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{{dablink|For other uses, see ].}} {{dablink|For details about each of the saints, see ] and ].}}
{{Infobox Saint
|name=Saint Cyril
|birth_date=]
|death_date=], ]
|feast_day=] (Catholic Church)<br>] (Orthodox Church).
|venerated_in=]<br>]<br>]
|image=Holy Trinity Column - Saint Cyril.jpg
|imagesize=200px
|caption=Statue of Saint Cyril at ]
|birth_place=
|death_place=
|titles=Patron of Europe<br>Apostle to the Slavic peoples
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=
|patronage=
|major_shrine=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
|prayer=
|prayer_attrib=
}}


] in ].]]
'''Saint Cyril''' (]: Κύριλλος , ]: Кирилъ) (] - ], ]) was a ] monk, scholar, theologian, and linguist. He is best known today for his work in ]ising the ] and, with his brother ], is credited with devising the ] and rarely also with devising the ]. He was known during his life as Constantine; the Greek name Cyril seems to have been given to him only shortly before his death, if not after.


'''Cyril''' and '''Methodius''' were two <!--This has been widely discussed and supported by sources and any editor who wants to support a different view should provide his references in Talk before making any changes-->]<!-- this ethnic description comes actually from a Slavic source, see Talk --> brothers born in ] in the ], who became ] of ] in ] and ]. They are credited with devising and spreading the ], which was used for ] manuscripts before the development of the ], the alphabet derived from Glagolitic, that, with small modifications, is still used in a number of ]. After their death their pupils became missionaries among other ]. Both brothers were ] in Eastern Orthodoxy as "]" and were glorified by the ] in ].
==Early life==
Cyril and ] were born in ] to a '']'' (a military officer) named Leon and to Maria. Cyril was reputedly the youngest of seven brothers, according to the ''Vita Cyrilli'' ("The Life of Cyril"). He is said to have given himself to the pursuit of heavenly wisdom at the age of seven, but at fourteen was made an orphan by the death of his parents.


== Early life ==
An influential official, possibly the eunuch ] (]: Θεόκτιστος), brought him to ] where he studied ] and ]. Theoktistos was a "] tou dromou," a powerful Byzantine official, responsible for the postal services and the diplomatic relations of the Empire. He was also responsible, along with the regent ], for initiating a far-reaching educational program within the Empire which culminated in the establishment of the ], where Constantine/Cyril was to teach. ] is said to have been among his teachers; ] mentions their later friendship, as well as a conflict between them on a point of doctrine. Cyril learned an eclectic variety of knowledge including ], ], ] and ].


Their father, Leon, was a ] military officer in the ] of ] and their mother his wife, Maria. Cyril's birth name was Constantine (]: Κωνσταντίνος ''Konstantínos'') and he was probably renamed Cyril (]: 'Lordly') just before his death in ].
However, it was in the field of ] that Cyril particularly excelled. Besides ], he was fluent in ], ], ] and the ]; according to the ''Vita'', the ] ] claimed that "all Thessalonians speak perfect Slavonic" (ch. 86).


] (]).]]
After the completion of his education Cyril took ] and became a monk. He seems to have held the important position of '']'', or secretary to the patriarch and keeper of the archives, with some judicial functions also. After six months' quiet retirement in a monastery he began to teach philosophy and theology.


The two brothers lost their father at a young age, and their uncle ] (]: Θεόκτιστος) became their protector. Theoktistos was a "] tou dromou," a powerful Byzantine official, responsible for the postal services and the diplomatic relations of the Empire. He was also responsible, along with the regent ], for initiating a far-reaching educational program within the Empire which culminated in the establishment of the ], where Constantine/Cyril was to teach.
Cyril also took an active role in relations with the other two great monotheistic religions, ] and ]. He penned fiercely anti-] polemics, perhaps connected with his mission to the ], a tribe who lived near the ] under a Jewish king who allowed Jews, Muslims, and Christians to live peaceably side by side. He also undertook a mission to the ] with whom, according to the ''Vita'', he held discussions. He is said to have learned the Hebrew, Samaritan and Arabic languages during this period. The account of his life presented in the ] ''Legenda'' claims that he also learned the Khazar language while in ], in ] (today ]).


It has been claimed that Methodius also accompanied him on the mission to the Khazars, but this is probably a later invention. His brother had by this time become a significant player in Byzantine political and administrative affairs, and later became abbot of the famous monastery of ]. Theoktistos invited (]) Cyril to ], the capital of the ], and helped him continue his studies at the ] there. He also arranged the placement of Methodius (]: Μεθόδιος ''Methódios'') as an abbot in the famous ] monastery of ]


== Mission to the Slavs == == Early career ==
In ], Prince ] of ] requested that the Emperor Michael III and the Patriarch ] send missionaries to evangelize his Slavic subjects. His motives in doing so were probably more influenced by political than religious motives. Rastislav had become king with the support of the ] ruler ], but subsequently sought to assert his independence from the Franks. He is said to have expelled missionaries of the ] and instead turned to Constantinople for ecclesiastical assistance and, presumably, a degree of political support.


The fact that Cyril was a master theologian with a good command of both the ] and ] languages made him eligible for his first state mission to the ] ] ] in order to discuss the principle of the Holy ] with the Arab theologian and to tighten the diplomatic relations between the Abbashid Caliphate and the Empire.
The request provided a convenient opportunity to expand Byzantine influence, and the task was entrusted to Cyril and Methodius. Their first work seems to have been the training of assistants. In ], they began the task of translating the ] into the language now known as ] and travelled to Great Moravia to promote it. They enjoyed considerable success in this endeavour. However, they came into conflict with German ecclesiastics who opposed their efforts to create a specifically Slavic liturgy.


The two brothers' second mission (]) by the ] ] and the ] ] (a professor of Cyril's at the University and his guiding light in earlier years) was a missionary expedition to the ] ] in order to prevent the expansion of ] there. This mission was unsuccessful, as later the Khagan imposed Judaism to his people as the national religion.
It is impossible to determine with certainty what portions of the Bible the brothers translated. The ] and the ] seem to have been the first, followed by other lessons from the ]. The ''Translatio'' speaks only of a version of the ] by Cyril, and the ''Vita Methodii'' only of the ''evangelium Slovenicum'', though other liturgical selections may also have been translated. Nor is it known for sure which liturgy, that of Rome or that of Constantinople, they took as a source. They may well have used the Roman, as suggested by liturgical fragments which adhere closely to the Latin type.


After their return to Constantinople, Cyril assumed the role of professor of ] at the University while Methodius had been designated as the bishop of the ].
The ], which was based on the Greek uncial writing of the 9th century, has been traditionally attributed to Cyril's work. That fact has been confirmed explicitly by the papal letter Industriae tuae (880) approving the use of Old Church Slavonic, which says that the alphabet was "invented by Constantine the Philosopher". It is unclear, however, whether Cyril himself was the originator of the eponymous ]. More probably, it was invented by later followers of Cyril and Methodius.


==Moravian mission==
== Journey to Rome ==
], ]]]
In ], ] invited the brothers to ]. Their evangelising mission in Moravia had by this time become the focus of a dispute with ], the ] and bishop of ], who claimed ecclesiastical control of the same territory and wished to see it use the Latin liturgy exclusively. Travelling with the relics of ] and a retinue of disciples, they were warmly received in Rome on their arrival in ].


In 862 they were invited by prince ] to propagate Christianity in the Slavic language in ], which they did until their deaths, Cyril's in 869 (in Rome) and Methodius' in 885 (in Great Moravia).
The brothers were praised for their learning and cultivated for their influence in Constantinople. Their project in Moravia found support from ], who formally authorized the use of the new Slavic liturgy. However, Cyril fell ill late in 868, retired to a monastery and after fifty days of illness died on ], ]. The ''Translatio'' asserts that he was made a bishop before his death, but there is little credible evidence for this.


For the purpose of this mission, they devised the ] ], an alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for Slavonic manuscripts before the development of the ], an alphabet derived from Glagolitic and the ] alphabet, that with small modifications is still used in a number of ].<ref>The Cyrillic alphabet was developed in the beginning of the 10th century, and was named so in honor of St. Cyril. Its probable creator is ], one of the closest disciples of the two holy brothers. Compared to the earlier ] ], it uses letters closer to those of the Greek alphabet, but has been adapted for use in some fifty languages.</ref>
The disciples of Cyril and Methodius continued the brothers' work in the Slavic lands but were expelled from Great Moravia in ]. They fled to the medieval ] to found important seminaries there, which later undertook the evangelization of northern Slavic lands such as ]. Over time, Cyrillic eventually spread through much of the Slavic world to become the standard alphabet in the Orthodox Slavic countries. Their evangelising efforts also paved the way for the spread of Christianity throughout eastern Europe.


] in ], ]]]
Cyril was ] as a ] by the eastern Church, with the Roman Catholic Church canonizing him separately in ] along with Methodius. The two brothers are known as the "Apostles of the Slavs" and are still highly regarded by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Cyril's feast day is celebrated on ] (Catholic Church) or ] (Orthodox Church). The two brothers were declared "Patrons of Europe" in ] (see ). ] on ] in the ], ] is named for Cyril.


They also translated Christian texts for Slavs into the language that is now called ] and wrote the first Slavic ], which was used in Great Moravia. The language derived from Old Church Slavonic, known as ], is still used in ] by several ] churches.
==See also==


==Commemoration==
*]
The saints' ] is celebrated by the ] on May 24 and by the ] and the ] on 14 February as ]. It is a public holiday in ], the ], the ], and ]; it is celebrated in ] as a holiday associated with the two brothers, who are considered patrons of learning and education.
*]
*]


]
== References ==
In the ] and ], the two brothers were originally commemorated on ], but ] changed this date to ]. Today, the St. Cyril and Methodius Day, believed to be the date of the arrival of the two brothers to Great Moravia in 863, is a ] and ].
*{{Schaff-Herzog}}

* "Cyril and Methodius, Saints". ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 2004
] promoted them to ] in ] (see ).
* "Cyril and Methodius, Saints." ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 2005

* ''Byzantine Missions among the Slavs''. F. Dvornik (1970).
] and ] on ] in the ], ] are named for the two brothers.
* "Lettera Apostolica" Pope John Paul II

==Notes==
<references/>

==See also==
{{commonscat|Cyril and Methodius}}
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==External links== ==External links==
* by Pope ]
* at
* * in '']''.
* {{note|Columbia}} The ], Sixth Edition, ''''.
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Revision as of 22:20, 22 March 2007

For details about each of the saints, see Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.
File:Cyril and Methodius Klykov.JPG
Monument to Sts. Cyril and Methodius on Slavyanskaya Square in Moscow.

Cyril and Methodius were two Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century, who became missionaries of Christianity in Khazaria and Great Moravia. They are credited with devising and spreading the Glagolitic alphabet, which was used for Slavonic manuscripts before the development of the Cyrillic, the alphabet derived from Glagolitic, that, with small modifications, is still used in a number of Slavic languages. After their death their pupils became missionaries among other Slavic peoples. Both brothers were canonized in Eastern Orthodoxy as "equal-to-apostles" and were glorified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1880.

Early life

Their father, Leon, was a Greek military officer in the thema of Thessaloniki and their mother his wife, Maria. Cyril's birth name was Constantine (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Konstantínos) and he was probably renamed Cyril (Greek: 'Lordly') just before his death in Rome.

Saints Cyril and Methodius painted by Jan Matejko (Poland).

The two brothers lost their father at a young age, and their uncle Theoktistos (Greek: Θεόκτιστος) became their protector. Theoktistos was a "Logothetes tou dromou," a powerful Byzantine official, responsible for the postal services and the diplomatic relations of the Empire. He was also responsible, along with the regent Bardas, for initiating a far-reaching educational program within the Empire which culminated in the establishment of the University of Magnaura, where Constantine/Cyril was to teach.

Theoktistos invited (843) Cyril to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and helped him continue his studies at the University there. He also arranged the placement of Methodius (Greek: Μεθόδιος Methódios) as an abbot in the famous Greek monastery of Polychron

Early career

The fact that Cyril was a master theologian with a good command of both the Arabic and Hebrew languages made him eligible for his first state mission to the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in order to discuss the principle of the Holy Trinity with the Arab theologian and to tighten the diplomatic relations between the Abbashid Caliphate and the Empire.

The two brothers' second mission (860) by the Byzantine Emperor Michael III and the Patriarch of Constantinople Photius (a professor of Cyril's at the University and his guiding light in earlier years) was a missionary expedition to the Khazar Khagan in order to prevent the expansion of Judaism there. This mission was unsuccessful, as later the Khagan imposed Judaism to his people as the national religion.

After their return to Constantinople, Cyril assumed the role of professor of Philosophy at the University while Methodius had been designated as the bishop of the Moni Polychroniou.

Moravian mission

Statues of Cyril and Methodius at Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

In 862 they were invited by prince Rastislav to propagate Christianity in the Slavic language in Great Moravia, which they did until their deaths, Cyril's in 869 (in Rome) and Methodius' in 885 (in Great Moravia).

For the purpose of this mission, they devised the Glagolitic alphabet, an alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for Slavonic manuscripts before the development of the Cyrillic, an alphabet derived from Glagolitic and the Greek alphabet, that with small modifications is still used in a number of Slavic languages.

Monument to Cyril and Methodius in front of the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia, Bulgaria

They also translated Christian texts for Slavs into the language that is now called Old Church Slavonic and wrote the first Slavic Civil Code, which was used in Great Moravia. The language derived from Old Church Slavonic, known as Church Slavonic, is still used in liturgy by several Eastern Orthodox churches.

Commemoration

The saints' feast day is celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on May 24 and by the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church on 14 February as Saints Cyril and Methodius Day. It is a public holiday in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Macedonia, and Slovakia; it is celebrated in Russia as a holiday associated with the two brothers, who are considered patrons of learning and education.

An Orthodox icon depicting Methodius and Cyril

In the Czech lands and Slovakia, the two brothers were originally commemorated on March 9, but Pope Pius IX changed this date to July 5. Today, the St. Cyril and Methodius Day, believed to be the date of the arrival of the two brothers to Great Moravia in 863, is a national holiday both in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Pope John Paul II promoted them to Patrons of Europe in 1980 (see Epistola Enciclica).

St. Cyril Peak and St. Methodius Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica are named for the two brothers.

Notes

  1. The Cyrillic alphabet was developed in the beginning of the 10th century, and was named so in honor of St. Cyril. Its probable creator is Clement of Ohrid, one of the closest disciples of the two holy brothers. Compared to the earlier Glagolitic alphabet, it uses letters closer to those of the Greek alphabet, but has been adapted for use in some fifty languages.

See also

External links

Categories: