Holy Brothers Cyril. Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius: icons, frescoes, monuments

The Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius are especially revered among Orthodox Christians. People come to the icon with their image for help in learning.

The great contribution of the saints to education cannot be overestimated. The brothers are known worldwide for creating Slavic alphabet, missionary activities and the translation of sacred books.

Where is the icon

In almost every church of God there is an icon or fresco depicting Cyril and Methodius, and in many churches there are special chapels in honor of the holy fathers.

Description of the icon of Cyril and Methodius

The icon depicts gray-haired elders. One of the brothers, Cyril, is holding a scroll with inscriptions - the Slavic alphabet, and the second, Methodius - Holy Bible as a symbol of the true Orthodox faith.

What do the icons pray for

Before the face of holy men, they pray for the addition of the mind, the successful passing of exams. Orthodox Christians turn to the image for help in running their own business, asking them to reason with their children so that they succeed in learning. They offer prayers to the saints for the rapid acquisition of new skills, knowledge, and professions. The icon helps protect against pseudoscience and heresy, which opposes the Orthodox faith.

Prayer before the icon of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints

“Glorious Enlighteners Equal to the Apostles, Cyril and Methodius. I turn to you for help, great teachers. I pray for the admonition of the child of my student (name). Enlighten the child, direct the true path, aspiring to knowledge. May your will be on his mind. And enlighten me, the servant of God (name), and do not let me go the path of dense ignorance. Through your prayers and deeds in our lifetime, we will come closer to true enlightenment. Take away from us, Orthodox, false teachings, insidious, diabolical machinations. Amen".

The icon of Saints Cyril and Methodius is a wonderful gift for every student and a significant addition to every home iconostasis. The faces of the saints protect the true Christian faith, help everyone Orthodox person establish yourself in it and live by God's commandments.We wish you good luck and happiness, and do not forget to press the buttons and

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The brothers Cyril and Methodius, whose biography is at least briefly known to everyone who speaks Russian, were great educators. They developed an alphabet for the multitude Slavic peoples than immortalized their name.

Greek origin

The two brothers were from Thessaloniki. In Slavic sources, the old traditional name Solun has been 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 very well, some researchers tried to confirm the guess about their Slavic origin. However, no one has been able to do this. At the same time, for example, in Bulgaria, enlighteners are considered Bulgarians (they also use the Cyrillic alphabet).

Experts in the Slavic language

The linguistic knowledge of the noble Greeks can be explained by the story of Thessalonica. In their era, this city was bilingual. There was a local dialect of the Slavic language. The migration of this tribe reached its southern border, buried in the Aegean Sea.

At first, the Slavs were pagans and lived under a tribal system, just like their German neighbors. However, those strangers who settled on the borders Byzantine Empire, fell into the orbit of its cultural influence. Many of them formed colonies in the Balkans, becoming mercenaries of the ruler of Constantinople. Their presence was also strong in Thessalonica, from where Cyril and Methodius were born. The biography of the brothers at first went in different ways.

Brothers' mundane career

Methodius (in the world he was called Michael) became a military man and rose to the rank of strategist of one of the provinces in Macedonia. He succeeded thanks to his talents and abilities, as well as the patronage of the influential courtier Feoktist. Kirill s early years engaged in science and also studied culture neighboring nations. Even before he went to Moravia, thanks to which he became world famous, Konstantin (name before being tonsured a monk) began to translate chapters of the Gospel into

In addition to linguistics, Cyril studied geometry, dialectics, arithmetic, astronomy, rhetoric and philosophy from the best specialists in Constantinople. Thanks to his noble birth he could count on aristocratic marriage and public service in the highest echelons of power. However, the young man did not wish such a fate and became the custodian of the library in the main temple of the country - Hagia Sophia. But even there he did not stay long, and soon began to teach at the capital's university. Thanks to the brilliant victories in philosophical disputes he received the nickname of the Philosopher, which is sometimes found in historiographical sources.

Cyril was familiar with the emperor and even went with his instructions to the Muslim caliph. In 856, he arrived with a group of students at the monastery on the Small Olympus, where his brother was the abbot. It was there that Cyril and Methodius, whose biography was now associated with the church, decided to create an alphabet for the Slavs.

Translation of Christian books into Slavonic

In 862, ambassadors from the Moravian prince Rostislav arrived in Constantinople. They gave the emperor a message from their ruler. Rostislav asked the Greeks to give him learned people who could teach the Slavs the Christian faith in their own language. The baptism of this tribe took place even before that, but each divine service was held in a foreign dialect, which was extremely inconvenient. The patriarch and the emperor discussed this request among themselves and decided to ask the brothers of Thessalonica to go to Moravia.

Cyril, Methodius and their students set to work. The first language into which the main christian books, became Bulgarian. Biography of Cyril and Methodius summary which is in every Slavic history textbook, is known for the colossal work of the brothers on the Psalter, the Apostle and the Gospel.

Journey to Moravia

The preachers went to Moravia, where they served for three years and taught people to read and write. Their efforts also helped to carry out the baptism of the Bulgarians, which took place in 864. They also visited Transcarpathian Rus and Panonnia, where they also glorified the Christian faith in Slavic languages. The brothers Cyril and Methodius, whose brief biography includes many travels, everywhere found an attentively listening audience.

Even in Moravia, they had a conflict with German priests who were there with a similar missionary mission. The key difference between them was the unwillingness of Catholics to worship in the Slavic language. This position was supported by the Roman Church. This organization believed that it was possible to praise God only in three languages: Latin, Greek and Hebrew. This tradition has existed for many centuries.

The great schism between Catholics and Orthodox had not yet happened, so the Pope still had influence on the Greek priests. He called the brothers to Italy. They also wanted to come to Rome to defend their position and to reason with the Germans in Moravia.

Brothers in Rome

The brothers Cyril and Methodius, whose biography is also revered by Catholics, came to Adrian II in 868. He came to a compromise with the Greeks and agreed that the Slavs could conduct worship in their native languages. The Moravians (ancestors of the Czechs) were baptized by bishops from Rome, so they were formally under the jurisdiction of the Pope.

While still in Italy, Konstantin became very ill. When he realized that he would soon die, the Greek took the schema and received the monastic name Cyril, with which he became known in historiography and popular memory. Being on his deathbed, he asked his brother not to give up the common educational work, but to continue his service among the Slavs.

Continuation of the preaching activity of Methodius

Cyril and Methodius, whose brief biography is inseparable, became revered in Moravia during their lifetime. When younger brother returned there, it became much easier for him to continue to fulfill his duty than 8 years ago. However, soon the situation in the country changed. The former prince Rostislav was defeated by Svyatopolk. The new ruler was guided by German patrons. This led to a change in the composition of the priests. The Germans again began to lobby for the idea of ​​preaching in Latin. They even imprisoned Methodius in a monastery. When Pope John VIII found out about this, he forbade the Germans to hold liturgies until they released the preacher.

Cyril and Methodius have not yet encountered such resistance. Biography, creation and everything connected with their life is full of dramatic events. In 874, Methodius was finally released and again became an archbishop. However, Rome has already withdrawn its permission to worship in the Moravian language. However, the preacher refused to submit to the changing course catholic church. He began to conduct secret sermons and rituals in the Slavic language.

The last chores of Methodius

His perseverance was not in vain. When the Germans again tried to denigrate him in the eyes of the church, Methodius went to Rome and, thanks to his ability as an orator, was able to defend his point of view before the Pope. He was given a special bull, which again allowed worship in the national languages.

The Slavs appreciated the uncompromising struggle waged by Cyril and Methodius, whose brief biography was reflected even in ancient folklore. Shortly before his death, the younger brother returned to Byzantium and spent several years in Constantinople. His last great work was the translation into Slavic " Old Testament”, with which he was helped by faithful students. He died in 885 in Moravia.

Significance of the activities of the brothers

The alphabet, created by the brothers, eventually spread to Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Russia. Today Cyrillic is used by all Eastern Slavs. These are Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians. The biography of Cyril and Methodius for children is taught as part of the school curriculum in these countries.

Interestingly, the original alphabet, created by the brothers, eventually became Glagolitic in historiography. Another version of it, known as Cyrillic, appeared a little later thanks to the work of the students of these enlighteners. This scientific debate remains relevant. The problem is that no ancient sources have come down to us that could certainly confirm any particular point of view. Theories are built only on secondary documents that appeared later.

Nevertheless, the contribution of the brothers is difficult to overestimate. Cyril and Methodius, whose brief biography should be known to every Slav, helped not only spread Christianity, but also strengthen it among these peoples. In addition, even if we assume that the Cyrillic alphabet was created by the students of the brothers, they still relied on their work. This is especially evident in the case of phonetics. Modern Cyrillic alphabets have adopted the sound component from those written symbols that were proposed by the preachers.

Both the Western and Eastern churches recognize the importance of the work carried out by Cyril and Methodius. short biography for the children of educators is in many general education textbooks of history and the Russian language.

In our country, since 1991, the annual Public Holiday dedicated to the brothers from Thessalonica. It is called the Day of Slavic Culture and Literature and also exists in Belarus. In Bulgaria, an order named after them was established. Cyril and Methodius Interesting Facts whose biographies are published in various monographs, still attract the attention of new researchers of languages ​​and history.

“Take care of our language, our beautiful Russian language, this treasure, this property handed over to us by our predecessors!.. Treat this powerful tool with respect; in the hands of the skilful, it is able to perform miracles"

AND ABOUT. Turgenev

Slavic writing and culture are among the most ancient in Europe. The Slavs owe the appearance of writing to the holy apostles Cyril and Methodius. History has put their names in a row greatest sons humanity. It is to them that the Slavs owe the appearance of writing.

In 863, by order of Emperor Michael, the brothers were instructed to go to Slavic Moravia to teach the locals how to worship in the Slavic language.

Cyril and Methodius. Kyrill und Method auf einer russischen Ikone des 18./19. Jh.

Methodius (c. 815 or 820 - 885) and Cyril (c. 826 or 827 - 869) were born and raised in Macedonia. The father of the brothers, according to legend, was a Bulgarian, and his mother was a Greek. Perhaps this to some extent explains the interest and that selfless devotion to the cause of Slavic enlightenment, which are so characteristic of both brothers.

Methodius at first was in military service, but then retired to a monastery.

Konstantin (in monasticism Cyril) from childhood showed extraordinary mental talents. Already at school, he achieved considerable success, in particular, in the study of theology. The abilities of Constantine became known in the capital of the empire, and Emperor Michael III invited him as a companion to his son. Studying at the court of the emperor, under the guidance of experienced teachers and mentors, he quickly mastered all the sciences, as well as many languages.

In Byzantium, Constantine had at his disposal not only the best teachers of the empire, but also the book treasures of the patriarchal library. He decided to become a patriarchal librarian. Then he taught at the same Constantinople higher school, which he himself graduated from and where he received the respectful name of the Philosopher, which remained behind him in history. He actively participated in various religious disputes with Muslims, Jews, Persians. Strengthened his oratorical skills. In a dispute, he defeated the patriarch to defend the icons. In Syria he defended Christianity, the idea of ​​a single God. The brothers carried out a mission-journey to the Khazars, visited Chersonese, where Kirill found the Gospel and the Psalter in Russian writing.

Before starting his missionary work, Cyril developed and streamlined the Slavic alphabet. It has 43 letters. Most of the letters were taken from the Greek alphabet, because they are similar to them. To designate sounds characteristic only of the Slavic language, 19 signs were invented. However, there was one significant flaw in it: it contained six Greek letters, which were superfluous in the transmission of the Slavic language.

Josef Mathauser

In Moravia, Cyril and Methodius began active work. The brothers and their students opened schools in which they began to teach the youth Slavic writing. Thanks to the efforts of the brothers in Moravia, the written translation of the entire annual cycle of worship, as well as the books necessary for it, was completed. Also during this time, several churches were built, in which worship was conducted in the Slavic language.

Slavs in their Original Homeland: Between the Turanian Whip and the sword of the Goths.1912.Galerie hlavního města PrahyMuseum Template Link

The secret of the success of the mission of Cyril and Methodius was that the service was held in the native language of the people. Cyril and Methodius translated texts from many Greek books, thereby laying the foundation for the formation of the Old Slavonic book business. The educational work of the Slavs contributed to the spread of literacy among these peoples. The brothers overcame a difficult path of struggle. Cyril's whole life was filled with frequent hard trips. Deprivation, hard work affected his health. Cyril's health deteriorated. He died before reaching the age of 42.

Methodius continues his work. And now not only in Moravia, but also in neighboring Czech Republic and Poland. Methodius, exhausted by the continuous struggle with the German feudal lords and churchmen in 885, dies.

The brothers left behind more than two hundred students, who contributed to the fact that the Cyrillic alphabet spread in the Balkans, crossed the Danube and reached the borders Ancient Russia. Cyril and Methodius are canonized by the church. The church equated their work with the apostolic feat. The day of their canonization - May 24, is proclaimed the Day of Slavic writing and culture in our today's calendars. This is one of the most important holidays of the fraternal Slavic peoples, in which the past and the present, spirituality and culture are organically combined.

The memory of Cyril and Methodius is immortalized in monuments in all corners of the Slavic land. Slavic alphabet serves 10% of the world's population. She wrote "The Tale of Past Years", "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", other works Kievan Rus. The names of Cyril and Methodius are forever recorded in the history of the Slavic peoples.

Cyril and Methodius became famous throughout the world as champions of Christian faith and authors of the Slavic alphabet. The biography of the couple is extensive, even a separate biography is dedicated to Cyril, created immediately after the death of a man. However, today meet a brief history the fate of these preachers and the founders of the alphabet can be found in various manuals for children. The brothers have their own icon, where they are depicted together. They turn to her with prayers for good studies, luck for students, and an increase in intelligence.

Childhood and youth

Cyril and Methodius were born in the Greek city of Thessalonica (present-day Thessaloniki) in the family of a military leader named Leo, whom the authors of the biography of a couple of saints characterize as "of a good family and rich." Future monks grew up in the company of five more brothers.

Before the tonsure, the men bore the names Michael and Konstantin, and the first was older - he was born in 815, and Konstantin in 827. About ethnic background families in the circles of historians, disputes still do not subside. Some attribute it 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 applied for military service under patronage true friend family and grew even to the governor of the Byzantine province. In the "Slavic reign" he established himself as a wise and fair ruler.

Cyril from early childhood was fond of reading books, struck the environment with an excellent memory and abilities for science, was known as a polyglot - in addition to Greek and Slavic, Hebrew and Aramaic were listed in the language arsenal. At the age of 20, a young man, a graduate of the University of Magnavra, was already teaching the basics of philosophy at the court school at Tsargrad.

Christian ministry

Cyril flatly refused a secular career, although such an opportunity was provided. Marrying the goddaughter of an official of the royal office in Byzantium opened up dizzying prospects - the 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) preferred to step onto the church path.

When he was already teaching at the university, the man even managed to win in theological disputes over the leader of the iconoclasts, the former patriarch John Grammatik, also known as Ammius. However, this story is considered just a beautiful legend.

The main task for the government of Byzantium at that time was considered to be the strengthening and promotion of Orthodoxy. Together with the diplomats, who traveled around the cities and villages, where they negotiated with religious enemies, missionaries traveled. Konstantin became them at the age of 24, setting off with the first important task from the state - to instruct Muslims on the true path.

At the end of the 50s of the 9th century, the brothers, tired of worldly bustle, retired to the monastery, where the 37-year-old Methodius was tonsured. 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 Khagan announced an inter-religious 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 in disputes.

Cyril took his brother with him and brilliantly completed the task assigned to his shoulders, but still the mission was not completely successful. The Khazar state did not become Christian, although the kagan allowed people to be baptized. On this trip, something serious happened for believers. historical event. On the way, the Byzantines looked into the Crimea, where, in the vicinity of Chersonesus, Cyril found the relics of Clement, the fourth holy pope of Rome, which were then transferred to Rome.

The brothers are involved in another important mission. Once, the ruler of the Moravian lands (Slavic state) Rostislav asked for help from Constantinople - teachers-theologians were required to tell the people about the true faith in an accessible language. Thus, the prince was going to get away from the influence of the German bishops. This trip became a landmark - the Slavic alphabet appeared.

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 trip took three years. The results of the labors played a big role in the preparation for the baptism of Bulgaria.

In 867, the brothers had to go to Rome to answer for "blasphemy". Cyril and Methodius Western Church called heretics, accusing them of reading sermons, including in the Slavic language, while talking about the Almighty can only be done in Greek, Latin and Jewish.

On the way to the Italian capital, they stopped in the Principality of Blaten, where they taught the people book business. Those who arrived in Rome with the relics of Clement were so delighted that the new Pope Adrian II allowed worship services to be held in Slavic and even allowed the translated books to be laid out in churches. During this meeting, Methodius received the episcopal rank.

Unlike his brother, Cyril took the veil as a monk only on the verge of death - it was necessary. After the death of the preacher, Methodius, overgrown with 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.

Methodius was even imprisoned at the monastery for three years. Pope John VIII helped to get free, who imposed a ban on the liturgy as long as Methodius was in prison. However, in order not to escalate the situation, John also banned worship in the Slavic language. Only sermons were not punishable by law.

But a native of Thessaloniki, at his own peril and risk, continued to secretly conduct services in Slavic. At the same time, the archbishop baptized Czech prince, for which he was later brought to trial in Rome. However, luck favored Methodius - he not only escaped punishment, but also received a papal bull and the opportunity to again conduct worship in the Slavic language. Shortly before his death, he managed to translate the Old Testament.

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 claims that the idea was born as early as 856, when the brothers, together with their students Angelarius, Naum and Clement, settled on Mount Olympus Minor in the Polychron Monastery. Here Methodius served as rector.

The authorship of the alphabet is attributed to Cyril, but which one remains a mystery. Scientists tend to Glagolitic, this is indicated by 38 characters that it contains. As for the Cyrillic alphabet, it was brought to life by Clement of Ohrid. However, even if this is so, the student still used the achievements of Cyril - it was he who singled out 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 for the designations of specific Slavic sounds they took Hebrew letters, for example, "sh".

Death

Constantine-Cyril, on a trip to Rome, was stricken by a serious illness, and on February 14, 869, he died - this day in Catholicism is recognized as the day of remembrance of the saints. The body was interred in the Roman temple of St. Clement. Cyril did not want his brother to return to the monastery in Moravia, and before his death he supposedly said:

“Here, brother, we were like two oxen in a harness, we plowed one furrow, and I fall into 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 to carry himself to the church for a sermon. The priest died in Palm Sunday April 4, 885. Methodius was buried in three languages ​​- Greek, Latin and, of course, Slavonic.

At the post of Methodius, the disciple Gorazd replaced him, and then all the undertakings of the holy brothers began to collapse. In Moravia, liturgical translations were gradually banned again, followers and students were hunted down - they were persecuted, sold into slavery and even killed. Some of the adherents fled to neighboring countries. But still Slavic culture survived, the book center moved to Bulgaria, and from there to Russia.

The holy chief-apostle teachers are revered in the West and East. In Russia, in memory of the feat of the brothers a holiday is established- May 24 is the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture.

Memory

Settlements

• 1869 - the foundation of the village of Mefodievka near Novorossiysk

monuments

• Monument to Cyril and Methodius at the Stone Bridge in Skopje, Macedonia.
• Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Khanty-Mansiysk.
• Monument in honor of Cyril and Methodius in Thessaloniki, Greece. The statue in the form of a gift was given to Greece by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
• Statue in honor of Cyril and Methodius in front of the building of the National Library of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria.
• Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Cyril and Methodius in Velehrad, Czech Republic.
• Monument in honor of Cyril and Methodius, installed in front of the building of the National Palace of Culture in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria.
• Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Prague, Czech Republic.
• Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Ohrid, Macedonia.
• Cyril and Methodius are depicted on the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia" in Veliky Novgorod.

Books

• 1835 - poem "Cyrillo-Mephodias", Jan Golla
• 1865 - "Cyril and Methodius Collection" (edited by Mikhail Pogodin)
• 1984 - "Khazar Dictionary", Milorad Pavich
• 1979 - Thessalonica Brothers, Slav Karaslavov

Movies

• 1983 - "Konstantin the Philosopher"
• 1989 - Thessalonica Brothers
• 2013 - "Cyril and Methodius - Apostles of the Slavs"

CYRIL AND METHODIUS, SVV. Cyril (827–869) and Methodius (815–885), Greek missionaries, creators of the Slavonic alphabet. The brothers Constantine (who took the name Cyril in the schema) and Methodius were born in Thessalonica (now Thessaloniki, Greece) in the family of a Byzantine commander. Konstantin from childhood stood out for his extraordinary abilities. He was brought up at court, studied with the young Emperor Michael III. Among his teachers were Leo the Mathematician and Photius, the future Patriarch of Constantinople. prone to monastic life, Constantine abandoned his court career. However, he failed to retire to the monastery. He worked as a librarian in the patriarchal library, taught philosophy (which is why he is called “Cyril the Philosopher” in his hagiographies), and participated in polemics with iconoclasts. In 855-856, Constantine participated in a missionary trip to the Arabs ("Saracenic mission"), where he argued with the Muslims, demonstrating a good knowledge of the Koran. In 860, Constantine, together with his brother Methodius, participated in the Byzantine embassy to the Khazars. During this journey, Constantine discovered the relics of St. Clement (1st century AD) - the fourth pope of Rome, who died as a martyr in Chersonese. Subsequently, this find had a huge impact on the success of missionary activities among the Slavs.

In 863, the Moravian prince Rostislav turned to the Byzantine emperor Michael III with a request to send a bishop and a teacher to preach among the Slavs living in Pannonia and Moravia. These Slavic lands were in church administration Rome, and Constantinople did not have the right to put a bishop there, so the patriarch sent Constantine and his brother Methodius without official authority. In that era, the Slavs did not yet have their own written language; Konstantin created an alphabet for them (apparently it was Glagolitic) and translated some texts from Greek.

In addition to the invention of the Slavic alphabet, during the 40 months of their stay in Moravia, Constantine and Methodius managed to solve two problems: some liturgical books and people are prepared who are able to serve according to these books. However, this was not enough to spread the Slavic worship. Neither Constantine nor Methodius were bishops and could not ordain their disciples as priests. Cyril was a monk, Methodius was a simple priest, and the local bishop was an opponent of Slavic worship. To give their activities official status, the brothers and several of their students went to Rome. In Venice, Constantine entered into a discussion with opponents of worship in national languages. In Latin spiritual literature, the idea was popular that worship could be performed only in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, since, according to the gospels (Luke 23:38; John 19:20), it was in these languages ​​that the inscription on the cross was made, on which Christ was crucified. The stay of the brothers in Rome was triumphant. Constantine and Methodius brought with them the relics of St. Clement, Pope, who, according to tradition, was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. The relics of Clement were a precious gift, and the Slavic translations of Constantine were blessed. Slavic liturgy was served in several cathedrals of Rome. Having lived in Rome for about a year, on February 14, 869, Constantine died, shortly before his death, taking the schema with the name Cyril. He was buried in Rome in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Clement.

The leadership of the mission passed to Methodius, who, being a brilliant organizer, continued the work of his brother. The disciples of Cyril and Methodius were ordained priests, while the Pope sent a message to the Moravian rulers, in which he officially allowed worship in the Slavic language: mind and true faith so that he enlightens you, as you yourself asked, explaining to you in your own language Holy Scripture, whole liturgical rank and Holy Mass, i.e. services, including baptism, as the philosopher Constantine began to do with by God's grace and through the prayers of Saint Clement. During the next visit to Rome, Methodius received the episcopal rank. Now, having received the right to ordain his students as priests, he began active work: he taught the Slavic language and writing, organized rewriting Slavic books, prepared priests capable of serving according to these books. However, this activity was soon interrupted. Before the consecration of Methodius and the creation of the Slavic bishopric, the Pannonian lands were ecclesiastically subordinate to the Bishop of Salzburg, who prevented the spread of Slavic worship and writing. In 870, after the patron of Methodius, Prince Rostislav, was overthrown, Methodius was accused of heresy and imprisoned, where he spent about three years. Only after the intervention of the Pope, he was restored to his rights. However, the confrontation between the new Moravian prince and the German clergy forced Methodius to go to Rome again to defend his cause. Slavic translations liturgical texts were approved by the Roman Curia, as Pope John VIII announced in a special message. Having consolidated his position in Moravia, Methodius carried out a number of new translations, completed the translation of the Bible, Nomocanon(Byzantine collection of church laws) and Paterica.

April 6, 885 Methodius died, leaving behind about 200 disciples. Soon after his death, the opponents of the Slavic worship became more active: the Slavic liturgy was banned, and the students and followers were expelled from the country. Expelled from Moravia, the disciples of Methodius took refuge in Bulgaria, which became the new center of Slavic writing.

Memorial Day of St. Cyril February 14 (in Russian Orthodox Church February 14, old style), St. Methodius on April 6 (old style), Saints Cyril and Methodius on May 11 (old style).