The Bible. Complete Synodal Translation with Illustrations

You can familiarize yourself with the entire book in electronic format on the publisher's website SZKEO. The gift illustrated edition is printed on cream-colored paper with a ribbon bookmark of one color with a headband.

For the first time in Russia, the text of the Bible, approved by the Holy Synod (the so-called Synodal translation), is published with original illustrations by Gustave Doré. The talented French artist worked on them for two years for the illustrated edition of the Bible in German; this translation was completed by the writer and Rabbi Ludwig Philippson. The Bible with engravings based on Doré's drawings, published in 1866, became so popular that a year later the original drawings of the artist were published in a separate three-volume edition. It is these drawings, and not the engravings made from them, that are reproduced in this edition.

The Bible is not only the foundation of Christianity but also an essential part of the entire world culture. Its Old Testament was written in ancient Hebrew. These texts, created from the 15th to the 1st century BCE, were carefully preserved during copying and by the 10th century CE, thanks to the efforts of Jewish scholars - the Masoretes - who worked with the ancient manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures, had attained their final established form. The Old Testament, translated in the 3rd to 1st century BCE in Alexandria into ancient Greek, came to be known as the Septuagint, meaning 'translation of the seventy elders.' The New Testament of the Bible was also written in ancient Greek. In the late 4th century CE, the Vulgate appeared - a translation of the Bible into Latin, and this 'Latin Bible' was first printed in 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg.

In the 9th century, Cyril and Methodius translated the Bible into Old Church Slavonic. With the advent of printing in Rus, the Bible began to be published in Church Slavonic; these texts were used both in the church and in home practice. In 1751, by the decree of Empress Elizabeth, they were compared with the Septuagint, but by that time, very few Russians understood Church Slavonic, so by the decree of Alexander I, the Bible started to be published in Russian. The translation was carried out by the Synod - the highest state body of church administration - which is why it became known as the synodal translation. The translation of the 39 canonical books of the Old Testament was made from Hebrew (Masoretic text); ten of its non-canonical books were translated from Greek, and one - from the Latin Vulgate. The New Testament was translated from the Greek original.

This edition publishes for the first time in Russia images of 230 original drawings by Gustave Doré. The talented French artist worked on them for two years while preparing to publish the Bible translated into German by writer and Rabbi Ludwig Philippson. The Bible with illustrations by Doré was first published in 1866, and engravings made from the master's drawings were printed in it. This edition became so popular that in 1867, the original drawings by Gustave Doré were published in a separate three-volume edition. It is these drawings, and not the engravings made from them, that are reproduced in this edition.