Vážení čtenáři,

We are bringing you another newsletter of the Cyril and Methodius Route. We would like to inform about news and various events once a month. Therefore, we especially invite our members of the association European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (abbreviated as ECRSCM) to always send us their ideas and articles on the subject of the Cyril and Methodius Route by the end of the month. Thank you.

The Cyrillo-Methodian pilgrimage from Zašová (Czechia) to Terchová (Slovakia) was finished with a welcome in the Terchová church and a climb to Velký Rozsutec. Almost 30 pilgrims climbed Radhošt' in the Beskydy Mountains, Velká Rača in the Kysuce Mountains and most of them found the strength to climb Velký Rozsutec in Malá Fatra Mountains. We thank the pilgrims led by Peter Hirsch for walking the new Cyrillo-Methodian trail, a trail full of challenges.

Participants of the hike to Velký Rozsutec in front of the church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Terchová.

The main theme of the 12th Annual Advisory Forum of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe held on Sept. 20-22 in Łódź, Poland was the social and creative dimension of cultural heritage in the post-industrial world. Participants from 40 member states affiliated to the  Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe program and representatives of 47 certified cultural routes focused on the role of cultural heritage in building a peaceful and democratic society. The forum was attended by representatives of the Council of Europe, the ministries of the member countries of the program, UNESCO, the European Travel Commission, universities, organizations of tourism, culture, etc.

At the forum, the Czech Republic was officially welcomed among the member countries of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (so-called EPA). The Cyril and Methodius Route also has its merit in this. On this occasion, the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Ondřej Chrást said: "Although the Czech Republic only became a full member with effect from July 5, 2023, our mutual cooperation is significantly longer. The immediate acceptance of the Czech Republic was preceded by our one-year observer status, and I cannot forget several years of cooperation at the partner level within individual routes. The Cyril and Methodius Route played an essential role here, but our thanks go equally to all participating subjects."

Chairman of the association European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region Lubomír Traub said: "I am glad that after years of negotiations the Czech Republic can join the members of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. In addition to the Czech Republic, Moldova and Malta also became new members this year. In total, this program is now supported by 40 countries and is one of the most successful agreements of the Council of Europe. It was established in 2010 with the aim of financially and politically supporting the importance of the cultural routes program. It means for us that with our voice through the Ministry of Culture we can actively influence negotiations with other countries involved in this program. At the same time, I want to thank everyone who participated in this success of the Czech Republic and I believe that together we will be able to better develop and promote the cultural route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius."

The Cyril and Methodius Route was represented at the forum in the form of permanent secretariat staff Martina Janochová and Martin Peterka, as well as Dr. Elka Zlateva from the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center in Sofia and prof. Ivan N. Petrov from the University of Łódź. As part of the program, they participated in, for example, meetings of managers of cultural routes and many individual meetings.

Presentation, photos and videos from the forum: 2023 Łódź Forum - Cultural Routes (coe.int)

Forum of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in the building of the former power plant in Łódź, poland.

Schools can register their pupils and students aged 13-17 for the two-day Student Conference in Thessaloniki (Greece) focused on the subject of the personalities, contribution and legacy of Cyril and Methodius. The student conference is organized on the occasion of the 1160th anniversary of the cultural heritage of Cyril and Methodius, the Thessaloniki saints and Slavic heralds. The conference will take place on November 30 - December 1, 2023 at the Thessaloniki City Hall. Application Form. Případné dotazy směřujte na oddělení vnějších vztahů města Soluň: ir@thessaloniki.gr. ir@thessaloniki.gr.  More information here.

The Book Temple in front of the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Thessaloniki, Greece.

2023 Jubilee Year 

•1160th anniversary of the Slavonic Alphabet (853 AC)

•110th anniversary of the establishment of the Clement's Committee (12. 12. 1913)

•60th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Cyrillo-Methodian Commission (22. 5. 1963)

The Cyril-Methodius Research Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences opened a jubilee year with a solemn celebration of the Dormition of St. Cyril at the National Museum "Earth and People" on February 14. The program started with a concert of the Sofia Theological Seminary Choir and a short talk about the cultural role of Constantine Cyril - the Philosopher by Prof. Dimo Cheshmedjiev. At the celebration was presented the large-scale scientific collection "And Wings Were Given to the Woman", published in honour of prof. Svetlina Nikolova - a distinguished palaeoslavist and medievalist and a long-term director of the CMRC, containing 51 articles by leading scholars from Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Croatia.

Celebrations at the National Museum of Earth and People in Sofia, Bulgaria.

On April 4, the Cyril and Methodius Research Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Czech Center in Sofia organized the premiere of the book "The Path of Cyril and Methodius - Spatial and Cultural Historical Dimensions". The event was dedicated to the Dormition of St. Methodius (6 April) and the book contains materials from the International Scientific Conference held in Sofia on 27-29 October 2021, organized in support of the certified Cultural Route of Cyril and Methodius by the Council of Europe. 

Official opening of the International Scientific Conference "The Cyril-Methodius Heritage in Scientific and Cultural Memory" (Sofia, 22-24 May) with the participation of the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mrs. Iliana Iotova and the Scientific Secretary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elka Traykova. The conference was attended by over 70 scholars from 12 countries on three continents (Austria, Bulgaria, Great Britain, India, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, USA, Slovakia, Ukraine, Czech Republic), representing dozens of universities and research centres around the world.

Video from the official oppening: Video.

Scientific Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Together with thousands of Bulgarians, public figures, university professors, teachers and students, the scientists of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences took part in the festive procession for the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and of Slavonic literature in Sofia on May 24.

Awarding ceremony of the International Student Contest "Traces of Cyrilo-Methodian deeds around the world" held July 27, organized by the Cyril and Methodius Research Center and the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad, in cooperation with the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Festive procession during the Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Journey through Prague to Kácov along the Cyril and Methodius Route in Czechia held in July

At the end of July, the first stage of a three-year journey took place on the marked trail Levý Hradec – Prague – Velehrad, full of important sights for the Czech nation. This year's stage through central Bohemia ended in Kácov. Next year, the journey will continue along the route through Vysočina and in 2025 the pilgrims will reach Velehrad. A blind pilgrim also completed the pilgrimage led by Tomáš Jindřich. Videos from the event here: 

Video Prague - Kácov (short)
Video Prague - Kácov (long)

On June 24, the "Cyrilomethodian Historical Festivities in Devín", Slovakia took place, video here: Cyrillo-Methodian Festivities.

On September 9, the event "Slavs in Svätý Jur", Slovakia took place,  realized on the topic of the Cyril and Methodius Route:

Video Slované ve Svätém Juru  (short)
Video Slované ve Svätém Juru  (long)

Pilgrims on the Cyrillo-Methodian trail Průhonice - Velké Popovice, Czechia.

Vuropean Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, I.A.L.E.

Stálé sekretariát

J. A. Bati 5520, 760 01 Zlín, Česká republika

Tel: +420 733 161 674

E-mail: info@cyril-methodius.eu

Web: www.cyril-methodius.eu

Evropská kulturní cesta svatých Cyrila a Metoděje is an interest association of legal entities based in the Czech Republic, founded in 2013. It promotes the living Cyrillo-Methodian legacy and values based on respect and dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths. As a cultural tourism product, the Cyril and Methodius Route was awarded the title of The Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 2021. The ECRSCM Association is responsible for its management and marketing.