Throughout the centuries there wasn't anything more valuable for the Bulgarian people than Knowledge, Education, Traditions and Culture, which we celebrate on the 24th of May each year for centuries.
     It is the most beloved and cherished Bulgarian holiday! It brings the sweet memories of the first year in school, when you were eager to learn, and the first teacher who helped you with the basics for education. May 24th is the Bulgarian Teacher's Day, and the students shower their teachers with flowers. Schools are decorated, and the portraits of the two brothers, Cyril and Methodius, who created eleven centuries ago an alphabet that corresponded to the sounds of the Slavic Languages. Their work enabled the Slavic people to lay the foundations of their own culture.

     The saint brothers Cyril and Methodius were the teachers of the Slavs. They were born in Salonica, the second town of the Byzantine Empire in size and importance after Constantinople. According to some references their father Leo was Slav and their mother was Greek. Long before the birth of the saint brothers that city was surrounded by Slavic tribes. The proximity of the neighbors, Greek and Slavic tribes influenced one another. And it was natural that both brothers had a good command of the Slavonic language since their childhood, especially because their father was Slav. Cyril was librarian of the church of St. Sophia, the largest church in Constantinople. He was later a lecturer in the Magnaura School. As a man, who was thoroughly acquainted with philosophy, he won such popularity that his name remained forever linked with the nickname "the Philosopher".
     In 851 Cyril's began a remarkable activity among tribes and people beyond the boundaries of Byzantium, spreading Christianity. Later he entered a monastery in the Olympus Mountains of Asia Minor, where his brother Methodius had earlier taken refuge. Here the two brothers linked their lives forever.
     There isn't much information about the youth of Methodius. Following in his father's footsteps, Methodius had become governor of a Slav principality. Suddenly interrupted; a great change took place in his life - he left the world and entered a monastery. That was not only a center of religious life, but medieval scholarship also flourished there. In about 860 Cyril and Methodius were sent on a mission of spreading Christianity, Byzantine influence, as well as the Christian cultural heritage in Khazars and other regions in South Russia.
     In the end of 862 prince of Moravia Rostislav sent his people to the emperor Michael III. The prince was worrying about his people who were not explained the meaning of the true faith in an understandable language despite the acceptance of Christianity and wished for a teacher who could instruct the Moravians in the Slavonic tongue. The saint brothers were picked by the emperor and patriarch Photius. On the account of their acquaintance with the language, Cyril and Methodius were chosen for that work. Before their departure they invented the Slavonic alphabet.
     In spring of 863 the saint brothers arrived in Moravia. Besides an invented alphabet for Moravians they had brought some other translations from the New Testament and books for services. They settled down in town Velegrad (Devin) and continued working on translations, introducing Slavonic into holy services, establishing schools and educating people who were joyfully receptive to their teaching. Unfortunately the Latin clergy began to revile the Slav church services and script, Cyril and Methodius had to fight to defend their work, displaying great energy, wisdom and courage.
     Their mission took them across Panonia, a Slav country whose ruler was Prince Kotsel. Helped by their disciples in Panonia, Cyril and Methodius taught about 50 persons the Slav script and literature. These men later became their enthusiastic propagators. From Panonia the brothers went to Venice, where Cyril was forced to defend the Slavonic services and script before bishops, priests and monks who rallied against him like "crows against a hawk", as the writer of Cyril's life puts it. From Venice Cyril and Methodius set out for Rome. Cyril and Methodius arrived in Rome at the end of 867 or the beginning of 868. Pope Hadrian himself and the head of the Roman Clergy came out to meet them.
     At that time Cyril fell seriously ill. In Rome his health grew worse. On February 14, 869, he died. He was buried in Rome with great honors - in the church of San Clemente. In the 12th century his mortal remains were transferred to the new church of San Clemente. They were there until the end of the 18th century, when they disappeared.
     Methodius carried out Cyril's behest: He continued the fight for the spread and defense of the Slavonic script and service.
     The most important task, which Methodius undertook upon his return to Constantinople, was the translation of all liturgical books, into Old Bulgarian. Soon afterwards Methodius died on April 6, 885.
     Some of the disciples of the two brothers made their way to Preslav, the second capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, and a large cultural center at the time.
     Having adopted and developed the work of Cyril and Methodius, Medieval Bulgaria played an important role in the spread of Slav literature and culture among the Slav nations.
     Consolidated in the territory of Bulgaria Slavonic literature passed from Bulgaria to Russia where only the beginnings of a literature had previously existed, to the Serbians and Rumanians. Thus becoming the foundation of Russian and Serbian and for a long time also Rumanian culture and literature.

     May 24th is extremely important for the Bulgarians because it symbolizes the unity of the Bulgarian people.
     On May 24th Bulgarians put flowers in front of the monuments of St. Cyril and St. Methodius. Schools and local governments organize celebrations in honor of everyone in history, who contributed for the culture development of a nation throughout the time. Media is broadcasting about ordinary and great people, who spread the knowledge and culture in Bulgaria and around the world. It seems that this day everybody becomes somehow a better and more spiritual person. Through the entire day, the hymn of the Holiday "Varvi, Narode Vazrodeni" enlightens harts and dreams. The message of the two brothers inspires "Go forward revival population - towards brighter future go - with the enlightenment of the culture - as the beginning of the hymn says."

     The Bulgarian Alphabet
     It is a well known fact that Constantine-Cyril, the Philosopher (about 827-869) created the first Bulgarian alphabet to serve the dialects of the Slavs, along with the Moravians and the Macedonians.
     There were two alphabets at one time for a short period, Glagolitic and the Cyrillic. Most scholars believe that Constantine-Cyril is the father of the Glagolitic while the Cyril alphabet is the work of Clement of Ohrid, who named it after Cyril as a tribute to the great teacher and philosopher.
     The Cyrillic alphabet is used now days by the Bulgarians, Russians, as well as by many non-Slavic people which belonged to the former Soviet Union. The Glagolitic alphabet, referring to Constantine-Cyril as its author, is known for its elaborate and exotic graphics. The Cyrillic alphabet displaced entirely and rapidly the Glagolitic alphabet in Eastern Bulgaria and in its first Christian capital - Preslav from where it spread among the other Slavs.
     Bulgarians are proud of the fact, as the Old Bulgarian author Chernorizetz Hrabar said, that in Bulgaria even the school children knew that their letters had been conceived by Constantine-Cyril, the Philosopher.

The articles are selected and translated
by Daphne Karcheva-Orris

Back