The Two Saints Who Gave 300 Million Christians Their Alphabet on Valentine's Day
Two Byzantine monks created the Cyrillic alphabet and translated Scripture into Slavic, giving Eastern Europe its written language and Christian faith.
The Forgotten February 14th Saints Who Gave Eastern Europe Its Alphabet
While the world celebrates Valentine's Day on February 14th, the Christian calendar also honours two Byzantine monks whose legacy shaped the faith and language of hundreds of millions of people across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Saints Cyril and Methodius, born in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the 9th century, are credited with creating the first written alphabet for the Slavic peoples and translating the Scriptures into their language for the very first time.
In 862 AD, Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia sent a request to the Byzantine Emperor Michael III for missionaries who could teach the Christian faith in the Slavic vernacular, rather than in Latin or Greek. The emperor commissioned the two brothers, Constantine (who later took the monastic name Cyril) and Michael (later Methodius), for this monumental task.
The brothers arrived in Moravia in 863 and immediately began their work. Cyril, a brilliant scholar and linguist, developed the Glagolitic alphabet, blending elements of Greek, Roman, Armenian, Hebrew, and Coptic scripts to capture the sounds of the Slavic language. Together, they translated the Gospels, the liturgy, and other key religious texts into Old Church Slavonic.
Their efforts were not without opposition. German bishops, who believed Latin was the only appropriate language for worship, fiercely resisted the brothers' mission. Cyril and Methodius were even imprisoned in a Swabian monastery between 867 and 868. However, Pope Adrian II ultimately approved their Slavonic liturgy, ordained them, and appointed Methodius as Archbishop of Sirmium in 869.
Lord of all, who gave to your servants Cyril and Methodius the gift of tongues to proclaim the gospel to the Slavs.
This Anglican collect captures the heart of their achievement. Cyril died on February 14, 869, in Rome, and was buried in the Basilica of San Clemente. Methodius continued his work until his death on April 6, 885.
Their alphabet was later simplified into what we now know as the Cyrillic script, used today in Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian, and numerous Central Asian languages. In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared them co patron saints of Europe alongside Saint Benedict.
How Saints Cyril and Methodius Changed Christianity and Eastern European History Forever
The legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius extends far beyond the creation of an alphabet. They planted self sustaining churches, trained local preachers, and celebrated the Eucharist in the language of the people they served. Their work is a powerful testament to Christian missionary dedication that transcended political and linguistic barriers.
Today, they are venerated as the "Apostles to the Slavs" across Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox traditions. They are patron saints of Bulgaria and Macedonia and are among the patron saints of the Czech and Slovak peoples. Their feast day is celebrated on February 14th in the Western church and on May 24th in Russia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia.
The Crusader's Opinion
Two monks walked into a foreign land, learned the people's language, and gave them the Word of God in words they could understand. No army. No political agenda. Just the Gospel, faithfully translated and freely given. That is what real Christian mission looks like. While the world uses February 14th to sell greeting cards and chocolate, let us remember the men who gave entire nations their written language so they could read Scripture for themselves. The Church built civilisation. The Church gave people literacy. The Church brought the light. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Take Action
- Learn about the Cyrillic alphabet and how Christianity shaped Eastern European culture. Share this history with your church community or Bible study group.
- Support Christian literacy missions worldwide through organisations like Wycliffe Bible Translators, who continue the work of translating Scripture into every language.
- Pray for persecuted Christians in Eastern Europe and Central Asia who still face opposition for worshipping in their own language and tradition.
- Support Open Doors in their work protecting and strengthening persecuted Christians around the world.
- Consider donating to The Shepherd's Shield to support the defence of Christians facing persecution globally.
