An Indonesian-language edition of the New Testament was presented at the Church of the Apostle Thomas in Jakarta on October 19, the feast day of the apostle, according to the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The presentation was preceded by a festive Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, vicar of the Diocese of Singapore. Clergy from local Orthodox parishes took part in the service.

The publication was presented with the blessing of Metropolitan Sergius, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia. Following the ceremony, clergy and parishioners gathered for a communal meal.

The translation of Orthodox religious literature into Indonesian has been underway for several years as part of efforts to make the faith and its liturgical traditions more accessible to local communities.

In December 2025, the first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian was presented in Bekasi, a city near Jakarta. The publication was intended to help Orthodox Christians, including converts to the faith, better understand prayers and participate more fully in church services.

Orthodoxy emerged in Indonesia in the late 20th century. Translating liturgical and religious texts into Indonesian presents particular challenges because of differences in grammar and terminology between the languages involved.

Indonesian belongs to the Austronesian language family, while Ancient Greek, in which a significant portion of early Christian texts was written, belongs to the Indo-European family. These linguistic differences require careful work to convey the meaning and theological nuances of Orthodox texts accurately.

The presentation of the New Testament marks another step in the development of Indonesian-language Orthodox resources, supporting the religious education of local believers and helping communities participate more fully in the life of the Church.