Having come to the Slavic lands with a religious mission, they accomplished a great deed for the development of culture and science, which cannot be overestimated - they constituted the Old Slavic alphabet. They are brothers Cyril and Methodius. Monuments to them stand throughout Russia and in the cities of the countries of the former USSR: Khanty-Mansiysk, Samara, Sevastopol, Odessa, Kiev, Murmansk and Moscow. Every year there are more of them. Why?
History reference
These events began in the eight hundred and sixty-second year, when Prince Rostislav sent with his ambassadors a petition to the Roman lands, so that enlightened people would be sent to carry the word of God to Moravia (Bulgaria).
This mission was assigned to the brothers Methodius and Cyril. They were famous for their education, intelligence and Christian good deeds.
Brothers were born in the family of a military man - the commander in Thessaloniki.
Cyril was younger than Methodius. He studied in the glorious Constantinople, was strong in the sciences, and the University of Magnavra accepted him into his walls for teaching. He was also appointed as mentor to the young emperor Michael the Third. Cyril even had a nickname - “philosopher”.
The eldest of seven brothers - Methodius was in military service, which he went after his father. About a dozen years he ruled one Slavic region, and after that he went to the monastery, but he helped the younger one diligently.
Arriving in Moravia with the students, the brothers, or rather Cyril, made up the alphabet for the Old Slavonic language. On it, the comrades translated the main Christian books from Greek.
Huge work was done, but the Roman church did not appreciate the work of the brothers, identifying only three sacred languages for the true word of God - Jewish, Greek, Latin.
Upon his return to Rome, Cyril was overcome by a serious illness, and a month and a half later he died. His brother went back to Moravia. There he served his whole life for the benefit of enlightenment and Orthodoxy.
In the eight hundred and seventy-sixth year, Methodius obtained permission to read sermons in the Slavic language and translated the Old Testament into it.
Description
The monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow is a monument. It consists of a pedestal and two statues - the brothers stand nearby in full growth. In the hands of Methodius and Cyril hold the main attributes of Orthodoxy - the cross and Holy Scripture. In front of the monument is a lamp with an “eternal” unquenchable fire.
On the pedestal itself there is an inscription: "To the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Slavic primary teachers Methodius and Cyril. Grateful Russia." It is inscribed using the Old Slavonic alphabet. Modern day writers have found five grammatical errors there!
Where is
The monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow was opened in 1992. This event was timed to coincide with the holiday dedicated to the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture (May twenty-fourth is Kirill's memory day).
Monument to Cyril and Methodius stands at the entrance to Ilyinsky Square. Previously, there was a Hall of Honor on which industrial enterprises of the Moscow Region in Soviet times posted photographs of their leading workers.
This part of the square was renamed; now it is called Slavyanskaya Square.
Traditions
Annually, the monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow is the starting point for celebrating a holiday dedicated to Slavic culture and writing. Flaming solemn speeches are made at the pedestal, flowers are brought.
Opposite the Slavyanskaya square is the Church of All Saints in Kulishki, so sometimes a procession passes by the monument, which looks very symbolic.
Many tourists take beautiful photos here - the monument to Cyril and Methodius belongs to the sights of the capital.
Monument in Muransk: history
The monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow owes its very existence to the active work of Murmansk writers.
It was there, in the Arctic, since 1986 that they began to celebrate the Day of Slavic writing and culture. After some time, the date was made public and celebrated throughout the country.
In 1988, a group of Soviet writers paid an official visit to Bulgaria. There the idea arose - to erect a monument to the authors of the Slavic alphabet in Murmansk. Yes, not just to deliver, but to present as a token of gratitude to the residents of the city for the revival of this cultural tradition in Russia.
