The life story of Cyril and Methodius
Cyril and Methodius are the names of the brothers Constantine and Michael, born in Macedonia into the family of a military leader. They will take these names much later, when they become Orthodox monks. Since childhood, the brothers spoke Slavic, since it was their mother’s native language. The eldest of the seven brothers, Methodius, having made a military career, decided 10 years later to devote his life to serving God. The younger brother Constantine, who graduated from the best educational institution in Byzantium, made the same decision.
A brilliant linguist and philosopher, he acquired an excellent reputation in intellectual circles, but became the Patriarch's librarian, and then, following the dictates of his heart and the example of his elder brother, retired to a monastery to apply all his knowledge and strength in translating the Holy Scriptures into the Slavic language.
Therefore, praying to Cyril and Methodius, they turn to them as educators of the Slavic peoples. The brothers led a mission to the Khazars, who at that time lived in the territory of modern southern Russia, where they spoke enthusiastically about the faith of Christ, urging them with their speeches to accept both Muslims and Jews.
The fruit of the brothers' labor was the appearance of the Slavic alphabet and translations of the Holy Scriptures - they were the first to translate the Gospel. Now, many peoples’ services could take place not only in Latin and Greek, but also in their native Slavic language.
For his educational activities, Methodius was ordained bishop, and Cyril received a scheme. After their death, the brothers were numbered among the saints equal to the apostles and are highly revered in the Orthodox churches.
Signs and traditions of this day
Since ancient times, in ancient Russia, people said that at this time mermaids woke up. It is still unknown why people thought this way. Mermaids were very feared in Rus'; they say that they were looking for a guy they liked. If he was truly handsome, then the sea maidens would take him to their kingdom, and then charm him and force him to carry out their errands. They say that drowned women, as well as little girls who died unbaptized, became mermaids. If a representative of the fairer sex bathes in a river without a cross, there is a possibility that she may also become a mermaid.
In addition to the day of Cyril and Methodius, the memory of Mokios of Amphipolis is honored at this time. This day became popularly known as Wet. The fact is that it was very rarely dry on this day; it mostly rains at this time. People also judged what to expect in the summer based on the weather on this day. They say that if it rains, the summer will be full of precipitation, but if it was dry, then the summer will be dry and hot.
Earlier on this day they also celebrated a celebration called the Renewal of Tsar Grad. The peasants believed that this was a celebration in honor of the hail, which in a short period of time could destroy everything that the peasants worked on. To prevent this from happening, peasants with sacred faces in their hands walked around their own property and asked the Lord to protect them from rain and hail. Any sowing work at this time was prohibited, people celebrated all day, they say that this way the sky will not be angry and will protect the harvest.
How do prayers to Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius help?
Thanks to the brothers' educational work, many Orthodox believe that praying to Cyril and Methodius for help in their studies can help them before exams, regardless of the school or student. The main thing is to trust that prayer will help you focus and improve your self-esteem. It is then that, by saying the words of prayer to Cyril and Methodius, you will receive invisible help and blessing from the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Saint Cyril, from whom the name of the Slavic alphabet in Cyrillic comes, is rightfully considered the patron saint of all teachers, schoolchildren and students. They turn to him when they want to defend the foundations of the Orthodox faith from pseudoscientific and heretical arguments.
You don’t have to go to church for this; you can turn to the icon at home, the main thing is to maintain the purity of your thoughts and faith.
Troparion, voice 4*
Audio:
0:18
As the apostle of unity/ and the Slovenian countries, teachers,/ Cyril and Methodius the God of God,/ pray to the Lord of all,/ to establish all Slovenian languages in Orthodoxy and unanimity,/ to pacify peace // and save our souls.
Translation: To the like-minded apostles and teachers of the Slavic countries, Cyril and Methodius, God-wise, pray to the Lord of all, all Slavic peoples to establish Orthodoxy and unanimity, to protect the world with peace and to save our souls.
Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius
In the glorious language of Slovenian teachers and educators, Saints Cyril and Methodius, equal to the apostles! We address you as a father's son, in the light of the teachings and letters of your enlightenment and faith in the education of Christ, and sincerely pray with broken hearts. Even if your covenant, like a disobedient child, is not kept, and to please God, for example, to study, casually, out of sympathy and love, even in words, as brothers in faith and in the flesh, you will leave good as an inheritance, for refusal: both, as if ancient in you, do not distract the life of the ungrateful and unworthy, but answer your prayers with good for evil, so do not distract your prayers even now sinners and unworthy your children, but as the sovereign courage of those who trust in the Lord , pray earnestly that He will instruct us and lead us along the path of salvation, the falling flocks will lead to sympathy and unite us all with the unity of spirit and love in the holy cathedral and the Apostolic Church: we, we, as far as a prayer for the mercy of the Lord can be correct, if this happens to sinful people: do not leave us, sad and unworthy children of your (names), their same sin is for the good of your flock, gathered by you, divided by the hostility and temptations of other beliefs, deceived, humiliated, his sheep - sloppy thoughts scattered by wolves, they admire the mind: give us, with your prayers, zeal for Orthodoxy, let us bask with we will adhere to the paternal tradition of virtue, we will faithfully observe the statutes and customs of the church, we will avoid all strange false teachings, and therefore in the pleasant life of God on earth, which ripens in heaven in heaven, we will be honored, and there with you, together with the Lord of all, in the Trinity of one God, we will glorify forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, voice 3*
We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, / the Divine Scriptures, by translating the source of knowledge of God, who poured out for us, / from which we even draw endlessly to this day, / we please you, Cyril and Methodius, / Presto To those who are to come // and warmly praying for our souls.
Translation: We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, who through the translation of the Divine Scriptures have poured forth the source of knowledge of God for us, from which even to this day we draw abundantly, we glorify you, Cyril and Methodius, who stand before the Throne of the Most High and earnestly pray for our souls.
Second prayer
For all the valor of Methodius and Cyril, equal to the apostles, kneel before your honest icon, sincerely pray: look at us mercifully, with your deed you have illuminated nature and protect us with your vigilant intercession from the evil cunning of the enemy! Look at these grapes, they were planted naturally, and don't give the boar a dip to cool it down. Save, holy saints of God, our Orthodox Church, you called nature on the corner stone, Christ, as if it stood motionless, but let the waves of all unbelief disperse over this stone. Strengthen our shepherds with all the virtues and deeds of preaching, instruct the flock to listen to their voice. Save the entire Slovenian country from all impoverishment, from fire and sword, from deadly plagues and from all evil. Also listen to each person; with the faith that comes to you and the merciful help that it requires from you. At the terrible hour of death, the flame of the intercessor and the dark ghosts of demonic persecution will appear to all of us, but in peace and repentance we died on earth, we will receive eternal blessings of joy and together with you we will glorify the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and in forever and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Education in Rus'
Before finding out whether there is prayer before an exam in Orthodoxy, let’s find out the relationship between religion and education. The first schools in Rus' appeared immediately after Epiphany in 988, with the beginning of literacy. There is no evidence that there was writing and schools in pagan Rus'. These were educational institutions for all classes. Separate schools were organized for girls, for example, at the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral. In Europe, similar institutions for women appeared only in the 16th century.
Exam
“Azbukovnik” (a collection of rules for students, written in the 17th century) contains the following daily routine for students:
“In your home, having risen from sleep, washed your face, dried your wages with a good edge, continued in the veneration of holy images, bowed low to your father and mother. Go to school carefully, and lead your friend, enter school with prayer...”
So the student began the day with prayer. This contributed to the unification of faith and knowledge in the minds and hearts of Orthodox people in Russia. Spiritual traditions appeared: prayer before an exam, before starting school. This is how the natural Christian worldview manifests itself. Any business should begin with prayer, with the hope of God's help and blessing.
How to pray in front of the icon of St. Cyril
Before touching on the issue of prayer in front of an icon, it should be said that those who have any icons in their apartments should not treat them as decoration, a book or a souvenir. For a believer, an icon is, first of all, a reminder of Christian virtues and help in troubles.
It is believed that in addition to choosing an icon for yourself in accordance with the name, it is also important to know the life of the saint from whom you are going to ask for help.
Important! The Holy Fathers assure that the life of a holy man, a great martyr, must resonate with a person’s heart; the person praying must feel the closeness of his life and the life of his patron.
People most often turn to Saint Cyril with prayers who are in one way or another connected with obtaining knowledge and providing information - teachers, students, people holding high positions. The fact is that Saint Cyril also once taught and made speeches before the pagans, without experiencing fear.
Praying in front of the icon of this saint, they ask for wisdom, eloquence and good luck. At the same time, you should not worry about exactly how and where help will come from; as a rule, prayer helps those who believe in it. In addition, any prayer should go to the heart and not bring harm to anyone.
Prayer to Saint Cyril
There is hardly a person in the modern world who has never seen icons or heard prayers. According to believers, God works through prayer, and sincere prayer from the heart works miracles. Turning to the icon of your patron saint provides the strongest spiritual support and help. Of course, there is a canonized text of the prayer, but if the person praying is not familiar with it, but prays “in his own words,” but from the heart, then there is no problem in this.
The role of Saint Cyril in Christianity
Saint Cyril (in the world Constantine) lived with his brother Methodius in the 9th century in Thessaloniki - a city in which two cultures lived simultaneously - Slavic and Byzantine. Subsequently, the brothers became one of the most famous and significant figures in the history of Russia, because they were the first to compile the Slavic alphabet and translate the Bible into the Slavic language.
The mission of both brothers was to bring Christianity to people through the translation of sacred texts into the Slavic language . They had to travel a lot and endure many hardships, as a result of which Cyril (then Constantine) became seriously ill and took the schema just before his death.
Which churches have an icon of the saint?
The icon of St. Cyril is kept in churches in countries such as the Czech Republic, Macedonia and Bulgaria. All of these iconographic images date back to the 19th century, with the oldest of them being painted in 1893. This icon is located in the Church of St. Basil the Great, which is located in Talitsa.
Also, the image of St. Cyril is presented on the southern aisle of the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg. Some churches in Moscow also have icons of this saint.
The icon of St. Cyril was painted several times and on each of the icons he is represented differently. On earlier icons, Saint Cyril is depicted in the clothes of a monk with a scroll in his hands; according to some sources, this is the Holy Scripture, according to others, the alphabet. Earlier icons represent the image of St. Cyril differently - with his right hand he blesses the believers, and in his left he holds a scroll.
How an icon protects
We often hear that people seek protection from some “strong” icons. This formulation is incorrect, because help and strength come not from the icon itself, but from the Lord God. We pray before the image, but not to the image itself. The icon that was not consecrated in the church is more of an interior item. When talking about the help of an icon in any matter, you need to understand that what helps, first of all, is sincere faith in what you are praying for.
This means that if there is no faith in the heart for help from above, then no appeal to the holy image will help. Here it is appropriate to mention the well-known idea that it seems to a person that God is watching his external actions, but the Lord sees, first of all, a person’s heart.
Read about icons of other Orthodox saints:
