Cyril and Methodius Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

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Cyril and Methodius Route

Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

Cyril and
Methodius Route

Discover a profound, eleven-century-long impact on the cultural history and cultural identity of the Slavs

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Discover locations connected with Cyril and Methodius Cultural Heritage.

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Cyril and Methodius Route

Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

EXPERIENCE | KNOWLEDGE | AWARENESS

Discover a profound, eleven-century-long impact
on the cultural history and cultural identity of the Slavs

Get to Know
the Cyril and Methodius Route

Exploration connected with movement in nature and visiting cultural sites nad institutions that preserve cultural heritage of the Slavs. Hike on the trails of the Route, discover cultural heritage of Cyril and Methodius or get acquainted with the Association. Then find out more information about this unique Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Hiking Trails

Welcome to the Route with more than 5000 km of hiking trails. 

Heritage Alive

Discover locations connected with Cyril and Methodius Cultural Heritage.

Association

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRCM)

Latest from Cyril and Methodius Route.

Are you interested in what has been happening on the Route? We provide you with news about cultural events, itineraries, conferences and workshops and much more. Scroll down with the mouse and click on any image below. You can check out the calendar of events which can be found in the main menu of the website.

Cyril and Methodius Route: Reflecting on a Successful Meeting and Future Plans


3rd October 2024, Nitra, Slovakia

On October 3, 2024, the city of Nitra hosted the second annual meeting of the Slovak members of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius. This event serves as a vital platform for exchanging ideas and planning activities that promote and develop the Route.

The agenda included nine key points discussed by representatives in attendance and those participating online. Highlights included updates from the national coordinator on recent activities, a review and enhancement of the points of interest along the Cyril and Methodius Route, and a presentation of analytical data collected in the Nitra region.

Evaluator Dr. Aleksander Dajkovič Visits Slovakia as Part of the Recertification Process for the Cyril and Methodius Cultural Route

17th October 2024, Nitra, Slovakia

As part of the ongoing recertification process for the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Slovakia hosted Dr. Aleksander Dajkovič from the University of Donja Gorica, Montenegro. This recertification, aligned with the Council of Europe’s cultural routes standards, ensures that the route upholds its quality and cultural significance on an international level. The formal recertification presentation is scheduled for May 2025.

Presentation of Professor Peter Ivanič’s Monograph in Rome Celebrates Saints Cyril and Methodius


3rd October 2024, Nitra, Slovakia

On Tuesday, October 22, the Pontifical Slovak Institute of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome hosted the official presentation of The Life of St. Constantine-Cyril and the Veneration of His Relics, a new monograph by Professor Peter Ivanič, PhD, Director of the Constantine and Methodius Cultural Heritage Research Institute at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra.

THE CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE WAS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION SACRO EXPO 2024

13th-14th September 2024, Bratislava, Slovakia

On 13-14 September 2024, the 2nd edition of the international exhibition of construction and equipment of churches and church facilities and church art SACRO EXPO SLOVAKIA took place at the Incheba exhibition centre in Bratislava .
The Cyril and Methodius Route is a combination of a cultural experience and a pilgrimage built on the spiritual legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which unites nations across Europe. The combination of spirituality, the joy of wandering and cultural experience is often the motivation that drives individuals and communities to explore.

Focusing on ...

The Association focuses on different developing and sustainable activities. They are as a result presenting variety of the cultural heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their followers. 

Network of Slavic heritage

From the first Slavic script - Glagolitic - and the Old Slavic language to the present.

Network of locations

Interesting places connected with the spread of the Cyril and Methodius legacy.

Network of trails

Inspired by the journey of Slavic missionaries and their followers.

Network of events

Cultural and educational activities throughout the year.

Network of products

Tourism products - coordinated under the common logo of the Cyril and Methodius Route.

Network of institutions

Maintaining the heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

The Essence of the Cyril and Methodius Heritage

Cyril and Methodius Route

The main focus of the Route is cultural ideas and cultural content. These were introduced by Cyril and Methodius during the mission they led primarily among the Slavs of Great Moravia from 863 to 868. (Their mission activities also included the Slavs of the polity of Lower Pannonia). 

The mission led by Cyril and Methodius was undertaken as a response from Byzantine Emperor Michael III to the request of Duke Rastislav of Great Moravia. Firstly, introducing an intelligible language for the sacred and public use in that Slavic polity. Secondly, buttressing and strengthening Christian faith of their inhabitants. Cyril and Methodius, however, not only refined the Slavic vernacular (by supplementing vocabulary and grammar) to meet the needs of theological, philosophical, legislative, administrative, and literary discourse. In fact, they boldly went even further, with Constantine inventing a script tailored to fit the Slavic phonemic system – the Glagolitic script.

At the end of the 9th century, the Cyrillic script was created in the South Slavic lands. Most likely in the Bulgarian Khanate. While the Glagolitic script was still relatively widely used during the 11th century (especially within the Ohrid Literary School), from the 12th century onward the Cyrillic script prevailed. It served as the equivalent of the Greek alphabet for Slavs of the Eastern Rite, who lived in the civilizational and political environment of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Glagolitic script remained in use among Croatians, with the last Glagolitic text printed in 1927.