Abstract

The paper focuses on presenting the development of biblical texts in Romanian book culture. From the beginning of the 15th century, the first manuscripts of evangelicals and psalters in the Old Slavic language used in both religious and secular speech at that time in Romanian territory have been preserved. In addition to Old Slavonic, Romanian people used Cyrillic in written expression until the end of the 19th century.
The paper follows the book editions of the Old and New Testaments, printed already in the Romanian language (from 1582 and 1648); then presents a first complete edition of the Bible in the Romanian language from 1688. Publication of this edition was supported by two Muntén rulers, Şerban Cantacuzino and Constantin Brâncoveanu. Even though two complete translations of the Bible into Romanian language from the 18th century have been preserved in the manuscript form, these were probably not used in the second edition of the Bible from Blaj in 1795. Based on this version, further editions were published in 1819 and 1858.
Both ecclesiastical and academic cultural institutions have published many solemn editions of the Bible in jubilee years, commemorating their significance for Romania’s cultural heritage.

Keywords: The Bible, Romanian Language, 16th – 19th centuries, Religious Literature, Manuscripts, Printed Editions