Orthodox Christian Translation Society: Recent Episodes

Orthodox Christian Translation Society

The Orthodox Christian Translation Society (OCTS) continues the work of Pentecost by supporting the translation of Orthodox texts that have inspired various cultures, and gives contemporary Orthodox Christians the opportunity to meet the voices of Orthodox giants from around the world.

Today, quality Orthodox literature exists in many different languages. Yet while clergy and lay people around the world share in a common spiritual struggle, language barriers often make them unable to hear the Holy Spirit through the voices of other Orthodox Christians. OCTS exists to bridge the gap between cultures and languages through the translation of Orthodox texts and to help translators share their unique skills with the Orthodox world. Unlike other publishers and bookstores, we are a non-profit organization committed to the entire process of creating high-quality Orthodox translations.

Unlike other publishers and bookstores, OCTS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to the entire process of creating high-quality Orthodox translations.

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Learn more about the Orthodox Christian Translation Society through the lens of one of its translators, Ágúst Symeon Magnússon, who is currently translating Metropolitan Kallistos Ware's modern classic, The Orthodox Way (SVS Press), from English to Icelandic.

In this premiere episode, Symeon speaks openly about his unexpected journey from non-belief to Orthodox Christianity via Buddhism, Søren Kierkegaard, and a thirst for authentic spirituality.

Along the way, he explains the demise of Christianity in his native Iceland, the influential role Metropolitan Kallistos Ware played in his own conversion, and why he believes The Orthodox Way contains a message that his fellow Icelanders—and indeed, all of us—need to hear.

To listen to the second podcast episode from Symeon, click here.

You can learn more about Symeon and his translation efforts here.


Ágúst Symeon Magnússon originally hails from Reykjavík, Iceland. He has a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Iceland and a PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University, where his dissertation focued on the correspondence between the philosophical thought of Søren Kierkegaard and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. His interests include existentialism, philosophy of religion, film, literature, and playing Ninja Turtles with his son Jóakim.

Support the show (https://orthodoxtranslations.org/products/donations)

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In this third and final episode with Ágúst Symeon Magnússon, he effortlessly weaves together a discussion encompassing the need for spiritual vulnerability, his approach to evangelization as invitation, and his motivation for bringing The Orthodox Way to an Icelandic audience.

To listen to the first podcast episode from Symeon, click here.

You can learn more about Symeon and his translation efforts here.


Ágúst Symeon Magnússon originally hails from Reykjavík, Iceland. He has a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Iceland and a PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University, where his dissertation focued on the correspondence between the philosophical thought of Søren Kierkegaard and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. His interests include existentialism, philosophy of religion, film, literature, and playing Ninja Turtles with his son Jóakim.

Support the show (https://orthodoxtranslations.org/products/donations)

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In this second episode from Ágúst Symeon Magnússon, he speaks in a surprisingly personal way about the joys and pains of translating. From his struggles with stereotypical "Christian language" to the difficulties of conveying meaning across languages, linguistic laypersons and fellow translators alike will find themselves amused, intrigued, and ultimately disarmed by Symeon's candid and conversational style.

To listen to the first podcast episode from Symeon, click here.

You can learn more about Symeon and his translation efforts here.


Ágúst Symeon Magnússon originally hails from Reykjavík, Iceland. He has a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Iceland and a PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University, where his dissertation focued on the correspondence between the philosophical thought of Søren Kierkegaard and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. His interests include existentialism, philosophy of religion, film, literature, and playing Ninja Turtles with his son Jóakim.

Support the show (https://orthodoxtranslations.org/products/donations)