In those years, when there was a split between the Western Church and its Eastern Orthodox sister, the process of Christianization of peoples began to increase on the Slavic lands with a vengeance. Looking back, we see that the Lord called them to fill the ranks of his church, sending them from the educated and advanced - at that time - Byzantine wise mentors. Thanks to them, the light of Orthodoxy fully shone for all Slavs.
Brothers from Thessaloniki
Celebrated annually on May 24, the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture has been a holiday since ancient times. And although he had a different name, he had the same meaning - veneration of the memory of two great enlighteners who, with their labors, acquired the crowns of holiness. These teachers of the Slavic peoples were born in the 9th century, in one of the largest cities of Byzantium - Thessaloniki (aka Solun), but they completed the main work of their life in the Slavic lands, to go to which they were blessed by the Lord.
Cyril (baptized by Constantine) and Methodius were siblings and grew up in a rich and educated family. Their father, a professional military man, served the emperor and held high posts at court. From early childhood, the brothers, in addition to native Greek, heard the Slavic language, which was spoken by many representatives of the tribes living around. Over time, the young men mastered it perfectly. The older brother Methodius, having decided to follow in his father's footsteps, became a military man and even noticeably advanced in this area, but eventually abandoned his military career and became a simple monk.
Future Enlightenment of the Slavs
His younger brother Konstantin, having received a brilliant education, even at home became the creator of the Glagolitic alphabet - the Slavic alphabet - and began to translate the Gospel into this language. It is known that while in Constantinople, he studied philosophy, dialectics, mathematics and a number of other sciences from the best teachers of his time. Soon, becoming a priest, he got the position of library supervisor at the famous Hagia Sophia, and a year later - a teacher at the University of Magnavra, who graduated shortly before. He replenished his education in many respects during his stay in Korsun, where he spent considerable time with Byzantine diplomats.
Brothers Mission in Bulgaria
But the main thing was waiting for the brothers ahead. In 862, a delegation arrived from Constantinople from Moravia from a local ruler, who asked to send mentors to him who could convey the teachings of Christ in their native language to the people. In response, the emperor and the patriarch sent brothers to fulfill this great mission. A year later, Konstantin, together with Methodius and the disciples, became the creators of the alphabet, which was based on the Old Slavonic language, and was translated into the Bulgarian series of books from the Holy Scriptures.
While in Moravia, the brothers conducted extensive educational activities among the local population. They not only taught literacy, but also helped organize the conduct of worship in the Bulgarian language. Their mission lasted about three years, during which they created the necessary base for the baptism of Bulgaria, which took place in 864. In 867, while already in Rome, Constantine fell ill from a serious illness, and shortly before his death, he tonsured monks under the name Cyril.
Feast in honor of the holy brothers
In memory of the deeds of these great enlighteners, May 24 was established Day of Slavic writing and culture. Its roots go back to the X-XI centuries, when their annual commemoration on May 24th became customary in Bulgaria. The days of memory of each of them were also established separately. All this speaks of the recognition of the invaluable services of the brothers to the national culture of the Slavic peoples. Starting from the XVIII - XIX centuries - the period that went down in history as the Bulgarian revival - the Day of Slavic Writing began to be celebrated.
In Russia, the celebration of this day became a custom rather late. Only in 1863 he was introduced into use by a special decree. And in the recent past, in 1985, in connection with the 1100th anniversary of the death of St. Methodius, it was decided to consider this day not only a religious holiday, but also a national one. That is why the Day of Slavic writing is celebrated on May 24.
Government and Church Initiatives
In 1991, the celebrations were given official status. At a government meeting held on January 30, a resolution was adopted according to which the whole country began to celebrate a new holiday - May 24, the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture. It is interesting that every year some other locality is selected as its capital.
It is symbolic that on the night preceding the Holy Sunday of Christ this year, the Patriarch lit a candle of the Slavic movement, aimed at popularizing and preserving the cultural values of the Slavic peoples. This good action is a kind of expedition along the main transport arteries, connecting on its way the most important historical centers of the country.
Celebration in Moscow
Initially, it was decided not to connect May 24 - the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture - with the framework of any particular scenario, but to provide in each case complete freedom of creativity to its organizers.
This opened up wide scope for holding various conferences, folklore concerts, meetings with writers, festivals and other events aimed at further development of the national Slavic culture.
In Moscow, the May 24 holiday (Day of Slavic Written Language) began this year with a solemn appeal to the head of the church to all Russians, and then an open-air concert followed, which, in terms of the scale and number of participants of the artists who performed in it, was an event of all-Russian scale. This was covered by representatives of leading media from around the world. Such events are an excellent way to strengthen mutual understanding between representatives of different nations.
