Saint of the day, February 14 – Zeale
Cyril and Methodius were brothers who evangelized Eastern Europe in the ninth century. They were born into a noble family, but renounced their wealth and status in favor of becoming priests.
February 14 – Sts. Cyril and Methodius
Born: 827 (Cyril) and 826 (Methodius)
Died: 869 (Cyril) and 885 (Methodius)
Nationality: Greek
Vocation: bishops
Attributes: liturgical vestments, holding book of Slavic language and cross
Patronage: Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Europe
Canonization: pre-congregation
Cyril and Methodius were brothers who evangelized Eastern Europe in the ninth century. They were born into a noble family, but renounced their wealth and status in favor of becoming priests.
While they resided in a monastery on the Bosporus, authorities from the Khazar Empire requested a Christian missionary from Constantinople. Cyril was chosen and his brother accompanied him. They learned the Khazar language so that they could preach the gospel and minister to the people there.
The brothers were very successful in their mission and were later requested by officials in Moravia (present-day Czech Republic) to travel there to preach and celebrate the liturgy in the local dialect. German missionaries had thus far been unsuccessful in the region.
Cyril and Methodius adapted the Greek alphabet to the Slavonic language, which resulted in the “Cyrillic” alphabet. This alphabet was used to translate the Bible and liturgical books, and eventually became widely used in large regions of the world.
Because of their ability to reach the people through a familiar language, the brothers served successfully in Moravia for four years. Though their use of the vernacular was viewed with suspicion by other Catholics, Pope Adrian II approved of their methods and ordained them both bishops.
After Cyril died in Rome in 869, Methodius returned to Moravia to shepherd a new archdiocese established by the Pope but independent of the German church. The Germans were angered by the new archbishop's presence there, and had him deposed and imprisoned for three years.
Pope John VIII, the successor of Pope Adrian, freed Methodius and reinstated him with charge of an additional region of modern-day Poland. With the help of Greek priests, Methodius translated the entire Bible into Church Slavonic. Before dying in 885, he chose his successor from one of the native Slavs he evangelized.
The work of Cyril and Methodius paved the way for the conversion of Ukraine and Russia in 988, when the Russian Prince Vladimir was baptized.
While they were revered soon after their deaths, Pope Leo XIII officially introduced their feast day into the liturgical calendar in 1880 and Pope St. John Paul II named them patron saints of Europe along with St. Benedict.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius, pray for us.
