Missionary publications of the Translator Commission of St. Gurias Brotherhood (1867–1915)

Abstract

The missionary activities within the cultural life of Kazan region was related to book production, distribution and use. The authors focus on the book missions and, in particular, on the contribution of St. Gurias Brotherhood Translator Commission to publishing translated missionary books in Russia’s native languages. They analyze the repertoire of missionary books published by St. Gurias Brotherhood in 1867–1915 categorized by target regions and related strategy of translations of religious, secular, popular and educational literature into the languages of the Russian Empire. The authors attempt to evaluate the significance of the Translator Commission endeavors in the missionary and secular educational fields. The Translator Commission activities, aimed at the spread of Christianity, facilitated the development of alphabets of previously “oral” nations in the eastern Russian regions, and of book publishing in the native languages. The missionary publications of St. Gurias Brotherhood Translator Commission had a significant impact on development of the book culture of the nations of Kazan region.