Joseph Raya's edit of the Confraternity Version

[Jeffgo]

I’ve heard from a few different people that the Melkite Archbishop Joseph Raya (known for Byzantine Daily Worship, among many other things) did an edit/reformatting of the text of the Confraternity New Testament for use in the Gospel and Epistle books used in the Melkite Church. From what I’ve heard, the changes he made were to bring the text into conformity with the Greek (the Confraternity Version was based on the Vulgate), as well as other minor changes. Was his edit of the Confraternity Version ever released as, well, a New Testament, or does it only exist in lectionary form? Does anyone know anything else about this version?

 

[Bithynian]

it only exist in lectionary form

From my understanding ++Raya’s edition of the Confraternity text only existed in the Euangelion and the Apostolos. I don’t think Alleluia Press (the publishers of the lectionary texts) ever released a full Bible, or even that ++Raya attempted to do so.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

WOW. I didn’t even know he did that!

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Yes. Archbishop Raya was the man! Although I haven’t read his writings in some time because the books by him that I used to own were all destroyed by mold, I used to read him quite a bit and always gleaned a great deal of insight from him. He reads like a spiritual father talking to his children in a simple and direct fashion.

 

[Jeffgo]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I suspected that the Raya edit of the Confraternity Version only existed in lectionary form, so it’s good to have confirmation on that. Am I correct to assume that the Gospel and Epistle books still being published by Alleluia Press are the Raya Confraternity Version?

Also, I’ve heard that older Epistle and Gospel books used in the Ruthenian Church are the Raya Confraternity Version, or at least they were used in the Ruthenian Church at one time. Does anyone know if this version can still be used in the Ruthenian Church? I would much prefer it over the 1970 Version of the NAB New Testament, which is what I’ve always heard being used. If there is still a permission to use them, and if they’re still being printed by Alleluia Press, I would love to see them replace the 1970 NAB Epistle and Gospel Books.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Our Epistle book is from BSP and is the 1970 NAB. (I can’t stand the NABRE.) Idk about the Gospel book since the only time we ever see it up close is on Great Friday & Saturday while venerating the plaschenitsya.