Sign Language Bible Story Translation in Armenia

In Armenia, the day before a general election is referred to as a "day of silence" because political parties are no longer allowed to campaign. This year's "day of silence" took place on April 1, the same day that the Armenian Deaf community celebrated the launch of the first Scripture in their native language, Armenian Sign Language.

 

“The silence is over!” said Armenian Bible Society Program Director Arshavir Kapoudjian, describing the joyful and colorful moment, which was attended by many deaf people, their families, and church representatives. The event was full of pantomimes, poems, and songs performed by deaf youth, including those involved in the project of translating Bible Stories in sign language.

 

The DVD of Old Testament stories in Armenian Sign Language is the first result of a three-stage project to produce 365 Bible stories in sign language. Five hundred copies were produced and distributed to members of the deaf community in Armenia. Work on the second DVD, The Life of Jesus, is well underway and will be launched later this year, and work will begin next year on the final volume - The Acts.

 

Years of dreaming and praying

“This is the culmination of years of dreaming and praying,” says Mr. Kapoudjian, one of the hearing impaired in Armenia. “Fifteen years ago, Father Yessayi Artenian started working with the hearing impaired, and learned sign language in order to communicate with them. I also became involved in organizing Bible study sessions for the hearing impaired. For four years we have been working to produce this DVD, but it wasn't until we received funding a year ago that we were able to move forward more quickly. We are very grateful to the British Bible Society (BFBS) for this support.

 

Edik Hayrapetian, one of the young people involved in the project, described the difficulties the team faced in translating Scripture into sign language.

 

“We've learned a lot about the Bible, and one of the most important things is learning about the importance of faith. Conviction is the essence of life, the way we can reach out to God and others. It's not easy, but we have the conviction to overcome the challenges of translating God's Word in sign language," he said.

 

"We can't just keep God's Word to ourselves," he further said.

 

"As we started to understand each other, things went smoothly and we became more and more aware that we couldn't just keep God's Word to ourselves – we had to share it with everyone," Edik explained.

 

General Secretary of the Armenian Bible Society, Yeznik Petroysan, encourages the hearing-impaired community to spread God's Word to their friends. "God entrusted His Word to be shared through chosen ones, such as prophets, apostles, Church Fathers. Today, you have the translation of the first part of the Holy Bible in your language. God has chosen you to spread His Word to more and more people."

His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar of the Diocese of the Araratian-Armenian Patriarchate, also thanked those involved in the project.

 

”The seed sown in your soul has borne its fruit through the release of this DVD of Bible Stories in Sign language. This wonderful event coincides with the Day of Silence, but for the hearing impaired, silence is a way of life. Now, in that silence, you hear God's voice and greeting. God's life-giving words will register and grow in your heart, thus transforming you into witnesses who are active in spreading God's Word.