The Oldest Known Persian Translation of the Gospels
Document Type : pajoohesh
Author
10.22081/jap.2025.77751
Abstract
The Persian manuscript of the Gospel of Matthew, catalogued as Vat. Pers. 4 at the Vatican Library, is the oldest known translation of the Gospels into Persian language and script. It was transcribed in 712 AH/1312 CE by Mas‛ūd b. Ibrāhīm during the Ilkhanid period, amid the cultural and religious exchanges occurring in Iran. The translation is based on a Syriac version of the Holy Scriptures. The manuscript comprises 81 folios, written in a clear naskh script, without decoration, and displays archaic linguistic and orthographic features. These characteristics reflect the need of Syriac-speaking Christians to access religious texts in Persian for the preservation of their religious identity. The use of Islamic terminology and its unique literary style make this manuscript a significant source for studying the history of religious translation, orthography, and the cultural context of the Mongol era in Iran.
Keywords
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