Day of Slavic Literature and Culture. Presentation "May 24 - Day of Slavic Culture and Literature" Holiday May 24

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Day of Remembrance of the First Teachers of the Slavic Peoples - the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Brothers Cyril and Methodius

Our ancestors knew how to do everything: plow the land, weave canvas, and cut down mansions. They knew a lot of things, but they didn’t know how to read and write, they didn’t know books. And someone had to teach them.

The word “alphabet” comes from the names of the first two letters of the Slavic alphabet: A (az) and B (buki): AZBUKA: AZ + BUKI and the word “alphabet” comes from the names of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: ALPHABET: ALPHA + VITA The alphabet is much older ABCs. In the 9th century there was no alphabet, and the Slavs did not have their own letters. And therefore there was no writing. The Slavs could not write books or even letters to each other in their language.

The origins of Russian writing ABC: AZ + BUKI Greek letters: Aa Bb Gg Dd Ee Kk Ll Mm ALPHABET: ALPHA + VITA Slavic letters: Aa Vv Gy Dd E Kk Ll Mm

Cyrillic

In the 9th century in Byzantium, in the city of Thessaloniki (now the city of Thessaloniki in Greece), two brothers lived - Constantine and Methodius. The city of Thessaloniki (now called Thessaloniki). Greece

St. Methodius St. Methodius is a high-ranking warrior who ruled for about 10 years one of the Slavic principalities subordinate to Byzantium, which gave him the opportunity to learn the Slavic language

St. Cyril St. Cyril was distinguished by his mental abilities from an early age. While studying at the Thessaloniki school and not yet reaching the age of fifteen, he was already reading books

Taking advantage new alphabet, Cyril and Methodius translated into Slavic language a number of liturgical books.

The merits of Cyril and Methodius compiled the Slavic alphabet, translated liturgical books from Greek into Slavic, and contributed to the introduction and spread of Slavic worship.

Saints are remembered and honored

Across broad Rus' - our mother, the ringing of bells spreads. Nowadays the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius are glorified for their labors. They remember Cyril and Methodius, the glorious Equal-to-the-Apostles Brothers, in Belarus, Macedonia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, they praise the wise brothers in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia. All the peoples that write in Cyrillic, That have been called Slavic since ancient times, Glorify the feat of their first teachers, their Christian enlighteners.

Preview:

Class hour script

on this topic

"Day Slavic writing and culture"

Sheudzhen Fatima Chemalevna

teachers primary classes MBOU Secondary School No. 4 named after. D.S.Shalyakho

Explanatory note.

Every nation has the right to be proud of its language. Russian language is the richest, beautiful language among those existing on earth and should be proud of it, protect it as a unique cultural and spiritual phenomenon.

Therefore, today an appeal to the origins of spirituality, a moral revival of society, attentive and careful attitude to the Russian language, preserving and enhancing its rich heritage,preservation of centuries-old traditions based on strengthening patriotism, citizenship, responsibility for the fate of the country and small Motherland are of great relevance and significance. Concern for the revival of national culture based on moral ideals and values, the development of centuries-old folk traditions- the most important tasks of society.

The Day of Slavic Literature and Culture provides an opportunity to look back into the past, to realize the spiritual value and current cultural significance of the feat of the Thessalonian enlighteners.

Target: introduce the history and features of the holiday

Tasks to achieve the goal:

Open the mind: about the origin of writing, about the origins of Russian writing, about Slavicthe alphabet and its creators, about cultural heritage Russian people, about the celebration of the DaySlavic writing and culture;
develop personal qualities: tolerance, morality; mental processes: memory, perception, thinking and cognitive processes;
cultivate a sense of love and respect for the culture of the Russian people;

Class hour script.

Slide 1:

Marks it as

Slide 2:

Teacher: Saints' Dayequal to the apostlesCyril and Methodius, educators

Slavs

Slide 3:

(Display of the textbook “ABC” by V. G., Goretsky, etc.)

What kind of textbook is this? (-ABC.)

What does this book teach?

(-This book introduces letters and teaches reading.)

When you were little, your parents read books to you. When you went to school, you taught yourself to read and write. Do you think our ancestors knew how to read and write?

(Children's answers)

Slide 4:

Listen to N. Konchalovskaya’s poem “How a church literate taught children in the old days.”

Student: In the old days, children studied -

They were taught by the church clerk.

They came at dawn

And the letters repeated like this:

A yes B like AZ yes BUKI,

V – as LEAD, G – VERB.

And a teacher for science

On Saturdays I flogged them.

This is the pen they wrote with

From a goose wing.

This knife is for a reason

It was called penman

They sharpened their pen,

If it wasn't spicy.

It was difficult to read and write

To our ancestors in the old days,

And the girls were supposed to

Don't learn anything.

Only boys were trained.

Deacon with a pointer in hand

I read books to them in a sing-song manner

In church language.

How did you learn to read and write in the old days?

(Children's answers)

Have letters always existed?

(-No, they didn’t exist before; ancient people didn’t even learn to speak right away.)

It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time our ancestors, the Slavs, did not have books at all, because there were no letters with which to write down Slavic speech.

After acceptance Christian religion The Slavs began to use Latin and Greek letters instead of their simplest signs. But this was not very convenient, since these letters could not convey all the features of Slavic speech.

Have you ever wondered where and when letters appeared? Today we will try to answer this question. But first let’s compare the words ALPHABET and ABC. Is there a difference between them? If so, which one?

(-The words ALPHABET and ABC mean the same thing: a group of words arranged in a certain established order. But their origins are different.

In the Old Church Slavonic alphabet, each letter has its own name. Opens the Old Slavonic alphabet АЗЪ, which denotes the sound [a]. AZ is the name of God. In the Bible, the Lord says: “I am God” - “I am God.”

The name of the second letter is BUKI. It denotes the sounds [b] and [b, ]. BEECHES are letters. The word “letters” comes from the name of the beech tree. The ancient Germans made beech tablets and used them for writing.

Add the first and second letter. What happened?

ABC - Slavic word, comes from the name of the first two letters of the Slavic alphabet: AZ and BUKI. AZ + BUKI = ABC.

The word alphabet comes to us from the Greek language and comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. ALPHA+VITA=ALPHABET.

Slide 5, 6:

AZ, BUKI, VEDI... For several centuries, a person’s first acquaintance with a book began with these letters. And more than a thousand years ago, this alphabet, later named Cyrillic in honor of its creator, became the basis of writing.

Slide 7:

Take a careful look at the Old Church Slavonic alphabet and tell me if there are any letters in it that are unfamiliar to you?

(-There are letters in the Old Church Slavonic alphabet that are no longer in the Russian language.)

Name these letters.

How and where did our alphabet come from, and why is it called Cyrillic?

Slide 8:

In the 9th century in Byzantium, in the city of Thessaloniki (now the city of Thessaloniki in Greece), two brothers lived - Constantine and Methodius.

Slide 9, 10.

Scene.

Teacher: Everything at school seemed interesting and surprising to Konstantin, and he kept pestering his older brother with questions:

Kirill. - Why does the teacher always speak Greek? I heard that in the shop he spoke excellent Slavic.

Methodius. - So it’s in the shop. And at school you can only speak Greek. Because books, knowledge – everything comes from the Greeks.

Kirill. - Why don’t the Slavs have their own books?

Methodius. - Because you can’t write in Slavic.

Kirill. - Like this? So I’ll take it and write “house”.

Methodius. - But you can’t write “I live in a house” anymore, because you don’t have enough letters.

Kirill (shouting) - So I’ll figure it out!

Teacher : At this time, their school teacher passed by. He heard the brothers talking.

Teacher. - Don’t you know that only cultural languages are worthy of ink and parchment - Latin and Greek. All other languages are rude and barbaric, and you cannot write in them!

Kirill. - No, you can! So I will grow up and come up with letters for the Slavs. They will write, and no worse than the Greeks.

Teacher: Years have passed. The brothers grew up and learned. But the dream of creating a Slavic alphabet did not leave his younger brother. He worked hard and came up with initial letters, and from them he made up the alphabet.

But coming up with ideas is half the battle. It is necessary to translate books from Greek into Slavic so that the Slavs have something to read. This turned out to be a very difficult task, and Kirill alone could not cope. His elder brother Methodius began to help him.

Student: Having prayed to God in the morning,

Stooped over the leaf of the saint

He brought the letters to his pen

Radiant golden angel.

And the letters of the Slavic ligature lay down,

And line after line ran,

Becoming a great book,

Sent by the Divine hand.

And it seemed like the shine of the heavenly stars

This book carefully preserves

And, it seemed, Jesus Christ himself

He speaks to us in Slavic!

Slide 11.

Slide 12:

The great work of creating the Old Church Slavonic alphabet was accomplished by the brothers Cyril and Methodius. The main merit in this matter belongs to Kirill. Methodius was his faithful assistant. Compiling the Slavic alphabet, they were able to catch the basic sounds in the sound of the Slavic language and found for each of them letter designations. In memory of the great feat of the brothers on May 24 in all Slavic countries celebrate the day Slavic culture and writing or the day of memory of Cyril and Methodius.

The holy brothers not only gave the Slavic people the alphabet and laid the foundation of literature, writing and culture in general.

Previously, this holiday was considered a church holiday. IN modern world The Day of Slavic Culture and Literature is a holiday of enlightenment, native words, native book, native culture and literature.

Slides 13, 14.

Student: Across broad Rus' - our mother
The bells ring out.

Now the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius
They are glorified for their labors

Student: Remember Cyril and Methodius,

Glorious brothers, equal to the apostles,
In Belarus, in Macedonia,
In Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia,
The wise brothers are praised in Bulgaria,
In Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia.

Student: All the peoples who write in Cyrillic,

What have been called Slavic since ancient times,

They glorify the feat of the first teachers,
Christian enlighteners.

Saints Cyril and Methodius compiled the Slavic alphabet, translated several liturgical books from Greek into the Slavic language, including selected readings from the Gospel, the Apostolic Epistles and the Psalter, which contributed to the introduction and spread of Slavic worship.

Who were the enlighteners of the Slavs

The brothers Cyril and Methodius came from a noble and pious family that lived in the Greek city of Thessaloniki. Saint Methodius is the eldest of seven brothers, Saint Constantine (monastic name Cyril) is the youngest.

The brothers received an excellent upbringing and education. Methodius initially devoted himself to a military career, but around 852 he took monastic vows and later became abbot of the Polychron monastery on Olympus in Bithynia (Asia Minor).

Sculptural composition "Cyril and Methodius", author Vyacheslav Ulanov.

Kirill s youth He was distinguished by his passion for science and exceptional philological abilities. He was educated in Constantinople by the greatest scientists of his time - Leo Grammar and Photius (the future patriarch).

Having completed his studies, Constantine accepted the rank of priest and was appointed keeper of the patriarchal library at the Church of St. Sophia and taught philosophy at the highest school in Constantinople. The wisdom and strength of faith of the still very young Constantine were so great that he managed to defeat the leader of the iconoclast heretics, Aninius, in a debate.

Then Cyril retired to his brother Methodius in a monastery on Olympus, where he first began to study the Slavic language, having constant practice, since there were many Slavic monks from various neighboring countries in the monasteries.

In 857, the Byzantine emperor sent brothers to the Khazar Khaganate to preach the gospel. On the way, they stopped in the city of Korsun, where they miraculously found the relics of the Holy Martyr Clement, Pope of Rome. After this, the Saints went to the Khazars, where they successfully convinced the Khazar prince and his entourage to accept Christianity, and even took 200 Greek captives from captivity.

Slavic writing

Soon, ambassadors from the Moravian prince Rostislav, oppressed by the German bishops, came to the emperor with a request to send teachers to Moravia who could preach in the native language of the Slavs.

Great Moravia, which at that time included certain areas of the modern Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Poland, was already Christian. But the German clergy enlightened her, and all the services, holy books and theology were Latin, incomprehensible to the Slavs.

The emperor, confident that no one could cope with this mission better, called upon Saint Constantine, who began a new feat with fasting and prayer.

Sculptural image of the founders of Slavic writing Cyril and Methodius on the monument "1000th anniversary of Russia"

With the help of his brother Methodius and his disciples Gorazd, Clement, Savva, Naum and Angelyar, he compiled the Slavic alphabet and translated into Slavic the books without which the Divine service could not be performed: the Gospel, the Psalter and selected services.

Some chroniclers report that the first words written in the Slavic language were the words of the Apostle Evangelist John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was to God, and God was the Word.” This was in 863, which is considered the year of birth of Slavic writing.

After completing the translation, Constantine and Methodius went to Moravia, where they were received with great honor and began to teach Divine services in the Slavic language.

Due to the constant intrigues of the German clergy, Constantine and Methodius twice had to justify themselves to the Roman high priest. In 869, unable to withstand the overexertion, Saint Cyril died at the age of 42.

While in Rome, Saint Constantine, informed by the Lord in a miraculous vision of his approaching death, accepted the schema (the highest level of Orthodox monasticism) with the name Cyril.

His work was continued by Methodius, who was soon ordained in Rome to the rank of bishop. Methodius died in 885, having survived exile, insults and imprisonment that lasted several years.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius were canonized as Saints in ancient times. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the memory of the Equal-to-the-Apostles enlighteners of the Slavs has been honored since the 11th century. The oldest services to the Saints that have survived to our time date back to the 13th century.

The solemn celebration of the memory of the holy high priests Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius was established in the Russian Church in 1863.

Despite the fact that Saint Methodius, the elder brother, held large positions, was the ruler of a separate region of the Byzantine Empire, the abbot of a monastery and ended his life as an archbishop, Cyril, the youngest both in age and in hierarchical ranks, traditionally occupies an honorable first place, and in his name The alphabet is named Cyrillic.

history of the holiday

The Day of Slavic Literature was first celebrated in Bulgaria in 1857, and then in other countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

In Russia, at the state level, the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture was first solemnly celebrated in 1863, in connection with the millennium of the creation of the Slavic alphabet by Saints Cyril and Methodius. In the same year, the Russian Holy Synod decided to celebrate the Day of Remembrance of Saints Cyril and Methodius on May 11 (24 New Style).

But in the years Soviet power The holiday fell into oblivion and was restored only in 1986. The idea of resuming the celebration of the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Days of Slavic Literature and Culture in Russia was born in 1985, when the Slavic peoples, together with the world community, celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the death of Saint Methodius, Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia.

Presidium Supreme Council On January 30, 1991, the RSFSR, by its resolution, declared May 24 the Holiday of Slavic Literature and Culture, thereby giving it state status. Each year a different city became the capital of this holiday.

Twenty years old educational activities Cyril and Methodius and their disciples had pan-Slavic significance - I consider them heavenly patrons.

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

Holiday traditions

The Day of Slavic Literature and Culture in Russia, in its content, has long been a state-church holiday, which is state and public organizations held jointly with the Russian Orthodox Church.

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

The memory of Cyril and Methodius is also honored in churches, where services dedicated to them are held on May 24.

Orthodox complex "In the Name of the Resurrection of Christ" (in the background) and the monument to the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius (in the foreground) in Khanty-Mansiysk

As part of the Days of Slavic Literature and Culture, a ceremony is taking place to award the laureates of the International Prize of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Brothers Cyril and Methodius, established by the Moscow Patriarchate and the Slavic Foundation of Russia.

This prize is awarded to government and public figures, literary and artistic figures for the preservation and development of the Cyril and Methodius heritage.

Prize winners are awarded a bronze sculpture of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Brothers Cyril and Methodius, a diploma and a commemorative medal.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

Cities and villages dressed in greenery, as if they were preparing for an important holiday for all of us - the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture, celebrated annually on May 24 in all Slavic countries as a sign of gratitude and honor to the two brothers - Cyril and Methodius, the creators of Slavic writing.

Originally a holiday that existed in Bulgaria back in X-XI centuries, was celebrated only by the church. In Russia it was also a church holiday. The Church canonized Cyril and Methodius as saints, and on May 18, 1863, the Holy Synod adopted a decree proclaiming May 24 in the new style Church holiday Saloon brothers.

For the first time officially at the state level Day of Slavic Literature and Culture was solemnly celebrated in Russian Empire in 1863, in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the creation of the Slavic alphabet by Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Unfortunately, during the Soviet regime, the Day of Slavic Literature was canceled as a holiday uniting all Slavs, and was not celebrated for many decades. And only in 1986 the holiday was revived.
And in the Union, for the first time, the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture was celebrated in 1986 in the city of Murmansk, and then in Vologda, Novgorod, Kyiv and Minsk. Since 1987, the holiday has already become widespread in society, and the name “Day of Slavic Literature and Culture” has been assigned to it. On January 30, 1991, by resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, May 24 was declared the Holiday of Slavic Literature and Culture. And in 1992, a monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius was solemnly unveiled on Slavyanskaya Square in Moscow. The creator of the monument is sculptor V.M. Klykov.

In our time, the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture is the only state-church holiday in Russia. The church on May 24 honors the memory of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius.

Slavic writing was created in the 9th century, around 862. First, two alphabets were created - Glagolitic and Cyrillic.

Now about the great teachers themselves. It is known that the brothers were Orthodox monks and created the Slavic alphabet in a Greek monastery. Among those that have survived to this day ancient monuments Slavic writing also preserved the biographies of the creators of Slavic literacy - Saints Cyril and Methodius. Of greatest interest are “The Life of Constantine the Philosopher”, “The Life of Methodius”, “Eulogy to Cyril and Methodius”.

From the biographies of Saints Cyril and Methodius, we know that Cyril and Methodius are Greeks, brothers, born into the family of a Byzantine military leader in the Macedonian city of Thessaloniki. Now this city belongs modern Greece and is located on the shore. In addition to Cyril and Methodius, there were five more brothers in the family. Methodius was the eldest of seven brothers, and Constantine the youngest. Methodius was supposedly born around 815. His secular name, alas, is unknown. According to the assumption of many researchers, the brothers’ mother was Slavic, and it was for this reason that the brothers spoke the Slavic language as well as Greek from childhood. Most likely it was one of the dialects of the ancient Bulgarian language. Kirill was born around 827. And before he was tonsured a monk, he bore the secular name Constantine. He became Kirill almost before his death.

Both brothers received an excellent education and good upbringing. Methodius first followed in his father's footsteps and decided to do military career, but then around 852 he took monastic vows, and later became abbot of the Polychron monastery on Bithynian Olympus (Asia Minor). Kirill, gifted with philological abilities from birth, gravitated toward the sciences from a young age. Already in the Thessaloniki school at the age of 14, he read the books of one of the Church Fathers of the 4th century, Gregory the Theologian. Constantine was then educated in Constantinople by the greatest scholars of his time, such as Leo the Grammar and Photius (the future patriarch), studying ancient literature, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, rhetoric and music. After completing his studies, Kirill was ordained a priest and began working as a librarian at the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Neither wealth nor marriage with a beauty attracted the young man, who then still bore the name Konstantin. His favorite pastimes were reflection and prayer. But Constantine turned out to be a very popular person; in 851-52 he had to go to the court of the Arab caliph Muttawakil as part of the embassy of the asikret George, where the future enlightener conducted theological disputes with Muslim scholars. Returning to Constantinople, Constantine went to visit his brother in the monastery. But soon after their return, both brothers - Cyril and Methodius - at the request of the Moravian prince Rostislav (Rastitsa), were sent by the Byzantine emperor to Great Moravia (863-866).

From "Tales of Bygone Years" we learn that one day the Slavic princes Rostislav, Svyatopolk and Kocel sent ambassadors to the Byzantine Tsar Michael with a request to send a teacher “who would instruct and teach, and explain the holy books.” It is further reported: “...he sent them Constantine the Philosopher, named Cyril, a righteous and true man. And he created 38 letters for them - some according to the model of Greek letters, others according to Slavic speech. He started with the first one in Greek: they are from “alpha”, he is from “az”…”.

The brothers translated the Apostle, Gospel, Psalter, Octoechos and other church books. But in those days, Great Moravia was subordinated to the Bishopric of Passau in Bavaria, and the activities of the enlightenment brothers encountered fierce resistance from the German clergy, who were categorically against Slavic writing and Slavic liturgy, insisting that the liturgy be celebrated only in Latin. Despite the fact that Cyril and Methodius prepared disciples, none of them succeeded in becoming priests under such conditions, and the brothers left Moravia along with 867 disciples, going to Venice, hoping to ordain their students in Byzantium in Constantinople.

Having received an invitation from the Pope from Venice in 868, Constantine and Methodius went to Rome. In Rome, Pope Adrian II consecrated the Slavic books, and the disciples of Constantine and Methodius became priests and deacons. And then a misfortune happened: not yet old Konstantin, who was only 42 years old, became seriously ill and died in Rome on February 14, 869. Before his death, Kirill told his brother: “You and I, like two oxen, drove the same furrow. I am exhausted, but don’t think about leaving the work of teaching and retiring to your mountain again.”

The great Slavic teacher was buried in the Basilica of St. Clement. Methodius survived his brother by 16 years and fulfilled his order. At the end of the same 869, Methodius was installed as archbishop of Pannonia (Great Moravia). However, in 870, Great Moravia was occupied by the troops of the East Frankish kingdom, and Methodius was arrested and exiled to a monastery in Swabia. Only the uprising of the people of Moravia and the intervention of Pope John VIII helped the new Moravian prince Svyatopolk in 873 to achieve the release of Methodius. But Pope John VIII forbade Methodius to perform the liturgy in the Slavic language. Then Methodius went to Rome in 880, where he managed to achieve the abolition of the discriminatory ban.

Methodius died on April 8, 885, the location of his grave is unknown. He left as his successor the best of his students, Archbishop Gorazd, and about two hundred Slavs trained by him. But the disciples of Methodius, who defended the Slavic liturgy after his death, were expelled from Moravia and settled in Bulgaria. It was in this country that a new Slavic alphabet based on Greek was created; in order to convey the phonetic features of the Slavic language, the alphabet was supplemented with letters borrowed from the Glagolitic alphabet. This alphabet, having spread among the eastern and southern Slavs, subsequently received the name “Cyrillic” - in honor of Cyril (Constantine).

Although some scientists express doubts about the correctness of assigning a name to the alphabet, citing the fact that in the “Life of Methodius” there is the following phrase: “Cyril persuaded his brother to go with him, because he knew the Slavic language.” In addition, there is evidence that Methodius translated the works of Constantine from Greek into Slavic, so it is possible that it was the eldest of the brothers who became the creator of the new alphabet. However, there is no hard evidence of this yet.

With the adoption of Christianity, Ancient Rus' switched to the Slavic alphabet, inviting teachers who continued the work of Cyril and Methodius. And in Kyiv, and in Novgorod, and in other cities, schools were created to teach Slavic literacy.

Today there are approximately 60 peoples in the world whose writing was based on the Cyrillic alphabet. AND thanks a lot to two great brothers for leaving us a legacy that will continue to unite the Slavic world.

F. I. Tyutchev

The great day of Kirill's death -
What a warm and simple greeting
Millennium Anniversary
Shall we honor the holy memory?
What words should I use to capture this day?
If not with the words spoken by him,
When I said goodbye to my brother and friends,
He reluctantly left his ashes to you, Rome...
Those involved in his work,
After a number of centuries, after so many generations,
And we, and we pulled the furrow
Among temptations and doubts.
And in turn, like him, without completing the work;
And we will get off it and, holy words
Remembering him, we will then exclaim:
“Do not betray yourself, great Russia!”
Don't trust, don't trust strangers, my native land,
Their false wisdom or their arrogant deceptions,
And, like Saint Cyril, don’t leave
Great service to the Slavs.

From this article you will learn:

You have been able to read and write since school, thanks to which today you actively and quickly manage the keyboard and websites. Do you know who you owe these unique skills to? Of course, to my first teacher, but if you look much deeper... On May 24, Russia will celebrate the Day of Cyril and Methodius - the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Thessalonica brothers who created the Slavic alphabet.

So they are our first teachers.

Cyril and Methodius: the story of the Thessaloniki brothers

There is a lot of information about Cyril and Methodius on the Internet. In order not to let our thoughts wander, let’s put together all the facts and post a brief chronicle of their lives, decorated with interesting facts.

Names

The names of the Thessaloniki brothers are their monastic names, but in fact Cyril was called Constantine from birth, and Methodius was Michael: such native Russian names... And Cyril-Constantine also had a nickname in the world: Philosopher. Now we can only guess at the reasons why he received it.

Constantine (years 827–869) was younger than Michael (815–885), but died much earlier than him. And between them, their parents had five more sons. Father was a military officer. Some do not understand how the brothers, born in the Greek city of Thessaloniki, could know the Slavic language perfectly. But Thessalonica was a unique city: they spoke both Greek and Slavic dialects.

Career

Yes, yes, exactly a career. Before becoming a monk, Mikhail managed to become a strategist (Greek military rank), and Constantine was known as the smartest and most educated person in the entire Greek state. Konstantin even had Touching story love with one of the daughters of a Greek dignitary. If he got married, he would do brilliant career. But the Greek decides to devote his life to God and people. The brothers become monks, gather like-minded people around them and begin to work hard on creating the alphabet.

Missions of Constantine

Konstantin went to different countries with embassies, converted people to Christianity, taught them the alphabet. Over the centuries, we know of only three such missions: Khazar, Bulgarian and Moravian. One can only guess how many languages Konstantin actually knew.

After their death, the brothers left followers and students who contributed to the spread of the Slavic alphabet, on the basis of which our modern writing was created.

Quite informative biographies. It is difficult to imagine that so many centuries ago someone conceived such a global task - to teach the Slavs the alphabet. And they not only conceived, but also created...

History of the holiday of Slavic writing

How and why did May 24 become Cyril and Methodius Day? This is a unique case when a public holiday and an Orthodox holiday found common ground. On the one hand, Cyril and Methodius are saints revered by the church, and the state perfectly understands the importance of writing for the population. So there was a happy merger of two global understandings. However, the path to the formation of this holiday was not easy if you follow its stages:

The Russian Holy Synod in 1863, by decree, determined that in connection with the celebration anniversary date(millennium) of the Moravian mission of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, from May 11 (and according to the new style - 24) to establish a celebration in honor of Methodius and Cyril annually.
In the USSR, in 1986, when the 1100th anniversary of the death of Methodius was celebrated, May 24 was officially declared by the Government as the “Holiday of Slavic culture and writing.”
In 1991, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR adopted a resolution to hold “Days of Slavic Culture and Literature” every year.

Through the crucible of all these transformations and trials, the Day of Cyril and Methodius appears before us as it is now.

Cyril and Methodius Day: customs and traditions

Any celebration, especially if it goes back centuries, is always associated with certain traditions and customs, dictated by the life of peasants in Rus'. Some elements are reborn and adapt to modern conditions life, and something is irretrievably a thing of the past. How do you celebrate Cyril and Methodius Day? Maybe one of the holiday traditions will suit your taste?

Prayer services, Divine services, Religious processions

IN Orthodox churches On May 24, hymns of praise are heard in honor of the Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers. These can be prayer services or entire services, but one way or another, any Orthodox person strives to go to church on this day to light a candle for Cyril and Methodius. In many parishes and dioceses, religious processions are held in honor of the brothers to show the significance of their deeds for the entire culture of Russia.

Scientific conferences

As a rule, on May 24, various scientific conferences and symposiums of various levels are held - from school to all-Russian ones. Most often, the topic of such scientific meetings is the fate and history of the Russian language. In parallel with this, various thematic exhibitions and competitions are held.

This is what it is, Cyril and Methodius Day, in Russia, in Russian Orthodox Church, in the heart of every Russian person. This is our history, which we must sacredly honor and respect and pass on to our children. I would like to wish that with the introduction of all computer technologies, people still do not forget the book as one of the main values left to us by the Solun brothers.

17.04.2018

Don't forget to tell your friends

Probably every country or people has events that divide history into BEFORE and AFTER, such epochal milestones. Previously, spirituality was most valued, not politics and wealth. Especially among the Slavic peoples. Then spirituality was inseparable from education and upbringing, and even from science.

Representatives of the clergy were highly educated people, had a broad outlook, were familiar with almost all the sciences that took place in their times. They had goals - moral and educational, and this was what guided them in their activities and research. An excellent example is Cyril and Methodius, who are still revered today, many centuries later.

The brothers were Byzantines and spoke excellent Greek. Cyril was the first to decide to take monastic vows and retired to a monastery. Methodius received an excellent education, studied science and later joined his brother, with his own students. There their joint scientific and educational work began, the results of which became a turning point in the development of the Slavs.

So, within the walls of the monastery the brothers began to develop Cyrillic alphabet, this was in the 9th century AD. Original name Glagolitic alphabet. Writing was needed to preach Christianity to numerous people. Slavic peoples, enlighten them. Many rulers went to Constantinople with requests for prayers in their native languages. The invention of the Glagolitic alphabet made it possible to do this. This is how Slavic writing and, accordingly, culture were born.

Cyril and Methodius
In works and accomplishments
Learned the basics of languages
In excellence.
A godly deed has been accomplished,
The way for the Slavic peoples
They opened up to knowledge.
They created the alphabet for the Slavs
Geniuses of the word, the Slavic soul.
In the ninth century from the birth of Christ
The ABC has become a new act.
Years flew by, centuries changed,
The ABC of geniuses is still alive.
Flies into space, sails the seas
It ascends the mountains and goes underground.
Knowledge is power everywhere and always,
The alphabet became the basis of work.
The descendants of the Slavs remember Kirill,
Brother Methodius is not forgotten.
ABC from early childhood with them
As a path to perfection and abundance.

We remember familiar sounds from childhood:
This is Az, and this is Buki.
Glory and honor to Cyril and Methodius
Because Slavic writing exists!
And the whole world appreciates our culture,
He reads our literature avidly.
Let the years pass, let the centuries pass,
Slavic culture will always exist!
Brothers Slavs, happy holiday to you.
Keep and appreciate the cultural reserve!

Let's say thank you to two saints -
Cyril and Methodius!
Our culture was laid
Glorifying our homeland!
For Slavic writing
We will give them honor.
Their feats are more beautiful
We won't trace it anywhere.
Let the Slavic languages
And writing lives on,
Since the last ones in heaven
The luminaries will not die!