06/25/2026
THE (Old Rite) RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST BOOKSTORE
Announces new publication:
THE TSERKOVNOE OKO
(“THE EYE OF THE CHURCH”)
(printed in the year 7149 from Creation (that is, 1641AD).
ABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM CHURCH SLAVONIC INTO ENGLISH.
This volume will be professionally photocopied and in the following format:
Pages: 484 pages (242 sheets)
Size: 8.5x11 folded / finished
60 # text uncoated for inside pages.
Clear cover and black cardstock back.
Finish: PLASTIC BLACK COIL on 11" edge.
Printed in Black & Red. $75.00 (not discounted) (Available July 25, 2026)
Editor’s Introduction below.
**For more information, please contact Fr Pimen directly
THE TSERKOVNOE OKO (“THE EYE OF THE CHURCH”)
(printed in the year 7149 from Creation (that is, 1641AD).
ABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM CHURCH SLAVONIC INTO ENGLISH.
JUNE 2026
EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION FOR THE ABRIDGED TRANSLATION OF THE “TSERKOVNOE OKO (“THE EYE OF THE CHURCH”) (printed in the year 7149 from Creation; that is, 1641AD). FROM CHURCH SLAVONIC INTO ENGLISH.
FR. PIMEN SIMON - JUNE 2026
The project of translating this book into English began over 40 years earlier than the publication that will now occur in 2026. After the restoration of priesthood for the priestless Old Rite of the parish of the Nativity of Christ in Erie Pennsylvania in 1983, I felt the need for further translation of the pre-Niconian liturgical, or pseudo-liturgical, books of the Russian Orthodox Church. Furthermore, I felt that the ongoing presence of a New-Rite ROCOR parish in Erie was beneficial, since I recognized that many Orthodox Christians, particularly those raised in parishes serving predominantly in Church Slavonic might not wish to attend a parish serving predominantly in English, and/or might also not wish to attend a parish using the Old Rite, Thus, shortly after the restoration of priesthood to the Church of the Nativity, I offered the translating opportunity to Fr. German Ciuba, the rector of the ROCOR New Rite Our Lady’s Nativity parish in Erie. The dual purpose was, first of all, to accomplish the needed translations, and secondly, to provide some monetary remuneration to enable Fr. German, and whoever would follow him, so as to be able to remain at the Church of our Lady’s Nativity, in light of the fact that there were a very small number of parishioners attending there who could support a full-time priest. Of course, the willingness of Fr. German Ciuba to accept this task led him to become the translator for every one of the publications published over many years by the Church of the Nativity of Christ.
When Fr. German left the parish of Our Lady’s Nativity in 1986, Fr. Thomas Marretta followed as the rector there. It was at that time that I offered Fr. Thomas the opportunity to translate the early chapters of the Tserkovnoe Oko. Over the next several years he did so, all in handwritten manuscript form. Over a period of time these manuscript forms were digitized, and sometimes revised in some minor ways. Thus, Fr, Thomas should be given credit for his role in the original translations of the early portions of the book. He has not been given the opportunity to edit the chapters he translated so many years ago, so I offer my apologies if any of these early chapters may not be precisely the way he originally translated them.
Also, over the years, I have consulted Fr. German, and Bishop John of Caracas and South America, the overseer of the Old Rite, for translations of several intricate passages in the book that I had difficulty translating. But, in the final analysis, the vast majority of the translation and editing has been done by me, and if there are criticisms of the translations or the style of the corpus, they lie with me, and I ask for forgiveness for any inaccuracies in this translated book.
Now, for the important notes:
This is a reference book. Were it a book used for liturgical purposes, rather than for reference purposes that primarily explain the rubric for Orthodox Christian services, I would have striven much more diligently to ensure that there were no stylistic differences in different portions and sections of the book. Fr. Thomas primarily translated using old English style of verse, pronouns and the like. For example, such phrases as: “if a feast falleth” or “thou dost” may be present. And as I worked on this book for well over 25 years, at times I would forget exactly what style others or I had utilized. But I was not overly concerned about this, because I would find similar discrepancies in style from chapter to chapter in the original Church Slavonic book. In one section I might find a direction highlighted in red; and in another section the same sort of direction was printed in black. I don’t want to spend a great deal of time on the possible inconsistencies in style, but over time I ceased obsessing about this, because the book will never be read orally. It will be consulted for instructional purposes, and I truly doubt that those who utilize this book will even notice that there may be stylistic differences from place to place. They will utilize the instructions, and most likely not notice style. However, if there are stylistic differences in different sections of the book that are distracting to any readers, I offer my deep bow and ask for your forgiveness!
