Question 19: Why do you use the King James translation of the Bible?

Question

Why do you use the King James translation of the Bible?

Answer

I prefer the Authorized or King James translation of the Bible (KJB), because it is still the most familiar version of the Bible in the English-speaking world, and because it is, in my opinion, the most poetic and liturgical form of English available. Indeed, that is the language I was raised with at the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex, England, and came to love. St. Sophrony the Athonite preferred it and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this style of language. (I used to be one of his altar boys, which was a very great blessing indeed.) Of course, where the KJB translation needs tweaking, I do step in and make the necessary corrections.