Saints Cyril & Methodius, Bishops & Confessors
Ss. Cyrilli et Methodii Episcoporum et Confessorum
Saints Cyril and Methodius, two brothers of Thessalonica, brought the faith of Christ to the Slavonic peoples and are venerated as the Apostles of the Slavs.
Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers, born in the ninth century at Thessalonica in the Greek-speaking lands of the East. Both were learned men: Methodius, the elder, had served in the civil government before embracing the monastic life, while Cyril, gifted in languages and philosophy, was so esteemed for his learning that he was called “the Philosopher.” Together they were chosen for a great work of the Gospel.
Apostles of the Slavs
Sent to preach the faith among the Slavonic peoples of central and eastern Europe, the two brothers laboured to bring the Gospel to those nations in a tongue they could understand. To this end Cyril devised an alphabet suited to the Slavonic language, and the brothers translated the Sacred Scriptures and the texts of the sacred liturgy, so that the people might hear the word of God and worship him in their own speech. By this labour they opened the riches of the faith to whole nations and laid the foundations of Slavonic Christian culture.
Their work was blessed by the Apostolic See, and they journeyed to Rome, where their mission and their use of the Slavonic tongue in the sacred rites received the approval and blessing of the Pope. The collect of their feast gives thanks to almighty God, who granted to the Slavonic nations to come to the knowledge of his name through these blessed confessors and bishops.
Their witness today
Saint Cyril died at Rome in the year 869, having taken the monastic habit shortly before his death; Saint Methodius was consecrated bishop and returned to continue the mission among the Slavs, bearing many trials with patience, until his death in the year 885. The Church venerates them together as the Apostles of the Slavs, and their memory is held in deep honour among the many nations that received the faith through their labours.
Their feast, kept on the seventh of July, honours two brothers who joined learning to apostolic zeal, and who showed that the Gospel is for every people and may be proclaimed in every tongue. In them the Church remembers the missionary charity that carries the name of Christ to nations that have not yet heard it.
The Collect
O almighty and everlasting God, who didst grant unto the Slavonic nations to come to the knowledge of thy name through thy blessed Confessors and Bishops Cyril and Methodius: grant that we who glory in their festival may be joined to their fellowship.
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui Slavóniæ gentes per beátos Confessóres tuos atque Pontífices Cyríllum et Methódium ad agnitiónem tui nóminis veníre tribuísti: præsta; ut, quorum festivitáte gloriámur, eórum consórtio copulémur.
Patronage
They are venerated as the Apostles of the Slavs and are honoured as patrons of the many Slavonic nations that received the faith through them.
In the Modern Calendar
In the modern calendar their memorial is observed on 14 February, and they have been named co-patrons of Europe.
Common Questions
When is the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius?
In the calendar of the 1962 Roman Missal their feast is kept on 7 July as a Third Class feast. In the modern calendar their memorial is observed on 14 February.
Who were Saints Cyril and Methodius?
They were two ninth-century brothers from Thessalonica who brought the Christian faith to the Slavonic peoples. Cyril devised an alphabet for the Slavonic language, and together they translated the Scriptures and the liturgy, so that the people might worship in their own tongue. They are venerated as the Apostles of the Slavs.
Why are they called the Apostles of the Slavs?
Because through their preaching, their translations, and their devising of a Slavonic alphabet, whole Slavic nations came to the knowledge of Christ and were given the Scriptures and the sacred liturgy in their own language. Their labours laid the foundation of Slavonic Christian culture.
See where this feast falls in the Church’s year on the liturgical calendar, or find a Traditional Latin Mass near you.
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