Audio versions of the Old Testament books of Genesis and Exodus in the Kalmyk language have been recorded at the office of the Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) in Moscow. The project brought together Sandzhi Pursyakov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Kalmykia,  and Elistina Shinyakaeva, one of IBT’s Kalmyk Bible translation team members. The two alternated in the roles of narrator and text editor.

These two books were translated by Vera Shugraeva, a celebrated Kalmyk poet and playwright who has worked on IBT’s Bible translation for many years. Shugraeva  transformed  the written narratives into dramatic, action-driven scripts for this recording project. 

For Pursyakov, this marked his first involvement in a Kalmyk-language Scripture project. The defining feature of the text, he noted, was its rich, literary Kalmyk. "I encountered some words in this text for the first time in my life; they simply don't appear in everyday conversation," he said. "This is precisely why audio versions are created: when the narrator uses rhythm and intonation to hold the listener's attention, even someone completely unfamiliar with Genesis will instinctively be drawn into the stories as they unfold." Shinyakaeva, who had previously recorded the Psalter, Jonah, and Bible Stories, observed that while the text was familiar to her, the collaborative process allowed her to rediscover well-known passages from a fresh perspective.

Both participants also reflected on spiritual values. As a representative of Buddhist culture, Sandzhi views biblical themes as a gateway to understanding Russian classics and fostering interfaith dialogue, as well as a powerful reminder to safeguard spiritual traditions. "We have a duty to discuss such topics, especially with children. This resonates across all faiths, especially given the turbulent times we live in." Elistina named the Ten Commandments - which make their first biblical appearance in Exodus - as her favorite passage of Scripture.

Beyond her translation work, Elistina actively promotes the Kalmyk language through music. She has written over a hundred songs, participated in grant-funded projects such as "Kalmyk Children's Songs" and "Lullabies," and is currently developing a series called "Warm Songs" for younger audiences. Sandzhi, meanwhile, emphasized the project's significance for deepening engagement with his mother tongue: "The Kalmyk language is both beautiful and melodic. All the languages of Russia's peoples deserve to thrive. The more languages a person knows - especially through a text as profound as the Bible - the broader their worldview becomes."

The audio recordings of Genesis and Exodus will soon be made available on the IBT website. The Institute remains committed to its mission of translating and promoting biblical texts among the many languages of Russia.