Nicaraguan evangelicals mark 457th anniversary of first Spanish Bible amid state pressure

Christian churches in Nicaragua held a commemorative event marking the 457th anniversary of the Bear Bible (Biblia del Oso), considered the first complete Bible printed in Spanish, according to Bendición News

The opening ceremony took place at the Plaza de la Biblia in Managua, drawing representatives from various evangelical denominations. The Federation of Nicaraguan Evangelical Churches (Federación de Iglesias Evangélicas Nicaragüenses, FIENIC) coordinated the event

“This is a celebration of unity around the Word that transforms. We want this event to be a time of reflection for all Nicaraguan families,” FIENIC representatives said at the opening ceremony, according to Bendición News

The agenda included biblical conferences, prayer services, community reflection sessions, and cultural activities related to the history of the Spanish Bible

A Context of State Pressure on Churches

The event took place in a country where international bodies have documented a sustained deterioration of religious freedom

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has documented restrictions on religious activity in Nicaragua, including cancellations of legal status for faith-based organizations, harassment of religious leaders, and limits on public worship

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has also documented measures by the Nicaraguan state against religious, educational, and humanitarian organizations amid a broader wave of civil society cancellations

Open Doors included Nicaragua on its World Watch List, describing pressure against Christians — particularly churches and leaders perceived as critical of the government

In recent years, religious communities in Nicaragua have adapted public activities in response to increased state controls over gatherings, processions, and large-scale events. Evangelical sectors historically marked Bible Day with marches and public ceremonies, but the current political environment has narrowed the space for churches in public settings

The Bear Bible: A Milestone for the Spanish-Speaking World

The commemoration recalled the publication of the Bear Bible in 1569 in Basel. The work was translated by Casiodoro de Reina, a Hieronymite monk who later became associated with the Protestant Reformation and worked in exile amid the religious persecution of the 16th century

The Bear Bible gave Spanish-speaking readers their first complete Bible in their own language. Decades later, Cipriano de Valera revised Reina’s translation, giving rise to the Reina-Valera version, one of the most widely used biblical texts among Spanish-speaking evangelical churches

For Nicaraguan evangelical churches, the anniversary marked the Bible’s importance as aeligious communities have grown