This is the first edition of the New Testament printed in Russian without parallel Church Slavonic text. Biblical translations into the common tongue occurred both earlier and later for Eastern Orthodox traditions than other places in Europe. Translations into Slavonic occurred due to missionary efforts in the 9th century, but translations into modern languages didn’t occur until the 19th century. In 1816, Tsar Aleksander I tasked the Russian Bible Society with printing the New Testament in Russian and Church Slavonic under the supervision of the Russian Orthodox Church. This edition of the New Testament was completed in 1821. It was later decided to print separate editions of the Russian and Church Slavonic texts, resulting in this New Testament from 1823. A complete Russian Bible, following the canon of the Russian Orthodox Church, was completed in 1876.