The Repose of Our Venerable Father Constantine the Philosopher, in the Monastic Life, Cyril, Teacher of the Slavs (869); and our Venerable Father Auxentius (457-74); and the Venerable Maron the Wonderworker and Hermit
Polyeleos Feast.
Hebrews 7:26-8:2; John 10:9-16.
Read Hebrews 7:26-8:2
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today we commemorate the repose of our venerable Father Constantine the Philosopher, in the Monastic life, Cyril, the teacher of the Slavic Nations. St. Cyril and his brother Methodius left a very large mark on the Church through their successful mission to the Slavic people. They not only helped to convert many Slavic peoples but they devised the Slavic alphabet and translated many necessary Christian books—the Bible and the Divine service books of the Church. They even faced resistance and some persecution by those who felt that the Slavs should either have to learn Hebrew, Latin, or Greek to pray and hear the Gospel.
Here was St. Cyril’s response, “You only recognize three languages in which God may be glorified. But David sang, ‘Praise the Lord, all nations, praise the Lord all peoples (Ps 116:1).’ And the Gospel of Saint Matthew (28:18) says, ‘Go and teach all nations….’” The German bishops who opposed the two saints were humiliated, but they became bitter and complained to Rome. When the holy brothers went to Rome they were greeted with great honour by Pope Adrian and he blessed them to use Slavonic.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius remind us that we are not here to preserve any type of culture or language, but must first live to promote Christ and his Kingdom. We must help people connect with the Word of God, the Sacraments and Holy Services of the Church in a way that is understandable and accessible to them. This connection is critical because through the Scripture, Sacraments and corporate prayer we are nourished spiritually and are rooted in Christ. To the degree we fail to do this ourselves and help others also we fail to build up the Church and uphold the Great Commissioning given to us by Jesus Christ: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20).
May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of St. Cyril, bless our Church with zeal for spiritual growth and the desire to be faithful to the Great Commissioning.