Saints Cyril and Methodius

Life story

Constantine, later called Cyril, and his elder brother Methodius were born in Thessalonica, a Byzantine city with many Slavic speakers in its hinterland. Their father, Leo, held an official post in the city. Constantine was a gifted scholar who taught in Constantinople and was sent on diplomatic missions, among them one to the Khazars. Methodius first followed an administrative career before becoming a monk.

In 863 Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia asked the Byzantine emperor for teachers who could instruct his people in their own language. The brothers were chosen. Constantine devised an alphabet suited to Slavic speech, now called Glagolitic, and with Methodius began translating Gospel readings, liturgical texts and other books into Old Church Slavonic. Their use of Slavonic in worship drew criticism from Frankish clergy in the region.

Around 867 the brothers travelled to Rome, where Pope Adrian II received them and approved the Slavonic books. Constantine fell ill, became a monk under the name Cyril, and died in Rome on 14 February 869. Methodius was consecrated bishop and sent back to Pannonia and Moravia. Bavarian bishops opposed him, and he was held in custody for roughly two years until papal intervention secured his release.

Methodius continued to translate and to organise the Slavic church until his death on 6 April 885. His disciples carried the Slavonic writings to Bulgaria and other lands, where the Cyrillic script later developed. In 1980 Pope John Paul II named both brothers co-patrons of Europe alongside Benedict of Nursia.

Works and witness

• Devised the Glagolitic alphabet for the Slavic language
• Translated Gospel readings and liturgical books into Old Church Slavonic
• Led the mission to Great Moravia from 863
• Won Pope Adrian II's approval of the Slavonic books in Rome
• Named co-patrons of Europe in 1980

Patron of

Europe (co-patrons)

Saints from the same country

Saint Paul, Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint Luke, Saint Wenceslaus

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Slavorum Apostoli (encyclical of John Paul II, 1985)
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.