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TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATIONS
Father Athanasius has been active in the field of translation, particularly in liturgical texts. In 1990, His Holiness Pope Shenouda appointed a committee for translating the Liturgy. Fr. Athanasius and Fr. Antonios Henein shared the secretariat of that committee. His Holiness’ directions to the committee were to use old English for the translation. Father Athanasius remains committed to His Holiness’ directions. Some may argue that old English is not spoken today, yet in celebrating the Arabic Liturgy we use classical Arabic which is different from spoken Arabic, a similar situation.
Abba Pishoy Monastery, May 1990, committee for translating the Liturgy. Second from left is Dr. Emile Maher (currently Fr. Shenouda)
TRANSLATIONS BY FATHER ATHANASIUS:
These include all three liturgies, the Lakkane service, the Kneeling service. The Agpeya and the Liturgy of Holy Matrimony were translated in collaboration with Fr. Ammonius Guirguis. Father Athanasius was the first to translate Midnight Praise (Tasbeha) and record it in English. Liturgy of Holy pascha and of Joyous Saturday as well as numerous other liturgical services were also translated.
In November 1997, His Grace Bishop Serapion and His Grace Bishop Youssef formed a committee to revise the earlier translation of 1990. Father Athanasius was invited to participate in the committee.
