The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Church to procure rare Bible copy

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Friday, Jan 21, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Church to procure rare Bible copy

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN. 20. The London Mission Memorial (LMM) Church here, affiliated to the Church of South India, is making efforts to procure the first copies of the New Testament in Telugu printed nearly two centuries ago and display them at the church as part of its on-going bi-centenary celebrations.

The presbyter-in-charge of the church, Rev. Ch. Joel Alfred Samuel Chinnam, told a media conference here on Thursday that the LMM Missionaries, Des Granges and George Cran, with the help of a Brahmin convert, Ananda Rayara, translated the New Testament into Telugu. It was published in 1818.

Rev. Joel said a few copies of the original print were available in Philadelphia and Sweden, and steps were being taken to procure them.

The church also has plans to translate the Bible into new languages. He said a member of the church, P. Mohan Rao, had agreed to fund translation into Sadri, which is spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bihar and West Bengal.

Special service

Rev. Joel, who is also vice-chairman of the bi-centenary celebrations committee, said a special thanksgiving service of the bi-centenary celebrations of Christian missionary work in Visakhapatnam would be held on Sunday and Monday.

The Bishop of the KG Diocese, the Rt. Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam, will preside .

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