Vážení čtenáři,

Let us bring you information from the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRSCM) since the end of November 2024 and wish you a pleasant reading.

The expert conference "Cultural Routes - European Cultural Route of Saint Cyril and Methodius" with the participation of international experts was held on 27 November in the important Slovak pilgrimage site Marianka. The 2nd annual conference dedicated to the development of cultural routes focused on the European Cultural Route of Saint Cyril and Methodius with the subtitle "where we are and where we are going".

At the beginning, the participants (present in person and online) were welcomed by Vasil Petkov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Slovakia, and the Deputy Governors of the Bratislava, Trnava and Nitra Regions. Zuzana Vojtová, Director of the ECRSCM Association, in her presentation "Development of ECRSCM, a sustainable tourism product" presented how an active and attractive cultural route can be presented. She presented the dynamic development in the last period, the international partnerships established, the work in expert working groups in the development of the cultural route. This was followed by an interesting panel discussion on "Potential and needs for the development of the Cultural Route", which was attended by František Stano, Tereza Zaujecová, Svetlana Waradzinová and Dana Daňová. Tatiana Mikušová discussed with the panelists the roles of the involved actors from the public, communities and non-profit groups. She also talked about the necessary tourist infrastructure and the role of the national coordinator in building the cultural route. An expert paper on "The Greatness of Cyril and Methodius' Work" was presented by Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Totomanova from Sofia's Kliment of Ohrid University. Afterwards, other contributions were made, for example by the sculptor Milan Opalka from Terchová, who spoke about the Cyril and Methodius legacy in his artistic work.

Conference on cultural routes in Slovakia in Marianka pilgrim site. Photo by Slovak House of Centrope.

The Cyrillo-Methodian Research Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Archaeological Museum "Veliki Preslav", as full members of the association "European Cultural Route of Cyril and Methodius", organized on 26-27 November a National Information Seminar "Bulgarian Cyril and Methodius Cultural Route - part of the Cyril and Methodius Cultural Route of the Council of Europe". 

The event was held under the patronage and with the financial support of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and officially opened by the mayor of Veliki Preslav - the second capital of the First Bulgarian kingdom. More than 60 participants from educational organizations and scientific institutions, municipal and regional administrations, community centers, libraries, museums, religious temples and monasteries, tourist organizations, regional development groups, local businesses, and others presented different dimensions of the Cyrillic-Methodian tradition in Bulgaria. Among the international participants were Stefano Dominioni and Carolina Clark from the European Institute of Cultural Routes in Luxemburg, delegates from the Moravian-Slovak Museum in Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic led by Dr. Tomáš Chrástek, Martina Janochová from the Permanent Secretariat of the ECRSCM Association, Prof. Dr. Krasimir Stanchev, Roma Tre University and Prof. Dr. Rumyana Zlatanova, Heidelberg University. 

National Seminar at the Archaeological Museum Veliki Preslav. Photo by Elka Zlateva.

As part of the program Prof. Slavia Barlieva and Dr. Elka Zlateva from CMRC-BAS opened an exhibition "In the Footsteps of the Disciples – The Cyril and Methodius Cultural Route in Bulgaria" showcasing a small selection of sites of memory dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius and their disciples across Bulgarian lands as focal points for a national cultural trail. The participants discussed the opportunities for Integrating developed and undeveloped sites into the cultural route of Cyril and Methodius at the Patleina Reserve and St. Pantaleon Monastery, and the Great Basilica at National historical and archeological reserve "Pliska". The Czech delegates also visited the tomb of Karel Václav Škorpil - a Czech-Bulgarian archaeologist and member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences who died in Varna on 9 March 1944 but was buried among the ruins of the old Bulgarian capital Pliska.

Great Basilica in Pliska. Photo by Elka Zlateva.

On Wednesday 4 December, a seminar on the possibilities of funding cultural heritage from various European programmes took place at the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague. Representatives of the different European programmes such as Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and other presented the possibilities of support, ways to fund or raise the visibility of organisations and their cultural heritage projects. Experiences with funding and involvement in selected projects supported by Creative Europe were discussed. The Cyril and Methodius Route was also presented as an international network of partners, routes and sites under the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe's programme.  

Presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the St. Agnes Monastery. Photo by Creative Europe Office.

On Thursday 5 December, as part of the conference "Aquileia as a sustainable destination", a round table was dedicated to the paths and itineraries that cross Aquileia and the related projects for 2025. In fact, sea and land routes have always crossed in Aquileia, a city destined to become a crucial node in a broader system of cultural and spiritual itineraries, which combine history, nature and archaeology. This round table was focused on the concrete initiatives that the managers of the numerous paths are developing in view of the important events that will see the light of day with the new year, including the Jubilee. The session was moderated by Andrea Bellavite, journalist and Director of the Basilica of Aquileia and Sara Zanni, advisor to the Italian Minister of Tourism for tourist paths and routes. Attended as speakers Aurelio Pantanali - Founding member of the Iter Aquileiense-Cammino Celeste association; Mattia Vecchi - Project Manager of Iter Goritiense (Interreg ITA-SLO SFP GO! 2025 "Walk2Spirit" project) and Head of Communication of the Basilica of Aquileia; Viola Gaudiano - Strategist and project developer of Romea Strata; Antonio Barone - Director of the European Cultural Route the Phoenicians' Route; Renato Cavaliere - Creator of the Via Flavia path; Polona Abram - Responsible for the implementation of the Interreg ITA-SLO SPF GO! 2025 "The cross-border itinerary of Saint Martin"; Martin Peterka - Member of the Permanent Secretariat of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius [in video-message].

The event was organized on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Aquileia's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the Aquileia Foundation, in collaboration with the Municipality of Aquileia, the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for FVG (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), the Regional Directorate of FVG Museums - Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, the Basilica of Aquileia and PromoTurismoFVG.

Presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the context of Session “Aquileia, land of paths: experiences and plans for 2025”, photo by N. Oleotto. 

Festival of Cultural Routes 3-6 April 2025 in Aquileia, Italy

Scholarly Conference Christian Missions in the European Middle Ages and their Intellectual Heritage. History, Notions, Ideas 21-24 May 2025 in Sofia, Bulgaria

Conference Cultural Routes - Together without Borders 4 July 2025 in Nitra, Slovakia

Dear members and partners,

We wish you a wonderful and peaceful Christmas holidays full of joy and well-being. May the New Year 2025 bring you much success, good health and great inspiration.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to our next steps together on the Cyril and Methodius Route!

Best wishes

The team of the European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Evropská kulturní cesta sv. Cyrila a Metoděje, I.A.L.E.

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 sv. 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 a  Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 2021. The Association European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is responsible for its management and marketing.

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