Prayer to Saints Cyril and Methodius — apostles of the Slavs

Brothers born in Thessalonica in the ninth century, Cyril (a monk, † 14 February 869, in Rome) and Methodius (a bishop, † 6 April 885, in Moravia). Sent on mission to the Slavic peoples, they created an alphabet of their own (from which Cyrillic derives) to translate the Sacred Scripture and the liturgy into the Slavonic tongue, defending the right of every people to praise God in its own language. They brought their liturgical books to Rome, where they were approved by Pope Adrian II. Saint Cyril is buried in the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome. Proclaimed co-patrons of Europe, together with Saint Benedict, by Pope Saint John Paul II (Apostolic Letter Egregiae Virtutis, 31 December 1980). Feast: 14 February.

O Lord, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the preaching of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, and through them taught your Church to proclaim the Gospel in the language of every people: grant us a heart able to receive your Word and to carry it to every culture with reverence and love; and give to Europe and to the world unity in the true faith and in right confession. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.