St. Cyril and St. Methodius

      The brother of Saint Methodius. Constantin was born in 827 at Thessalonica of Greek nobility. His family was connected with the senate of Thessalonica, and his mother Maria may have been Slavic. He studied at the University of Constantinople, and taught philosophy there as a Deacon and Priest.

      He was also librarian at the church of Santa Sophia. Later he became a monk, taking the name Cyril. He was sent with Methodius by the emperor in 861 to convert the Jewish Khazars of Russia, a mission that was successful, and which allowed him to learn the Khazar's language.

      In 863, he was sent with Methodius to convert Moravians in their native tongue. Though some western clergy opposed their efforts and refused to ordain their candidates for the priesthood, they did good work. He developed an alphabet for the Slavonic language that eventually became what is known as the Cyrillic today. After initial criticism for their use of it, they achieved approval of the Liturgy in the Slavonic language.

      He died February 14, 869 at Rome, Italy.

      The brother of Saint Cyril was born in 826 at Thessalonica. He studied at the University of Constantinople and taught philosophy there. He was sent with Cyril by the emperor in 861 to convert the Jewish Khazars of Russia.

      In 863, he was sent with Cyril to convert Moravians in their native tongue. Though some western clergy opposed their efforts and refused to ordain their candidates for the priesthood, they did good work.

      He became a bishop and evangelized in Moravia, Bohemia, Pannonia, and Poland. He became Archbishop of Velehred, Czechoslovakia, but deposed and imprisoned in 870 due to the opposition of German clergy with his work. He was often in trouble over his use of Slavonic in liturgy, some claiming he preached heresy; but was repeatedly cleared of charges. He translated the Bible into the Slavonic languages and pioneered the use of local and vernacular languages in liturgical settings.

      He died April 6, 885 at Moravia (Czechoslovakia)