Why are Cyril and Methodius patrons of Europe?

Ninth-century missionary brothers who evangelized Slavic peoples and created the Cyrillic alphabet for liturgy.

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Feast day: July 7

Missionary brothers, apostles of the Slavs and co-patrons of Europe.

Cyril and Methodius were born in Thessalonica in the ninth century, in a Slavic-speaking family.

Cyril, a scholar, created the Glagolitic alphabet; Methodius became bishop and missionary.

Sent by Byzantium, they evangelized Moravia and translated the liturgy into the people's language.

They defended the right to pray and celebrate in the vernacular, foundation of Slavic Christian culture.

Cyril died in 869; Methodius in 885. Co-patrons of Europe. Liturgical feast: July 7.

To the apostles of the Slavs, we ask unity in faith and zeal for evangelization.