Jan Langa
Germany- Life and Early Education
- Ministry and Cultural Endeavors
- Biblical Translation
- Opposition to Vernacular Literature
- Family and Legacy
Life and Early Education
Jan Gotthelf Lang was born on May 18, 1669, in the small Serbian village of Palow. As the son of humble farmers, he pursued his education at the Budissen Gymnasium before moving to Meißen and subsequently the University of Leipzig in 1691 to study theology.
Ministry and Cultural Endeavors
After completing his studies, Lang was ordained as a Lutheran pastor and served in various parishes throughout his career. From 1696 to 1704, he held the pastorate in Budischin, from 1704 to 1710 in Smeilna, and from 1710 until his death in the village of Minakal.
Biblical Translation
Jan Gotthelf Lang played a pivotal role in the Serbian-Lusatian cultural revival movement. As one of four translators, he contributed to the first complete translation of the Bible into the Upper Lusatian language. This monumental task required eleven years of meticulous work, involving extensive consultation with Polish, Czech, and Old Slavic versions. The Bible was finally published in 1728, after Lang's passing, thanks to the support of the Serbische Prediger-Societät (Serbian Preaching Society). Known as the "Biblija 1728," this translation remains a celebrated masterpiece of Serbian-Lusatian literature and language.
Opposition to Vernacular Literature
Despite his involvement in the biblical translation project, Lang held reservations about the translation of religious texts into Lusatian. In 1720, he published "Christliche und reiflich überlegte Gedanken über Herrn Petri Schiracks, Pfarrers in Creba errafften critico-philologischen Vortrag," a treatise criticizing Peter Schirach's proposal to republish the "Warichiusowy katechizm" in Lusatian.
Family and Legacy
Jan Gotthelf Lang was married and had two sons, Jan Balthasar Lang and Jan Bedrich Lang. His contributions to the Serbian-Lusatian cultural revival movement continue to be recognized and honored.
