Patrons of Europe

Today we celebrate the memory of two of the Church’s heroes, the brothers SS Cyril and Methodius, who along with St Benedict are patrons of Europe. They were ordained as priests in Thessalonica, from where they moved to Constantinople. There they attracted the attention of the Emperor who asked then to do something that would make them forever remembered. Around 863, at the behest of the emperor, the brothers went on mission to Moravia. Here, being acquainted with Slavonic from their youth, they were able to communicate with the people in their own tongue. To advance the spread of the faith, this holy twosome translated the sacred scriptures and the sacred liturgy into Slavonic also, thus unlocking the treasures of the faith for the people there. In the process of this great work SS Cyril and Methodius created an alphabet, which later evolved into the Cyrillic alphabet, laying the foundations for all Slav literature. These holy missionaries did indeed make a lasting contribution to the faith and culture of the Church there. After travelling to Rome, to seek help from the pope, St Cyril become a monk and died in the eternal city in the year 869. He was buried in the basilica of San Clemente (now in the care of the Irish Dominicans) where his relics continue to be venerated, especially by Slav pilgrims. The Pope, having consecrated Methodius bishop, made him archbishop of Sirmium, thus empowering him to build up a Slavonic church, with Slavonic clergy. There the Slavonic liturgy was further developed and got explicit papal approval in 880. St Methodius died in 884 and entered into his eternal reward. They are truly saints of Europe, and are a witness and sign for us of a united and diverse Europe, Christian in faith and culture, east and west together.