Cyril and Methodius

NAME Cyril (born Constantine) and Methodius

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Known as the "Apostles of the Slavs," Cyril and Methodius were Byzantine missionaries who brought Christianity, literacy, and cultural influence to the Slavic nations. They created the Slavonic alphabet, a precursor to the Cyrillic script, and translated Scripture and liturgy into Old Church Slavonic.

BIRTH Cyril: c. 826-827, Thessalonica, Byzantine Empire

Methodius: c. 815, Thessalonica, Byzantine Empire

FAMILY BACKGROUND They were born into a noble and devout Greek family in Thessalonica, a city with a significant Slavic population. Their father, Leo, was a high-ranking Byzantine military officer and magistrate, while their mother, Maria, was possibly of Slavic descent. The brothers were part of a large family with seven children, with Cyril being the youngest.

CHILDHOOD The brothers grew up in a multicultural environment, exposed to both Greek and Slavic cultures, which likely influenced their later work as missionaries to the Slavs.  

EDUCATION Both brothers received a rigorous education. Cyril, in particular, excelled academically and was sent to the prestigious Imperial School of Constantinople at the age of 14. There, he studied theology, grammar, arithmetic, geography, astronomy, music, poetry, rhetoric, and languages such as Latin, Hebrew, and Syriac. His intellectual brilliance earned him the title "the Philosopher" and a position as a librarian at the Church of Hagia Sophia and a professor of philosophy at the University of Magnaura.

Methodius, while also well-educated, pursued a different path. He initially worked as an administrator in Macedonia but later renounced worldly pursuits to become a monk, adopting the name Methodius.

CAREER RECORD 851: Cyril (then Constantine) undertook a diplomatic mission to the Caliph of Baghdad

859-861: Cyril and Methodius led a successful missionary expedition to the Khazars near the Caspian Sea

863: Cyril and Methodius began their work among the Slavs in Moravia

863-867: The brothers created the Glagolitic alphabet and translated religious texts into Old Church Slavonic

869: Pope Adrian II formally authorized the use of the Slavic liturgy

870: Methodius was consecrated as Archbishop of Sirmium by Pope Adrian II

870-873: Methodius was imprisoned by German clergy

873: Methodius was liberated by Pope John VIII's intervention1

880: Methodius was summoned to Rome and received papal approval for using the Slavonic liturgy1

882: Methodius visited Constantinople to strengthen his position in the Eastern church.

APPEARANCE Descriptions of their appearance are sparse, but Cyril is often depicted as scholarly and ascetic, while Methodius is shown as strong and resolute. As Byzantine Greeks from Thessalonica, they likely had Mediterranean features common to that region.

Saints Cyril and Methodius - fresco in Troyan Monastery

FASHION Cyril is often depicted wearing a monastic habit, reflecting his status as a monk. Methodius is usually shown vested as a bishop with an omophorion, indicating his role as an archbishop

CHARACTER Cyril was intellectual and visionary, while Methodius was pragmatic and determined. Together, they complemented each other in their missionary work.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Cyril had a quick wit: When challenged about creating a liturgy in the Slavic language, Cyril responded with a sharp retort, asking if his critics thought God was "so weak that he cannot grant it, or so envious that he does not wish it?"

RELATIONSHIPS Neither Saint Cyril or Saint Methodius ever married. Both brothers dedicated their lives to religious service and missionary work.

The brothers had a strong bond, collaborating closely on their missions. Their relationship with the Byzantine Emperor Michael III and Patriarch Photius was also pivotal.

MONEY AND FAME While they gained significant renown for their missionary work, they lived modestly as monks and dedicated their lives to their faith.

FOOD AND DRINK Their diet would have been typical of Byzantine monks: simple and consisting mainly of bread, vegetables, and water.

MUSIC AND ARTS  Cyril and Methodius were well-educated in music and "enriched the Moravian Church with chant and spiritual songs. " They supported the use of Slavic chant in liturgical practices, integrating local traditions into Christian worship. Their approach of using local language and cultural elements in worship was praised by Pope Adrian II, who authorized the use of the Slavonic liturgy

LITERATURE Cyril and Methodius were deeply committed to translating religious texts into the Slavonic language.  To facilitate their translation efforts, the brothers created the Glagolitic alphabet, a writing system specifically designed for the Old Church Slavonic language. Cyril initiated this monumental task by translating the opening lines of John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word..." Subsequently, they collaborated to translate the four Gospels, the epistles of Paul, and the book of Psalms. Methodius later completed the translation of the entire Bible, excluding the apocryphal books of Maccabees. Additionally, they translated liturgical books and prayers into Slavonic.

Their translations were renowned for their precision and natural flow. They coined numerous new words and expressions, significantly expanding the Slavic lexicon. Their work laid the groundwork for the development of Slavic literature and formal education. They even authored the first Slavic Civil Code for use in Great Moravia.

The enduring legacy of their efforts is the development of Church Slavonic, a language still employed in certain Eastern Christian liturgies.

The Baška tablet is an early example of the Glagolitic from Croatia

Early writings about their lives and missions, such as The Life of Cyril and The Life of Methodius, detail their theological and cultural contributions.

Modern biographies like Cyril and Methodius: Founders of Slavic Literacy highlight their impact on language, religion, and education.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Their lives were devoted to religious and scholarly pursuits, leaving little time for leisure activities.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Cyril’s philosophical education included logic and other disciplines, which would have encompassed basic elements of science and mathematics as understood in Byzantine times.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Cyril and Methodius's theological and philosophical framework was deeply rooted in their Byzantine Christian heritage and their unwavering commitment to evangelization. Their approach can be encapsulated in several key aspects:

They believed in adapting Christianity to local cultures, particularly through language. To facilitate this, they created the Glagolitic alphabet to transcribe Old Church Slavonic and translated numerous religious texts, including parts of the Bible, into Slavonic.

Cyril and Methodius were strong advocates for the use of local languages in worship, opposing the "Heresy of the Three Languages" which restricted liturgy to Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Their efforts led to papal approval for Slavonic liturgy, although this was later contested.

Cyril, renowned as "the Philosopher," excelled in teaching theology and philosophy. They emphasized the importance of educating both clergy and laity in their native tongue.

They maintained strong connections to Byzantine theology and spirituality, introducing Byzantine liturgical practices to Slavic regions.

Cyril and Methodius worked to bridge Eastern and Western Christian traditions, seeking approval for their mission from both Constantinople and Rome.

Their missionary strategy centered on encountering and understanding local cultures before evangelizing. They believed in the universality of the Christian message, applicable to all peoples and languages.

They composed works on Christian dogmas in Slavonic. Cyril, in particular, engaged in theological debates, including discussions on the Trinity with the Abbasid Caliph.

Cyril and Methodius' philosophical and theological approach prioritized making Christianity accessible and relevant to new cultures while preserving doctrinal integrity. This philosophy of inculturation and vernacular worship had a lasting impact on Slavic Christianity and culture.

POLITICS They were deeply involved in the politics of their time, navigating tensions between the Byzantine Empire and Rome while advancing their mission.

SCANDAL Their work faced resistance from some Latin-speaking clergy, who opposed the use of Slavonic in liturgy, but the brothers were eventually vindicated by papal support.

MILITARY RECORD They had no direct military involvement but operated within the context of the Byzantine Empire’s strategic interests in the Balkans.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Cyril’s health was reportedly fragile, leading to his death at a relatively young age. Methodius lived longer, despite the hardships of missionary life.

HOMES They spent much of their lives traveling for their missions, residing in monasteries and mission outposts.

TRAVEL Cyril and Methodius embarked on extensive missionary journeys across Eastern and Central Europe. Their primary goal was to spread Christianity and develop Slavic culture and literacy.

Between 860 and 861, Cyril led a mission to the Khazars near the Caspian Sea. In 863, both brothers initiated their mission to Great Moravia. Later, from 867 to 868, they journeyed to Rome to seek papal approval for their work.

Their travels took them through various routes. They journeyed from Constantinople to Moravia, traversing Pannonia. They also explored Slavic territories in present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia. Their southeast route led them through Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, North Macedonia, and other Balkan countries. Additionally, they took a southwest route to Rome, passing through Austria, Bavaria, Slovenia, and Italy. It's also possible that they visited Lesser Poland and Eastern Silesia.

Given the historical context, they likely traveled on foot for shorter distances, by horseback or horse-drawn carts for longer overland journeys, and by boat when crossing rivers or seas. Their journeys were undoubtedly challenging, involving long distances across diverse terrains and climates, often in regions with limited infrastructure.

Beyond the geographical aspect, Cyril and Methodius' travels facilitated cultural and spiritual exchange. They brought relics of Saint Clement to Rome, disseminated the Glagolitic alphabet and Slavonic liturgy, and forged connections between Byzantine, Slavic, and Roman Christian traditions.

Today, the Cyril and Methodius Route, certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, invites modern travelers to follow in the footsteps of these influential missionaries, exploring the rich cultural heritage they left behind across numerous European countries.

DEATH Cyril died on February 14, 869, in Rome at the age of 42. Shortly before his death, he became a monk, taking the name Cyril. He was initially buried in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome but was later transferred to the Basilica of San Clemente. His remains were kept there until the late 18th century when they were removed during the French establishment of the Roman Republic. A small relic of St. Cyril was discovered in the 1960s and is now housed in the Basilica of San Clemente.

Methodius died on April 6, 885, in Velehrad, now part of the Czech Republic. He passed away after completing the translation of almost the entire Bible into Slavonic. He was buried in the main cathedral church of Great Moravia, but the exact location of his burial remains unknown due to uncertainty about the location of the main cathedral at that time.

While their physical presence ended, the legacy of Cyril and Methodius continued to shape Slavic Christianity and culture for centuries to come.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Cyril and Methodius are celebrated in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, often depicted in religious art. 

Cyril and Methodius, painting by Jan Matejko, 1885

They are commemorated in films, books, and educational materials highlighting their contributions to Slavic culture and Christianity.

FEAST DAYS Saints Cyril and Methodius have feast days that are celebrated in various Christian traditions:

May 11 (Julian Calendar): This is their primary feast day in the Eastern Orthodox Church, commemorating their work as missionaries and their creation of the Old Church Slavonic language and alphabet.

Roman Catholic Church February 14: Celebrated as their feast day in the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing their contributions as co-patrons of Europe (a title given to them by Pope John Paul II in 1980).

July 5: In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, their feast day is observed as a national holiday, honoring their role as the "Apostles to the Slavs" and their impact on Slavic culture and Christianity.

May 24: Known as Saints Cyril and Methodius Day, this date is widely celebrated in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and other Slavic countries as a tribute to their contributions to literacy and education through the creation of the Cyrillic script.

ACHIEVEMENTS Creation of the Glagolitic alphabet

Translation of religious texts into Slavic languages

Development of a Slavic liturgical tradition

Spread of Christianity among Slavic peoples

Laying the foundation for the cultural and literary development of Slavic nations

Source Carpatho