CYRIL and METHO'DIUS. The apostles of the Slays-in the ninth century. They were brothers, and sprang from a respectable family living in the half-Slavic, half-Greek town of Thessalonica. Hav ing been ordained priest. Cyril (whose name was properly ('onst ant ine ) because secretary to the Pa triarch of Constantinople, and later prominently connected with the anti-Jewish polemics. The lat ter interest it was which induced him to go forth, during, the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Michael III.. to evangelize the Khasars, dwelling by the Caspian Sea under a Jewish king who allowed Jews, and Christians to live peaeefully together. His labors were very suceessful, the Khan himself being among the converts. At this time Methodius, his elder brother, was abbot of a famous monastery in Constantinople. The Duke of Moravia, Rostis lav, having established an independent Slavic kingdom and driven out the German priests, applied to Constantinople for Christian teach ing. The patriarch sent him Cyril and Metho dine (861). Cyril invented the Slavic alphabet, and the brothers, assisted by a number of their pupils, completed their translation of the Holy Scriptures, which is in use to the present (lay among all Greek Catholic Christians (Ruseians, Bulgarians, and Serbs). Feeling the necessity
of linking the Moravian Church to the power of Rome, the brothers, after three and one-half years of work, went to Rome. There they were cordially received and were ordained. The younger of the two brothers died February 14, 869, as monk in a monastery at Constanti nople, where lie had taken the name of Cyril. Methodius continued the work among the Slays, but in Pannonia, not in Moravia. In S70 the Pope made him a bishop and in S73 archbishop. Supported by the Pope, he long kept up a con stant fight with the German emissaries. Ile died at Welderad, April 6, 885. Consult: Ginzel, Gesehichte der Slawenapostel Cyril und Metho dius (2d ed., Vienna, 1861) ; Dtimmler and Siiklosich, Die Legende vont heiligcn Cyrillus (Vienna, 1870; Goetz, Gesehiehte der Slairen apostel Constantinus (Cyrillus) Methodius (Gotha, 1807) ; also Vita Sancti Methoilii, ed. by Miklosich (Vienna, 1870). The Apologia Moralis ascribed to Cyril was published by Cor ter (Vienna, 1630).