Missionaries to the Slavs: Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers born in 9th-century Thessalonica, in what was then the Byzantine Roman Empire (modern-day Greece). They became Christian missionaries among the Slavic peoples of Moravia and Pannonia (present-day Czech Republic and Hungary). Through their work, they significantly influenced the cultural and religious development of the Slavic peoples, earning them the title “Apostles to the Slavs.” They remain highly revered among the communities along the Danube River.
Legacy and Relevance Today
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI offered this exhortation to a group of Slavic Christians, reflecting on their mission:
“The words of Jesus, written in large letters above the entrance to your cathedral, are addressed to each of us: ‘Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Mt 11:29-30). Here, as elsewhere, many people in past centuries suffered for remaining faithful to the Gospel, yet they never lost hope. Many sacrificed themselves to restore human dignity and freedom. They drew strength from their deep commitment to Christ to build a renewed humanity.
In today’s society, many forms of poverty stem from isolation, lack of love, rejection of God, and a profound existential emptiness in those who believe themselves to be self-sufficient or merely insignificant and transient beings. In a world that becomes alienated when too much trust is placed in purely human projects, only Christ can be our true hope.
This is the message we Christians are called to proclaim daily through our witness. Share it with conviction as you carry out your ministry with enthusiasm. Know that nothing is lacking for those who place their trust in Him. Bear witness to Christ through the joyful and consistent practice of the evangelical counsels. Point always to our true homeland: Heaven.
And to you, dear young people, lay faithful, and families—build your lives, your families, your work, and your education on the solid foundation of faith in Christ. Jesus never abandons His friends. He assures us of His help. For nothing can be accomplished without Him. Yet He calls each of us to a personal commitment in spreading His universal message of love and peace.”
Conclusion
Saints Cyril and Methodius embodied the missionary call of Acts 13:46-49. They spread the Gospel beyond a select few to the Slavic nations. Like the seventy-two disciples in Luke 10:1-9, they immersed themselves in the culture of those they served. And created the Glagolitic alphabet to translate Scripture and liturgical texts. Their legacy highlights that evangelization extends beyond preaching to making the faith accessible and relevant to all.
