St. Cyril and St. Methodius
Cyril (born Constantine, c. 827-869) and his elder brother Methodius (c. 815-885) were Greeks from Thessalonica who became the great missionaries to the Slavic peoples.
Sent to Great Moravia in 863, they created the first Slavonic alphabet and translated the Gospel, the Psalter, and the divine services into the Slavic tongue, defending the right of every nation to worship God in its own language against those who insisted on Hebrew, Greek, and Latin alone. Cyril reposed in Rome after receiving the monastic schema, while Methodius was consecrated Archbishop of Moravia and completed the translation of nearly the entire Bible before his repose. The Church honors them as Equals-to-the-Apostles and Enlighteners of the Slavs.
Does not God's rain fall upon all equally? And does not the sun shine also upon all?
I am neither a servant of the Emperor nor of anyone else on earth, but only of God Almighty.
Philosophy is the knowledge of things divine and human, as much as man is able to approach God, for it teaches man by his deeds to be in the image and likeness of the One who created him.
Blessed be God, who did not hand us over to our invisible enemy, but freed us from his snare and delivered us from perdition.
Troparion
Divinely-wise Cyril and Methodius, equals-to-the-apostles and teachers of the Slavs, entreat the Master of all to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy and unity of mind, to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.
Dying Prayer of St. Cyril (from the Life of Constantine)
O Lord, my God, You have created the choirs of angels and spiritual powers; You have stretched forth the heavens and established the earth, creating all that exists from nothing. You hear those who obey Your will and keep Your commands in holy fear. Hear my prayer and protect Your faithful people, for You have established me as their unsuitable and unworthy servant. Build up Your Church and gather all into unity, and as You entrusted this flock to me, I now return it to You: direct it with Your powerful right hand and protect it under the shadow of Your wings, that all may praise and glorify Your name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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