Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Assumption of Saint Methodius on April 6

Photo: Archive

On April 6, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the Assumption of St. Methodius. He was the older brother of Saint Cyril also known as Constantine the Philosopher. Both are known as the Apostles of the Slavs. Methodius became a monk after giving up his occupation as a military governor of a Slavic region near Thessaloniki. 

In the Polychron monastery the two brothers created the first Slavic alphabet - the Glagolitic alphabet. Methodius accompanied his brother in all his diplomatic and spiritual missions, including during the mission in Great Moravia.
After Pope Adrian II blessed the Slavic translations of the liturgical books and after the death in Rome of St. Cyril, Methodius continued the enlightenment work among the Slavs. He was ordained by the Vatican as Archbishop of Moravia. Despite the persecution by the German imperial and ecclesiastical authorities, St. Methodius developed a wide range of translation and baptismal activities. His students, expelled from Great Moravia, saved and developed the new Slavonic script in Bulgaria.

In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius co-patrons of Europe because their work was a bridge between the East and the West, contributed to the cultural growth of the Old Continent and educated generations of Europeans.

You can learn more HERE.


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Bulgarian Cathedral Church

Bulgarians in Berlin celebrate the feast of St. Anthony the Great with special solemnity

On January 17, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Anthony the Great – a zealous advocate of Christianity. At an advanced age, he took part in the Church's struggle against the Arian heresy. Anthony got into an open dispute with the..

published on 1/17/25 5:30 AM

Bulgarian Orthodox Church and BNR join forces to provide spiritual support to compatriots abroad

His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe and BNR Director General Milen Mitev signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western and Central Europe in the German capital,..

published on 1/16/25 7:40 PM

"Through the Doors of Time" – 190 years of innovative spirit inspiring the students of the Aprilov National High School

The Aprilov National High School in the beautiful Bulgarian town of Gabrovo nestled in the foot of the Balkan Range celebrates its 190th anniversary in 2025. Following in the traditions of the Gabrovo Mutual School – the first secular school in..

published on 1/13/25 4:35 PM