By Matthew August
"However tired and physically worn out I am, I will go with joy to that land; with joy I depart for the sake of the Christian faith." -- St. Cyril
While most of the world celebrates Feb. 14 as Valentine's Day - a secular observance with scant attention paid to the third-century martyr - Christians remember instead the lives of two men who poured out their love to their Creator. They were brothers and Byzantine Christian theologians. They worked tirelessly to evangelize the Slavic population of Europe at the turn of the first century.
They are St. Cyril, monk, and St. Methodius, bishop, patron saints of Europe.
Prominent family
Cyril and Methodius were born into a prominent Christian family. Their father was an officer in the army at the time, and he was a man of high rank and respect. The young boys would eventually follow their father in gaining high reputations.
Methodius, the elder brother, grew to hold a commanding position in politics and civil authority. Cyril became a professor of philosophy, and his incredible knowledge was well known throughout Constantinople.
After years of living in the public eye, the two brothers sought solace in a quiet monastery where they could contemplate their God. There, they grew in spiritual perseverance and wisdom, until the Byzantine Emperor called for them to become missionaries. The brothers always had a strong belief that Scripture and the Liturgy should be shared in the tongue of the common man, making Divine Revelation and Divine Worship accessible to people from all walks of life.
Slavonic script
At a time when the Mass was only recited in Latin and Greek, Cyril and Methodius set out on a mission to create a Slavonic script. Working together, they devised the Glagolitic alphabet. This became a means to translate the Word of God into a language all could understand.
Cyril and Methodius paved the way for the Slavic world to hear the voice of Christ more clearly.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20).
Shortly upon their completion of the Slavic translation, Cyril was called to everlasting life. Methodius stood at his little brother's deathbed to hear his dying wish.
"Behold, my brother," he said, "we have shared the same destiny, ploughing the same furrow; I now fall in the field at the end of my day. I know that you greatly love your Mountain; but do not for the sake of the Mountain give up your work of teaching."
Methodius was struck with grief. He wished to return to the monastery and live the rest of his days in silence with his God, waiting for the day he would be reunited with his brother once again. However, the last words of Cyril echoed in his mind, summoning him to finish what they had started.
Perseverance
Methodius continued his missionary work. He eventually became a bishop and continued to offer Mass in the tongue of the common people. Foreign governments constantly attacked Methodius and attempted to strip him of his rank. They feared that having their citizens worship in their own language would grant them independence from the presiding power.
Despite threats and constant criticism, Methodius continued to translate. He would translate the entire Bible and many of the works of the Church Fathers before he was called home to God.
The work of Cyril and Methodius lives on, and has transformed Europe and Western civilization for the better.
Perhaps this Valentine's Day, we can put aside the candy and cards for a moment and recall the lives of these two men who fell passionately in love with the God who created them.
"Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not," said C.S. Lewis.
Follow the example
May we follow the example of these two men. May we fall in love with the God who called us into being, and who loves us beyond our understanding.
Saints Cyril and Methodius, help us to remember how loved we are. Help us be able to embody this love as you did and look at our Creator with the same longing gaze.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39)
Saints Cyril and Methodius, pray for us!
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