Landmark Yakut biblical dictionary unveiled after 170 years of tradition

A new Explanatory Theological Dictionary of Biblical Terms in the Yakut Language was unveiled on November 17, 2025. The presentation took place at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in Moscow. Key figures, including Archbishop Roman of Yakutsk and Lensk, led the event to mark this milestone in Yakut-language publishing. The project traces its roots back 170 years, when the Holy Synod first allowed the printing of liturgical books and Scripture in Yakut. This latest work was developed over several years by the Yakutsk Diocese’s translation department. Sergei A. Leontyev and Nikolay N. Yefremov oversaw the effort, which included academic peer review before publication by the Institute for Bible Translation in Moscow.

Archbishop Roman blessed the dictionary’s preparation and used the occasion to celebrate the institute’s 30th anniversary. He recognised outstanding contributors with awards and stressed the ongoing importance of translating Scripture into Yakut. The event also drew high-ranking attendees, such as Head of the Republic Aisen Nikolayev and Alexander Fyodorov, Sakha’s Permanent Representative to the Russian President. Audio recordings of Yakut-language publications, including this dictionary, are now accessible on the Institute for Bible Translation’s website.

The dictionary’s release reinforces the Yakutsk Diocese’s commitment to expanding theological literature in the Yakut language. It also builds on a long tradition of religious publishing in the region. The work is now available to scholars, clergy, and speakers of Yakut through both print and online formats.