This Bulgarian national holiday formerly known as Holy Day of Letters promotes Bulgarian culture and honors two brothers, St. Cyril (c. 827-869) and St. Methodius (c.
815-844), missionaries to Moravia.

They are believed to have invented the Slavonic alphabet, also known as the Cyrillic
alphabet.

What is certain is that through their evangelization efforts, they helped spread the use of
the new alphabet, and they are both widely regarded as the country's patrons of
education and culture.

In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared them patrons of Europe.

The brothers started out preaching Christianity in what are now the Czech and Slovak
Republics, but their followers fled to Bulgaria when they were persecuted, and Cyrillic
became the official alphabet there. It is still used in the former Soviet Union, Serbia, and
other Slavic countries as well.

Special religious services, concerts, festivals, and student parades are held throughout
Bulgaria on this day, which is also known as Saints Cyril and Methodius's Day and Day of
the Founders of the Slavonic Alphabet.

An impressive liturgy, celebrated at the cathedral in Sofia, is one of the highlights.

Full story:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Bulgarian+Culture+Day

Mike Dippel


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