experience of the Church Fathers” (Afterword, pp. 642–650).
Therefore, this work reflects not only scientific rigour and fidelity to the ecclesial text transmitted by Byzantine tradition but also the spiritual sensitivity of those who worked prayerfully and discerningly on its translation and publication.
Through its theological content and artistic presentation, this Psalter stands as a novelty in the contemporary Orthodox editorial landscape and a precious gift for the liturgical and personal life of the faithful.
We therefore extend heartfelt congratulations and thanks to all those who contributed to the realisation of this work, especially to the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim and the entire brotherhood of the Holy Vatopedi Monastery, who supported the publication of this Psalter through prayer, guidance, and financial assistance.
At the same time, we congratulate the members of the group of theologians and biblical scholars from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Patriarch Justinian” of the University of Bucharest, who, under the coordination of the Reverend Professor Constantin Coman, carried out the meticulous work of translating this biblical, liturgical, and cultural treasure.
We pray to the Most Holy Trinity that this Psalter may be a blessing for all believers, a support in their spiritual guidance, and a living source of prayer and liturgical chant, to nourish and strengthen the minds and hearts of those who use it with faith.
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
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