Cyril (in the world Constantine , nicknamed the Philosopher ; 827-869) and Methodius (in the world Michael ; 815-885) are saints of the Orthodox and Catholic churches, brothers from the city of Thessaloniki (now Thessaloniki), creators of the Old Church Slavonic alphabet and Church Slavonic language, Christian missionaries.
There are many interesting facts in the biographies of Cyril and Methodius that will be mentioned in this article.
So, here are short biographies of the brothers Cyril and Methodius.
Biography
Cyril and Methodius became famous throughout the world as champions of the Christian faith and authors of the Slavic alphabet. The biography of the couple is extensive; there is even a separate biography dedicated to Kirill, created immediately after the man’s death. However, today you can get acquainted with a brief history of the destinies of these preachers and founders of the alphabet in various manuals for children. The brothers have their own icon, where they are depicted together. People turn to her with prayers for good studies, luck for students, and increased intelligence.
Saint Constantine and Methodius took part in the discovery of the relics of Saint Clement
From that moment on, the life of Constantine and Methodius changed greatly. They start traveling together. First of all, they go to Khazaria. Saint Constantine and Methodius took part in the discovery of the relics of Saint Clement. These were the relics of the famous Pope, who suffered a martyr's death.
Currently, this is what the relics of St. Clement look like. Photo: hranitel.club
Childhood and youth
Cyril and Methodius were born in the Greek city of Thessaloniki (present-day Thessaloniki) in the family of a military leader named Leo, whom the authors of the biography of the couple of saints characterize as “of good birth and rich.” The future monks grew up in the company of five other brothers.
Cyril and Methodius meet with the Slavic people
Before tonsure, the men bore the names Mikhail and Konstantin, and the first was older - he was born in 815, and Konstantin in 827. Controversy still rages among historians about the ethnicity of the family. Some attribute him to the Slavs, because these people were fluent in the Slavic language. Others attribute Bulgarian and, of course, Greek roots.
The boys received an excellent education, and when they matured, their paths diverged. Methodius entered military service under the patronage of a faithful family friend and even rose to the rank of governor of a Byzantine province. During the “Slavic reign” he established himself as a wise and fair ruler.
ABC of Cyril and Methodius
From early childhood, Kirill was fond of reading books, amazed those around him with his excellent memory and abilities in science, and was known as a polyglot - in his linguistic arsenal, in addition to Greek and Slavic, there were Hebrew and Aramaic. At the age of 20, a young man, a graduate of Magnavra University, was already teaching the basics of philosophy at the court school at Constantinople.
Greek origin
The two brothers were from the city of Thessaloniki. In Slavic sources, the old traditional name Solun was preserved. They were born into the family of a successful officer who served under the governor of the province. Cyril was born in 827, and Methodius in 815.
Due to the fact that these Greeks knew the Slavic language very well, some researchers tried to confirm the guess about their Slavic origin. However, no one managed to do this. At the same time, for example in Bulgaria, educators are considered Bulgarians (they also use the Cyrillic alphabet).
Christian service
Kirill flatly refused a secular career, although such an opportunity was provided. Marriage to the goddaughter of an official of the royal chancellery in Byzantium opened up dizzying prospects - leadership of the region in Macedonia, and then the position of commander-in-chief of the army. However, the young theologian (Konstantin was only 15 years old) chose to take the church path.
Saints Cyril and Methodius. Miniature from the Radziwill Chronicle, 15th century
When he was already teaching at the university, the man even managed to win a theological debate over the leader of the iconoclasts, the former Patriarch John the Grammar, also known as Ammius. However, this story is considered simply a beautiful legend.
The main task for the Byzantine government at that time was considered to be the strengthening and promotion of Orthodoxy. Missionaries traveled along with the diplomats who traveled to cities and villages where they negotiated with religious enemies. This is what Konstantin became at the age of 24, setting off on his first important task from the state - to instruct Muslims on the true path.
Icon of Cyril and Methodius
At the end of the 50s of the 9th century, the brothers, tired of the bustle of the world, retired to a monastery, where 37-year-old Methodius took monastic vows. However, Cyril was not allowed to rest for a long time: already in 860, the man was called to the throne of the emperor and instructed to join the ranks of the Khazar mission.
The fact is that the Khazar Kagan announced an interreligious dispute, where Christians were asked to prove the truth of their faith to Jews and Muslims. The Khazars were already ready to go over to the side of Orthodoxy, but they set a condition - only if the Byzantine polemicists won the disputes.
Kirill took his brother with him and brilliantly completed the task assigned to him, but still the mission was a complete failure. The Khazar state did not become Christian, although the Kagan allowed people to be baptized. On this trip, a serious historical event happened for believers. Along the way, the Byzantines looked into Crimea, where, in the vicinity of Chersonesos, Cyril found the relics of Clement, the fourth holy Pope, which were then transferred to Rome.
The brothers are involved in another important mission. One day, the ruler of the Moravian lands (Slavic state) Rostislav asked for help from Constantinople - they needed teacher-theologians to tell the people about the true faith in an accessible language. Thus, the prince was going to escape the influence of the German bishops. This trip became significant - the Slavic alphabet appeared.
Cyril and Methodius with their students
In Moravia, the brothers worked tirelessly: they translated Greek books, taught the Slavs the basics of reading and writing, and at the same time taught them how to conduct divine services. The “business trip” took three years. The results of the labors played a big role in preparing for the baptism of Bulgaria.
In 867, the brothers had to go to Rome to answer for “blasphemy.” The Western Church called Cyril and Methodius heretics, accusing them of reading sermons in the Slavic language, while they can only talk about the Most High in Greek, Latin and Hebrew.
Temple of Cyril and Methodius in Saratov
On the way to the Italian capital, they stopped in the Principality of Blaten, where they taught the people the book trade. Those who arrived in Rome with the relics of Clement were so happy that the new Pope Adrian II allowed services to be held in Slavonic and even allowed the translated books to be distributed in churches. During this meeting, Methodius received the episcopal rank.
Unlike his brother, Kirill only became a monk on the verge of death - it was necessary. After the death of the preacher, Methodius, surrounded by disciples, returned to Moravia, where he had to fight the German clergy. The deceased Rostislav was replaced by his nephew Svyatopolk, who supported the policy of the Germans, who did not allow the Byzantine priest to work in peace. Any attempts to spread the Slavic language as a church language were suppressed.
Cyril and Methodius
Methodius even spent three years in prison at the monastery. Pope John VIII helped to free him, who imposed a ban on liturgies while Methodius was in prison. However, in order not to escalate the situation, John also prohibited worship in the Slavic language. Only sermons were not punishable by law.
But the native of Thessaloniki, at his own peril and risk, continued to secretly conduct services in Slavic. At the same time, the archbishop baptized the Czech prince, for which he later appeared in court in Rome. However, luck favored Methodius - he not only escaped punishment, but also received a papal bull and the opportunity to again conduct services in the Slavic language. Shortly before his death he managed to translate the Old Testament.
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Creation of the alphabet
The brothers from Thessaloniki went down in history as the creators of the Slavic alphabet. The time of the event is 862 or 863. The Life of Cyril and Methodius states that the idea was born back in 856, when the brothers, together with their disciples Angelarius, Naum and Clement, settled on Mount Lesser Olympus in the Polychron monastery. Here Methodius served as rector.
Cyrillic and Glagolitic
The authorship of the alphabet is attributed to Kirill, but which one exactly remains a mystery. Scientists are inclined towards the Glagolitic alphabet, this is indicated by the 38 characters that it contains. As for the Cyrillic alphabet, it was brought to life by Kliment Ohridski. However, even if this was the case, the student still used Kirill’s work - it was he who isolated the sounds of the language, which is the most important thing when creating writing.
The basis for the alphabet was the Greek cryptography; the letters are very similar, so the Glagolitic alphabet was confused with the eastern alphabets. But to designate specific Slavic sounds, they took Hebrew letters, for example, “sh”.
The significance of the brothers' activities
The alphabet created by the brothers eventually spread to Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Rus'. Today the Cyrillic alphabet is used by all Eastern Slavs. These are Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians. The biography of Cyril and Methodius is taught to children as part of the school curriculum in these countries.
It is interesting that the original alphabet created by the brothers eventually became Glagolitic in historiography. Another version of it, known as the Cyrillic alphabet, appeared a little later thanks to the works of the students of these educators. This scientific debate remains relevant. The problem is that no ancient sources have reached us that could certainly confirm any specific point of view. Theories are based only on secondary documents that appeared later.
Nevertheless, the brothers’ contribution is difficult to overestimate. Cyril and Methodius, whose brief biography should be known to every Slav, helped not only to spread Christianity, but also to strengthen national identity among these peoples. In addition, even if we assume that the Cyrillic alphabet was created by the brothers’ students, they still relied on their work. This is especially obvious in the case of phonetics. Modern Cyrillic alphabets have adopted the sound component from those written symbols that were proposed by preachers.
Both the Western and Eastern churches recognize the importance of the activities carried out by Cyril and Methodius. A short biography for children of educators is available in many general education textbooks on history and the Russian language.
Since 1991, our country has celebrated an annual public holiday dedicated to the brothers from Thessaloniki. It is called the Day of Slavic Culture and Literature and is also celebrated in Belarus. An order named after them was established in Bulgaria. Cyril and Methodius, interesting facts from whose biography are published in various monographs, continue to attract the attention of new researchers of languages and history.
Death
Constantine-Cyril was struck down by a serious illness on a trip to Rome, and on February 14, 869 he died - this day is recognized in Catholicism as the day of remembrance of saints. The body was interred in the Roman Church of St. Clement. Cyril did not want his brother to return to the monastery in Moravia, and before his death he allegedly said:
“Here, brother, you and I were like two oxen in harness, plowing one furrow, and I fell by the forest, having finished my day. And although you love the mountain very much, you cannot leave your teaching for the sake of the mountain, for how else can you better achieve salvation?
Methodius outlived his wise relative by 16 years. Anticipating death, he ordered himself to be taken to church to read a sermon. The priest died on Palm Sunday, April 4, 885. Methodius' funeral service was held in three languages - Greek, Latin and, of course, Slavic.
Monument to Cyril and Methodius
Methodius was replaced in his post by the disciple Gorazd, and then all the undertakings of the holy brothers began to collapse. In Moravia, liturgical translations were gradually banned again, and followers and students were hunted - persecuted, sold into slavery, and even killed. Some adherents fled to neighboring countries. And yet the Slavic culture survived, the center of book learning moved to Bulgaria, and from there to Russia.
The holy chief apostolic teachers are revered in the West and East. In Russia, a holiday has been established in memory of the brothers’ feat - May 24 is celebrated as the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture.
The hometown of Cyril and Methodius is considered to be the city of Thessaloniki
Brother Methodius was named Michael at his birth. He received a very good education, after which he decided to go to study to become a military man, like his father. When he rose to the rank of provincial strategos, he decided to leave worldly life. Mount Olympus was then a very famous place, as there was a monastery on it, where hermits went. It was there that Mikhail went. In the monastery he became a monk with the name Methodius.
Saint Methodius was called Michael at birth. Photo: golden-ship.ru
Prayer chants are performed in front of the icon of Cyril and Methodius
Prayer chants are performed in front of the icon of Cyril and Methodius. A canon was written to Cyril and Methodius, which is celebrated on the eve of the day of remembrance of the saints. Anyone can read the Canon at home. Also, do not forget that you can always turn to the saints in your own words for help. The most important thing is that your words are sincere.
Canon:
Voice 4
Song 1
Irmos:
I will open my mouth and be filled with the Spirit, and I will vomit the word to the Queen Mother, and I will appear, brightly triumphant, and I will sing, rejoicing, those miracles.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
Putting your lips to the cup of Divine wisdom, you will be filled with the saving drink, showing light with your mind with your tongue, and an ax that cuts through all hostile flattery.
Having enlightened you like a light, the Light-Giver Christ our God has revealed you to the whole world as a teacher and ambassador to teach the dark books of the Western languages with the Books of Law.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit extracted from the abyss with the word of God to the whole world the teacher of good faith, wise, precious beads, God's law with the Books, blessed one, sanctify the tongues.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: A red mind is given to the heavenly powers, for God’s was your spiritual temple, when you bore our God in your womb, the Virgin, the most holy mountain.
Song 3
Irmos:
From the heights you descended by will to the earth above all beginnings, and you lifted up the humble human nature from the underworld of hell: there is nothing more holy than You, O Lover of Mankind.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
By the word and heart and tongue of Christ, the Son of God, preaching, wisdom and power and the Word incarnate, blessedly, with streams of inflowing waters, put to shame the trilinguals.
The tsevnitsa of the tributary is truly holy, blessed Kirill, the voice of salvation for us with a holy, spiritual sound, ringing beautifully, you drove away flattery.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
About the fiery mind, about the good trumpet, about the song of glory, about the golden-speaking gusset, about the tongue that sweetens honey in parables, Cyril the Wise, remember us all.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: By the advice of the Father, the Beginningless Son, like the Word in Thy falsehood, by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, O Theotokos, indwelt and was born in the flesh from Thee, saving our souls.
Lord, have mercy, three times.
Sedalen, voice 8
Like the dawn, having enlightened the whole earth, the heretics are persecuting, sought out in the east and west and north and south: the trilinguals correct, preaching to the countries, speaking to them in their tongues and betraying the Books. Having reached Rome, lay down your body, blessed one, betraying your soul into the hand of the Lord: have good faith in the teacher, pray to Christ the God of sins to leave taxes to those who honor your holy memory with love.
Song 4
Irmos:
Seated in glory on the throne of the Divine in a light cloud, the Divine Jesus came, with an imperishable Hand, and those who called for salvation: glory, O Christ, to Thy power.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
Another Abraham, blessedly, was you from your fatherland, with the desire of Great Wisdom, as if you were adorned with golden monists, shining brightly with bright rays.
With a copy of your words, as if you pierced Zamri, the Midian heresy, bitterly attached to the bodily image of those who appeared in the flesh of Jesus.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
You preached the equi-essential power of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son of the Trisolar Light, in Whom we are by the giving of sons to the Light and the truths of the heir.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: Having been delivered from the first condemnation of Adam by You, the Maiden, you found unspeakable joy, for you gave birth to a blessing to all, the Son of God in our image.
Song 5
Irmos:
Now I will rise, - God prophetically spoke, now I will be glorified, now I will ascend, the fallen received from the Virgin, and lift up My Divinity to the Intelligent Light.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
I have adorned you with my ointment, O blessed, kind, grace has poured out into your lips, O spiritual wisdom, and the ungodly depths have been flooded with your words.
Standing strong, helping by faith, wisdom, flattery, cutting off stumbling blocks with your word, making the Divine path equal to the faithful, guiding the obedient into the city of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Floating wondrously across the abyss with your words and parables, Blessed Kirill, from the filthy winter you entered into the silence of the Highest abodes with good faith.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: Saving men, the Son of Man is equal to the Father: from You, Most Pure One, the flesh of the earthly God was created and the Kingdom of Heaven made mankind.
Song 6
Irmos:
I came to the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins drowned me: but as God raised up my belly from the depths, O Omni-merciful One.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
The host is dying, having venerated Hagaryan, like the living serpent, in your parables the Trisolar and One Divinity is exhausted by the power.
Like an arrow chosen by a heretic enemy, shot in the holy body, as it is prophetically written, kept by the Divine and shot at enemies.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Having loved Wisdom from a young age, you accepted a sister for yourself and, having become wise by God, blessedly, you appeared as a philosopher.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: Ezekiel saw Thy gates, in whose image the One Most High God passed through, Thy false saint passed through the flesh, the Most Pure One, and left them not open to eat.
Lord, have mercy, three times. Glory, and now
Kontakion, tone 2
With firm and God-inspired teaching, enlightening the world with bright dawns, flowing around the universe like lightning, Blessed Cyril, scattering the bright word of God in the west, and north, and south, enlightening the world with miracles.
Ikos
Having loved the bright life, wisely, with the dawns of the Trisolar Deity, it was illuminated, like lightning, it passed through the universe, enlightening the northern and southern countries, but the light did not reach the western ones. Likewise, having driven away the darkness of sin, O blessed one from above, ask me to send spiritual grace: for I have the boldness to pray to God unceasingly for everything.
Song 7
Irmos:
Having not served the creation of God's Wisdom more than the Creator, but having overcome the fiery rebuke manfully, I rejoice and sing: O venerated Lord and God of the Fathers, blessed art thou.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
With verbal squeaks, O blessed one, calling the sheep into the holy enclosures, with wise parables, with the beauty and sweetness of your words.
Not being afraid, the teacher, as one warrior, brought into the Jewish regiment, but opened up all their people with wisdom, like He of Canaan with prophetic parables.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you the gift of a spring is signified to all the true faith, blessed one, always feeding the sons of good faith with sweet waters and filling the Church of the Lord with flow like a river.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: God, who has made the widest heavens, has made the Lord, who is unskilled in marriage, and has dwelled in Thy falsehood, O Most Pure One, and I also pray to Thy, who suffer from sins, deliver me through the breadth of my repentance.
Song 8
Irmos:
The pious youths in the cave, the Nativity of the Theotokos was saved, then the formed, now active, raises up the whole universe to sing to You: Sing to the Lord, O deeds, and exalt Him to all ages.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
Having submitted himself to the Light, the light appeared to the attention of the hedgehog from God, O philosopher, for Paul, having found himself in virtues, spread throughout the whole earth among the nations, brighter than the shining sun, crying out in the word of your teaching: Sing to the Lord, O deeds, and exalt Him to all ages.
As the host of Jews was overcome by the sharpness of your words, blessed one, in the town of Seversky in Kozarekh, venerate you. You have cut down many, holy teacher, like Goliath’s David, in filth.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Great is the stronghold and firmament of the Pannonian land, blessed, who destroys heretical errors with Books and trilinguals, firmly taught by you, and we glorify you, the wise teacher, who always remembers Christ.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: Through the books of the teachings of the saints, the prophet, the Virgin, the Mother of God we preach Thee by faith, for Thou gavest birth to the Child, the Ancient of Days, like a new Man, and we also sing and exalt Thee, the Most Holy One.
Song 9
Irmos:
Because of the illness of disobedience, Eve instilled an oath: You, Virgin Mother of God, through the vegetation of womb and the blessing of the world, you have flourished, therefore we all magnify You.
Chorus:
Reverend Father Kirill, pray to God for us.
Like a shining light, Christ has honorably placed you, shining in the ends, wisdom, in the crown of the church, for whose sake you labored to the death, increasing the education of the faithful through reason and fasting.
You were a disciple of Paul the Divine, following his followers, you went to the ends of the West, scattering the word among the nations (in Kaon), and in Rome you gave your spirit into the hands of your God.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Like the sun rising on the earth, teacher, everywhere with parables, rays of God’s voice, enlightening, singing to you by faith and about the race of those standing your body, remember, blessed, your disciples.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokos: With the rays of Your light, Most Pure One, now enlighten my soul as it lies in the ditch of destruction, raise it up, crushing enemies, constantly insulting my soul and prompting me to sin.
Svetilen
As Christ is the lamp of the world and the teacher of the universe, most blessed Cyril, the branch of Thessalonica, we, who remember your honorable memory, ask mercy from Him.
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