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

Trapezitsa Hill in Veliko Tarnovo

The Trapezitsa Hill in Veliko Tarnovo preserves the spirit of medieval Bulgaria

Trapezitsa is one of the three hills for which the old Bulgarian capital, Tarnovgrad (the medieval name of today’s Veliko Tarnovo), is famous . Located to the northwest of the town, it stands across from the neighboring hill Tsarevets – the..

published on 8/20/25 2:30 PM

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil holds the festive liturgy at the Rila Monastery

On the feast of the Dormition of Saint Ivan Rilski, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil led the Divine Liturgy at the Rila Monastery. On the eve of the feast, he bowed before the relics of the patron saint of the Bulgarian people..

published on 8/18/25 12:40 PM

St. John of Rila and St. John of Kronstadt – two great saints united in love for people

Today, August 18, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the Dormition of St. John of Rila – the heavenly patron of Bulgaria. He is the most beloved saint in Bulgaria and is revered even beyond the borders of this country. We associate..

published on 8/18/25 9:30 AM