Today, in the only Saturday match-up of Lent Madness, it's the Slavic Smackdown® as Cyril takes on Methodius. While much of the world is preparing for Valentine's Day (named for a confusing muddle of murky, martyred saints in ancient Rome), the church actually celebrates Cyril and Methodius on February 14, not Saint(s) Valentinus. So go ahead and cast your vote and then show your devotion to your "Valentine" by writing a love poem in Cyrillic or serving up a big bowl of borscht.
Yesterday, Absalom Jones defeated Matthias 82% to 18% (in other words, by A LOT--get it?) in the first genuine blowout of Lent Madness 2016. He'll go on to face the winner of Christina Rossetti vs. Joseph in the next round. Really, it's bad luck for Matthias. He certainly drew the short straw in the match-up calendar.
Tomorrow, enjoy Sunday (we highly encourage church attendance) and then be ready to go bright and early on Monday morning as Lent Madness returns with what should prove to be a hotly contested battle between Julian of Norwich and William Wilberforce.
Cyril
Cyril was born in Thessalonica (located in today’s Macedonia) around 827. Educated in Constantinople, he studied theology, Hebrew, and Arabic and became a priest. He was sent on two missions to the Middle East. Cyril’s most influential mission took him and his brother Methodius to the Slavs of Great Moravia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia). Although missionaries from Rome had already evangelized Moravia, Prince Rastislav wanted to place his state firmly under the influence of the church in Constantinople.
To translate the Bible and the liturgy into the local language, Cyril and Methodius used a number of mostly Greek characters to create the Glagolitic alphabet. This was the first Slavic alphabet and is closely related to the more recent Cyrillic alphabet—named after Cyril. Using their new alphabet, Cyril and Methodius translated the Bible, the Slavic Civil Code, and possibly a Slavic liturgy. Cyril and Methodius were successful in converting many Slavs to Christianity and establishing the use of their alphabet; because of jurisdictional issues, they could not establish the Slavic liturgy without the pope’s approval.
Cyril and his brother traveled to Rome, where they were well received, in part because they brought with them some of Saint Clement’s relics. Pope Adrian II authorized the new Slavic liturgy, and Slavic priests were ordained and allowed to celebrate the liturgy in their native language. Cyril became a monk and died shortly afterward, in 869.
Along with his brother Methodius, Cyril is known as one of the two apostles to the Slavs. Celebrations in memory of these brothers are held across Eastern Europe every year.
Methodius
Quietly, and without any fanfare, Methodius helped shape Europe and Asia in ways that have often gone largely unnoticed by Western Christianity.
Methodius (Michael) was born to a Christian family in the city of Thessalonica in the early ninth century. Methodius was the eldest of seven brothers, and he either learned the Slavic language from Slav migrants in Macedonia, or possibly from his mother (who may have been a Slav).
After a brief career in the public sphere, Methodius entered a monastery at Mount Olympus (present day Uludağ). Eventually his youngest brother Constantine (later taking the name Cyril) joined Methodius at the monastery. From the monastery, the brothers set out on a series of missionary journeys.
They shared a passion to share the good news in the native language of the people to whom they were ministering, not relying solely on Hebrew, Greek, and Latin translations of the Bible. And so they set about translating portions of scripture into Slavic and to create a Slavic liturgy. To do this, they invented an alphabet unique to the Slavic tongue. The later evolution of this script is known as the Cyrillic Alphabet and is still widely used across Eastern Europe.
While traveling and sharing the gospel, Methodius and Cyril created a code of law that is still in use to this day. The brothers also discovered the remains of Pope Clement I. They returned the earthly remains of Clement to Rome, where Methodius was ordained a priest by Pope Adrian II. Following the death of Cyril in Rome, Methodius continued the work of carrying the gospel to the Slavs.
Collect for Cyril and Methodius
Almighty and everlasting God, by the power of the Holy Spirit you moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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405 comments on “Cyril vs. Methodius”
I am in a dilemma (the choice between two equal alternatives). Wonder if the disciples were in the same dilemma in choosing a successor to Judas? Guess the only way to solve it is to use their method. Cast my lots...Methodius was chosen.
Oldest sister here who just voted for lttle brother. It's not about me, right? I know Methodius was blessed by his brother, in death as well as in life. I know he would want a tie to honor their unity, their ministry, their life together.
Also, as a mom of 2 boys, I wonder why their mom was not part of the matronly meltdown. Really now, councils on beatification should consider C&M's mother, who was able to raise 2 male infants to manhood without envy, guile, murder, or theft. She should be offered for consideration of sainthood.
Step one-flip a coin; Methodius. Step two-reread the bios looking for something to justify the result. Methodist was there before Cyril and he stayed after his brother died. They both developed the now named Cyrillic alphabet denying Methodius credit. I propose the SEC devote its efforts toward renaming the alphabet Methtallica.
Haha!
The two were a team, working for the same cause. It doesn't seem right to pit one against the other. However, I voted for Cyril, for the sole reason that he was the youngest in the family. It is a solidarity issue -- us often overlooked babies of the family have to stick together!
The only reason I voted for Methodius is he lived longer...........not a good reason, but had to find something.
I.can't believe this educational tool, Lent Madness, missed out on the opportunity to tell two DIFFERENT stories!! I was fascinated by this early story of using the language of the people in services and studies. But was disappointed to find it was the only story I would hear today!
This is hardly a fair match. I expect more thoughtfulness from the Supreme Executive Committee. What do we pay them for?
Well, I have to agree with previous comments. Pitting against each other these two brothers who walked together stride by stride -- SEC, what were thinking? But as Lent Madness being what it is, utter madness, and I have to choose ONE to vote, I voted for Methodius. My decision is based on the fact that Cyril became a monk and croaked, copping out and leaving his brother to finish their work alone.
So there you go -- you have my vote.
I'm a younger brother, so I'm going with Cyril - also he had the alphabet named after him. Hopefully the voting today can end in a tie and leave the SEC no choice but to keep the brothers together to then next round.
Being the youngest child in the family you are always under the shadow of your older siblings and there is often rivalry. My vote is for Cyril because he did not let being the youngest get in the way of his calling and actually got along with his oldest brother.
My method: closed my eyes and pointed.
This would be a great pair to throw our way on April Fool's Day!
My vote goes to Cyril, because he was the first to enter the monastery. Other than that, how is anyone supposed to make a decision?
I agree they should stand as one unit. For whatever reason Cyril seemed to be the favourite early on -- accounts say the crowds called for his canonization but apparently not his brother's. But still it took almost a 1000 years to canonize them. They share feast dates and are listed together.
This is not an easy decision. I feel they should be combined and go forth as the dynamic duo they have been thru history.
Since I am forced to choose I picked Cyril. By all accounts he mastered both Hebrew and Arabic. I respect that as I am still working on both and have been for years. A lightweight reason to be sure but there it is.
Reading all the comments thus far, I have concluded that a) you have to have thick skin to be a celebrity blogger (good job, CBs!), b) there are a lot of us eldest siblings in the LM community, and c) nothing, no nothing, will ever induce me to give up my sacred right to VOTE!
Thanks, Susan!
OK, Leslie - Methodius had the longer beard because he was OLDER. How about the fact that Cyril's miter fit better?
I abstain.
I can't vote today. I think the brothers were "joined at the hip" and I won't do the surgery to separate them.
Sheesh...
Since Methodius and Cyril were the eldest and youngest of 7 brothers, I have to wonder....were there Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?
Very funny, Susanka!
I am the youngest of 7 so Cyril it is.
A cruel choice, pitting brother against brother! My vote goes to Cyril because he is the underdog today and in honor of Sister Mary Cyril of the Community of St. Mary, who helped shape my spirituality long ago.
Methodius. Nothing like a little family drama!
Really now! Promoting sibling rivalry where none seems to have existed? Shame on you.
Reading all the replies was entertaining and educational, but not helpful.
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. Alas, I cannot vote today.
This is a team so I will not vote for either. Poor choice of matching and you should move them on together.
I can just see the SEC snickering and giggling and guffawing at all these comments since this is just what they wanted. Lots of comments and thoughts and Lent Maddness involvement-------what a great idea!
And I'm so sad for all the people who are taking this way too seriously and abstaining from voting.
Wow, this was hard! Brother v. Brother, although they had a shared ministry. I voted for whom I thought was the obvious choice, but turns out he's the underdog! Team Cyril!
As an only child, female, I have no reason to identify with either the elder or the younger brother. As a United Methodist clergy, retired, I vote for Methodius.
Oldest sibling for oldest sibling- plus a childhood in the Methodist church!
I agree that it's nuts to pit these two against each other. So I voted for Cyril, who was behind in the voting, with the (probably vain) hope that it'll end in a tie.
This is indeed a fiendish match-up! I voted for Methodius as the elder assuming that he influenced Cyril's decision to enter the monastery.
I recommend Monnica moving onto the second round as a solution to the two brothers dilemma.
good idea