Why Russia celebrates the ‘Day of Slavic Writing and Culture’ on May 24
What does this holiday mean, who celebrates it and why is it on exactly on this date?
The date was chosen not by accident, as it coincides with the church day of commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
These brothers, who lived in Byzantium, invented the Slavonic alphabet in the year 863. Thanks to them, Slavic peoples were able to read the holy books and accept Christianity. That's why they were canonized and they are revered as the ‘Equal to the Apostles’ saints in the Russian Orthodox Church.
A monument to St. Cyril and Methodius in Vladivostok
In 1863, the 1,000th anniversary of the alphabet creature was celebrated in the Russian Empire. And May 24 was established as the day of Cyril and Methodius’ commemoration. Since then, all churches in the country hold a service in memory of the saints every year. In the Soviet era, religious holidays were banned and were only revived after perestroika.
Soviet holiday of Christian saint
For the first time, the ‘Festival of Literacy’ was celebrated on May 24, 1986, in Murmansk on the initiative of enthusiasts, which included local writers and journalists.
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Murmansk
Bulgaria (the home of the Slavic alphabet) sent a copy of the Sofia monument to Cyril and Methodius to Murmansk as a token of gratitude. Now, it stands in front of the Murmansk scientific library. It was the first monument to the saints in Russia.
A demonstration devoted to the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Murmansk, 1989
However, the holiday also had a secular meaning. First of all, to popularize literacy and knowledge of the native language.
In 1991, an official decree was adopted on the annual celebration of the ‘Days of Slavonic Alphabet and Culture’. Since then, they have been held in different ancient cities, such as Vologda, Veliky Novgorod and Vladimir. They were also celebrated in other Soviet cities, particularly in Minsk and Kiev.
Each year, a new city was chosen to organize such days with exhibitions, lectures and literary meetings and unveil monuments to Cyril and Methodius.
What the ‘Day of Slavic Writing & Culture’ looks like today
Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated no less widely, with solemn processions, church processions, many exhibitions and cultural events.
People attend a concert marking Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscow
Since 2010, large celebrations have been held in Moscow. A large-scale concert on the Red Square on May 24 has become an annual tradition. And the main cathedral of the country, the Christ the Savior Cathedral, is holding a liturgy in memory of Saints Methodius and Cyril.
Liturgy in Christ the Savior Cathedral dedicated to the memory of Saints Methodius and Cyril 2024
The ‘Day of Slavonic Writing and Culture’ is celebrated not only in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Since the 19th century, it has been celebrated in Bulgaria, the cradle of the Slavonic script.
A prayer service at the monument to Cyril and Methodius on Slavyanskaya Square in Moscow
The Church also pays tribute to the memory of Cyril and Methodius in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, while “all-Slavic enlighteners and teachers” are honored in Northern Macedonia at the highest level. And, since 1994, the ‘Day of Slavonic Writing and Culture’ has been an official holiday in Transnistria.
