Cyril and Methodius Route

Across the heart of Central Europe, where East meets West, the Cyril and Methodius Route traces the mission that brought Christianity and literacy to the Slavic peoples. These two brothers from Thessaloniki, who created the Slavic alphabet and translated the scriptures, traveled from Constantinople through the Balkans to the courts of Great Moravia, changing the course of European civilization.

📜 History & Significance

Saints Cyril (826-869) and Methodius (815-885) were Byzantine brothers sent by the Emperor to evangelize the Slavic peoples of Central Europe. Unlike other missionaries who imposed Latin, they created a new alphabet (Glagolitic, precursor to Cyrillic) and translated the liturgy into Slavonic, establishing the principle of worship in the vernacular language.

Their mission centered on Great Moravia (modern Czech Republic and Slovakia), where they trained disciples and established churches. Though their work faced opposition from German clergy who favored Latin, their legacy endured - the Slavic liturgical tradition they founded remains alive in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

🥾 Route Overview

The Cyril and Methodius Route stretches approximately 1,200 km through multiple countries, connecting sites associated with the brothers' mission. The route has been designated a Council of Europe Cultural Route, recognizing its significance in European heritage.

The main path passes through Thessaloniki (Greece) where the brothers were born, through the Balkans to Moravia, and on to Rome where Cyril died and is buried. Key sections pass through Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, following the general path of the brothers' missionary journeys.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

Velehrad in the Czech Republic, believed to be the site of Methodius's episcopal see, hosts major pilgrimages celebrating the brothers' legacy. The Basilica of the Assumption of Mary draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, especially on July 5, the feast of Sts Cyril and Methodius.

In Rome, the Basilica of San Clemente contains the tomb of St Cyril, who died in the Eternal City in 869. Archaeological excavations beneath the church reveal layers of Christian history stretching back to the first century.