Saints Kiril (Cyril) and Methody (Methodius) were two Byzantine
Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century. They became missionaries of Christianity among the
Slavic peoples of Bulgaria, Great Moravia and Pannonia. They are credited with devising the Glagolitic alphabet, the first
alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic.
On May, 11 1851 a celebration was managed by Nayden Gerov at the eparchy school "St St Kiril and Methody" in the town of Plovdiv. This was the first time to be marked the Day of the Saint brothers Kiril and Methody. Since 1857 this day has been celebrated every year in Plovdiv, Lom, Tsarigrad and Shumen and it was no by accident that May, 11 was chosen - this is the common Church Holiday of the two Saints.
24th of May is a Day that has no analogue among the other nations and countries - the Day of literature, education, enlightenment and culture. The letters created by Kiril and Methody, their translations of the liturgical books, their fight to protect the rights of all nations to do honour of God in their own languages have a historical meaning to
Bulgarian national developing and its well-being. Their life work is human, democratic, and Slavonic. It becomes part of the general human idea for equality at the spiritual area.
May 24 is the Day Of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture. This day has been celebrated for 160 years now – no other holiday was so long celebrated in Bulgarian late history.
