Cyrill and Method

These two brothers originated in Saloniki, which was the second largest Byzantine city of their time (9^th century AD), and where many Slavic people lived. A philosopher by the name of Constantin created the first Slavic alphabet, the glagolitic alphabet, which was a predecessor of the present day cyrillic alphabet - which is named after Cyrill. During the time of missionaries in Great Moravia they translated the whole Bible into old church slavic and are therefore known as the fathers of Slavic literature. As members of the eastern, Greek-Byzantine Christianity, the were harshly criticised by the western, Latin bishops in Passau and Regensburg as well as the Bavarian priests in Great Moravia who were trying to prevent a loss in influence. They claimed that the only legitimate languages for Christian worship were Latin, Greek and Hebrew as they were the languages of Pilate’s inscription on Christ’s cross.

820	Method is born in Saloniki
827	Cyrill is born in Saloniki
862	The two brothers are sent as missionaries to Great Moravia
863	Cyrill developes the cyrillic alphabet
868	Slavic is officially recognised a liturgical language by Pope John VIII
869	Cyrill dies in a Greek monastry in Rome
870	Method is pronounced archbishop of Sirmium by John VIII
871	Method is captured by Latin bishops
872	Pope John VIII frees Method
885	Method dies in Moravia

Evaluation:

The introduction of slavic as a liturgical language gives the two brothers an important role in church history

Die Lehrer der Slawen Kyrill und Method, Die Lebensbeschreibungen zweier Missionare, Schütz, Joseph, EOS-Verl., 1985, St. Ottilien
Kyrill und Method, Gstrein, Heinz, Verl. St. Gabriel, 1985, Mödling, Wien

edited by: Robert Žukina
translation: Sebastian Lindemann
(17.8.2004/14.1.2005)