Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius

<p>Brothers Constantine (he later adopted the name Cyril) and Methodius were born in Thessalonika, Greece, in the 9th century. They could speak the Slavic language and were thus recommended as missionaries first to what is now Ukraine, and then to Moravia, situated between Byzantium and the Germanic peoples. They worked to make the liturgy and Scriptures available in the vernacular, and Cyril devised an alphabet which some feel is the precursor to the Cyrillic alphabet. While they encountered political opposition, they did enjoy the support of Pope Adrian II. Cyril died in Rome, while Methodius was consecrated a bishop and returned to Moravia. In 1980 Pope John Paul II declared Cyril and Methodius patrons of Europe.©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>