They invented the Cyrillic alphabet, which gave cultural unity to the Slavic peoples.
Newsroom (14/25/2025, Gaudium Press) The original names of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, celebrated in mid February, were Michael and Constantine. These brothers took the names by which they are known today when they became monks.
They are considered the apostles of the Slavs.
They gave the world the Cyrillic alphabet, which, together with the translation of the Bible, the Missal and the Liturgical Ritual, gave the Slavic peoples linguistic and cultural unity.
They were born in Thessaloniki, the sons of an imperial employee. Constantine studied in Constantinople with Photius, and after being ordained a priest, he devoted himself to teaching: this is St. Cyril. Michael pursued a political career, but when he was appointed governor of a Slavic-speaking Byzantine province, he resigned and became a monk: this is St. Methodius.
In 860, the Emperor entrusted them with the evangelization of the Khazars, and they later arrived in Moravia at the invitation of Prince Ratislaus. It was in Great Moravia that they carried out their apostolate. It should be remembered that Moravia was a kingdom between what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia, also bordering Austria.
In Moravia, St. Cyril translated the four Gospels into Slavic script. From them he composed a prologue called Proglas, a poetic composition in verse, according to Greek canons, which became a fundamental work of Slavic literature.
They were accused of schism and heresy, which is why they travelled to Rome, where they were received by Pope Adrian II, who allowed them to celebrate the Mysteries in the Slavic language and attended one of their liturgies himself.
St. Cyril died in Rome on 14 February 869, at the age of only 42.
St. Methodius was ordained a priest by the Pope, who later appointed him bishop of Pannonia, a territory above the Adriatic, where he carried out his apostolate with the Slavs.
He died on 6 April 885 in Velahrad, Czech Republic.
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm with files from Catholic.net
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