|
 Saydon
has been Malta's foremost biblical scholar. Born in
Zurrieq on 24th July, 1895, he received his
education at the Archbishop's Seminary, the
University of Malta, and the Pontificial Biblical
Institute in Rome. In 1915 he graduated B.Litt., and
J.C.B. and D.D. in 1919 when he was ordained priest.
In 1923 he was awarded the licentiate in Holy
Scipture. At 36 he was appointed Professor Holy
Scripture, Hebrew and Biblical Greek at the
university of Malta.
Between 1932 and 1962 he attended not less then 17
International Congresses of Old Testament and
oriental Studies, and published a wide range of
scholarly research papers in local and foreign
journals. "But his masterpiece that caused him a
great deal of intellectual elation was his single
handed translation into Maltese of the Old and New
Testament" from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and
Greek texts. This literary, 'monumental translation'
took Saydon 30 years to finish - from 1929 to 1959.
On 12th November 1960 the University conferred on
him the D.Litt (Honoris Causa).
Prof. Saydon's learned commentaries on Holy
Scripture, his scientific approach to biblical
literary criticism and his studies in Hebrew
philology earned him international fame. His
world-wide renowned "Scroll Theory" is just one
instance. Equally masterly were his contributions to
Maltese linguistic scholarship.
He died in Zurrieq on 22nd March, 1971. |
