Day of Slavic Literature and Culture (24/05)

Every year on May 24, all Slavic countries celebrate the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture and solemnly glorify the creators of Slavic writing, Saints Cyril and Methodius — Slovenian teachers. As you know, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius came from a noble and pious family and lived in the Greek city of Soluni. They were Orthodox monks and created the Slavic alphabet in a Greek monastery.

Scientists believe that Slavic writing was created in the 9th century, around 863. The new alphabet was called «Cyrillic» after one of the brothers, Constantine, who, having become a monk, became Cyril. And his older brother Methodius helped him in the godly work of educating the Slavic peoples.

Kirill, who from an early age showed great abilities and perfectly comprehended all the sciences of his time, and also studied many languages, created the Slavic alphabet based on Greek. He significantly changed the Greek alphabet to more accurately convey the Slavic sound system.

Two alphabets — verb and Cyrillic were created. In addition, the Greek brothers translated the Gospel, the Apostle and the Psalter into Slavic.

For the contribution of Saints Cyril and Methodius to the culture of Europe, Pope John Paul II declared them patrons of the Old Continent in 1980.

The Day of Remembrance of these saints, which the Church celebrates on May 24, as the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture began to be celebrated in Bulgaria back in the 19th century, and then this tradition passed to other countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova.

Currently, scientific forums are dedicated to this holiday, festivals, exhibitions, book fairs, poetry readings, amateur art shows, concerts and other various cultural events are held.

Also traditionally, in honor of the holiday, the International Scientific Conference «Slavic World: Community and Diversity» is held and the award ceremony is held for the laureates of the Patriarchal Literary Prize named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, established by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is awarded to government and public figures, literary and artistic figures for the preservation and development of the Cyril and Methodius heritage.



• Infographics — poster «Day of Slavic Literature and Culture» • Story «I can't live without you»

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