By CAROLE BRESLIN
Throughout the history of the Bible men and women have had their names changed by God — usually to reflect a new identity in Him. Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah respectively. Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul. In the ninth century a man named Constantine took the name Cyril just before he died at the young age of 42. Some sources mention that his brother, Methodius, received the name Michel at his birth.
In 827, Christian parents welcomed their youngest of seven sons, Constantine, into their lives. His father was Greek while his mother most likely came from a Slavic country. Though born of a Christian family, the boys received a rather secular education in their youth.
After the death of the boys’ father, one of the ministers of the Byzantine Empire took the boys under his protection. Cyril went to Constantinople where he excelled in his studies, became a teacher at the recently established University of Magnaura, and received the moniker “Philosopher” because he possessed such knowledge and wisdom.
Cyril became a priest shortly after his time at the university. Since he grasped both the Arabic and Hebrew languages so well, he received a commission to go to the Arabs to teach them about the Holy Trinity. Methodius did not accompany him on this first mission.
However, in 860 the Moravians sent a request to the Byzantine emperor for Christian teachers. The motivation was not purely a religious one. The Slavic prince, Ratislav, seeking to reduce the influence of the Germans, wanted Slavic Christians to come and serve the Church in Moravia.
Because Cyril spoke the Slavic language he was selected for the mission. In preparation for this work with the Moravians, Cyril developed the Glagolitic alphabet to communicate in the written word. The script now called Cyrillic was developed either by St. Cyril or by the followers of Cyril and Methodius.
Saints Cyril and Methodius arrived in Moravia in 863 and together began to translate the Sacred Scriptures into the Slavic language. In addition, they also translated and celebrated the liturgy in the Slavonic tongue. It was the custom in the Eastern part of the Church to celebrate the liturgy in the vernacular.
The Germans, unhappy with the success of the brothers which they themselves were unable to obtain, took issue with the practice of celebrating the Mass in the vernacular. Furthermore, the German bishop refused to ordain any of the men formed by Cyril and Methodius. Because of the number of converts, the work was severely hampered by the priest shortage.
In the meantime, the Germans complained to the Pope as did many others because Saints Cyril and Methodius did not use the Greek or Latin language for the liturgy. Needing more help, Cyril decided to return for more assistance. He may have planned to go back to Constantinople, but he and Methodius ended up arriving in Venice where their mentor had been excommunicated.
Because of the vehement criticism the brothers received for using the vernacular for the liturgy, Pope Nicholas I sent for them to account for their behavior. The Germans hoped to eliminate the powerful influence of Saints Cyril and Methodius — as mentioned, their motives were not entirely spiritual.
Neither were the motives of Pope Nicholas I purely spiritual. He also focused on the influence of the brothers. He recognized that these two men could strengthen the influence of the Roman Church in Moravia.
Furthermore, St. Cyril had recovered the relics of Pope St. Clement when he preached in the Crimea. By the time Cyril and Methodius arrived in Rome, Nicholas had died and Pope Adrian II warmly welcomed the brothers with their priceless treasure of relics.
Pope Adrian II approved of their work, ordaining both of them bishops, and approving the use of the vernacular language for the liturgy in the Slavic countries. Cyril, however, who had done so much to prepare for the Slavonic liturgy, would not return with Methodius to Moravia. On February 4, 869, he died in Rome.
Methodius was grief stricken at the loss of his brother and constant companion in Christ. He sought to fulfill his mother’s request that the body of Cyril be returned home for burial, but a public outcry prevented it. In the end, they wanted such a great servant of the Church who brought back the relics of Pope St. Clement to rest in the same church as the Pope’s remains. St. Cyril was buried with great ceremony in the Church of San Clemente.
After Cyril’s burial, Methodius returned to Moravia as bishop. Pope Adrian II had approved the petitions of Prince Ratislav and Prince Svatopluk from Moravia as well as Prince Kocel of Pannonia to make a new archdiocese in their area with Methodius as bishop.
That papal approval of Methodius’ work did not deter King Louis and the German bishops who summoned Methodius. He was promptly denounced and imprisoned in a dank dungeon for more than two years before being released at the insistence of Pope John VIII.
Although the Pope won his release, he forbade Methodius from using the Slavic language for the liturgy. In 879, Methodius was accused of disobeying the order and was summoned to Rome.
After meeting with Methodius, Pope John VIII decided to restore the right to use the vernacular for the liturgy. Sadly, Prince Svatopluk persuaded the Pope to install a German priest under Methodius. This priest not only forged documents but he also undermined the good work of Methodius.
It appeared he was fighting a losing battle against the German bishops. Circumstances must have prevented him from his missionary labors and preaching as he spent the last four years of his life completing the translation of the Bible into the Slavic language.
On April 6, 884, Methodius died, worn out from his labors and the constant opposition of the Germans. His funeral was attended by persons from all walks of life, rich and poor, old and young, men and women.
The Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius has long been celebrated in their native land. In 1880, Pope Leo XIII raised their feast to be celebrated throughout the universal Church.
These men of the east are patrons of Church unity and of works to reunite the dissident Slav churches. The Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Orthodox Serbs, and Bulgars all recognize the brothers and venerate them.
Dear Saints Cyril and Methodius, who worked so tirelessly to reach the peoples of the Slavic countries, hear the pleas of your people. These countries are still torn by conflict and suffering and need your help. We pray for your intercession to strengthen them in their suffering and bring eternal peace to their lives. Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
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