Nicolas Tikhonchuk

This article examines the question of liturgical languages in the context of the establishment of the Orthodox Church in the West. Through pastoral testimony and theological reflection, the author analyzes the issues related to the choice of language in liturgical celebration and its role in the transmission of the Orthodox faith to faithful of Western culture. The main argument holds that linguistic inculturation does not constitute a doctrinal concession, but a necessary condition for the intelligibility of worship and the rooting of the Orthodox tradition outside its lands of historical origin. The contribution of the article lies in the articulation between concrete field experience and theological principles, thus offering elements of reflection on how the Orthodox Church can fully embrace Western vernacular languages without betraying the integrity of its liturgical tradition.