Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Slavic alphabet Az. Cyril and Methodius: why is the alphabet named after the youngest of the brothers? History of written characters
It is believed that Greek Christian missionaries are brothers Cyril and Methodius in 863 they were invited from Byzantium by Prince Rostislav to the Great Moravian Empire to introduce worship in the Slavic language.
Constantine alphabet was created - the so-called "glagolitic", reflecting the phonetic features of the Slavic language. The oldest surviving Glagolitic inscription with exact dating dates back to 893 and was made in the church of the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon in Preslav.
Cyril and Methodius translated the main liturgical books from Greek into Old Slavonic.
Later pupils Methodius created in Bulgaria on the basis of the "Glagolitic" a new alphabet, which later received the name "cyrillic" - in honor of Kirill.
Already in the 20th century, the Pope John Paul II“... he emphasized more than once that, being a Slav, he especially strongly felt in his heart the call of those peoples who were addressed by the “apostles of unity” - Cyril and Methodius, who took it upon themselves to “express biblical ideas and concepts of Greek theology in a language understood in context of a completely different historical experience and tradition", they must be understood "by those for whom God Himself is destined".
The Pope, who was especially sensitive to any manifestation of national culture, its identity, saw the main merit of the “apostles of the Slavs” in their desire for the Word of God “to find its expression in the language of any civilization”, warning in every possible way against imposing authorities, languages, images on other peoples .
The missions of the saints, who were especially dear to the Pope, he devoted to the encyclical "Apostles of the Slavs" ("Slavorum apostoli", 1985) and the apostolic letter "Go into all the world" ("Euntes in mundum universum", 1988), written on the occasion of the Millennium of Baptism Kievan Rus.
“Saints Cyril and Methodius were formed in the bosom of the Byzantine Church at the time when she was in unity with Rome. Proclaiming them with the saint Benedict patrons of Europe, I sought not only to affirm the historical truth about Christianity on the European continent, but also to put forward another important topic for dialogue between East and West, with which so many hopes are associated in the post-conciliar period.
As in the holy Benedict, and in Saints Cyril and Methodius, Europe found its spiritual origins. And therefore, they must be honored together - as the patrons of our past and the saints to whom the Churches and peoples of Europe at the end of the second Millennium from the Nativity of Christ entrust their future.
Elena Tverdislova, And as a sign of love - a rosary as a gift - Preface to the book: John Paul II, M., Rudomino Book Center, 2011, p. 30-31.
“... the emergence of Slavic writing is associated with the second half of the 9th century (863), when, as a result of the initiative of the rulers of the Great Moravian Principality, Greek missionaries Cyril (Konstantin) And Methodius, having created a very perfect graphic system for one of the types of Slavic speech, they began to translate some parts of the Bible and create other liturgical texts.
Old Church Slavonic became the common literary language of the Slavs of the Middle Ages.
Among all Western Slavs, it was soon supplanted by the Latin language due to Western influence and the transition to Catholicism.
Therefore, the further use of the Old Church Slavonic language is associated mainly with the Slavic south (Bulgaria, Serbia) and the east (Kiev state, then Moscow Rus, Belarusian and Ukrainian lands). The use of Old Church Slavonic as a literary language led to the fact that this language was primarily subjected to grammatical processing.
Kondrashov N.A., History of linguistic doctrines, M., Komkniga, 2006, p. 31.
The heirs of Charlemagne divided Europe, the Muslim states crowded out Byzantium, and in Russia they still prayed to Perun, when the founders of our culture, Cyril and Methodius, were working on the creation of Slavic writing. Philologists and linguists are still carefully studying the biographies of the Enlightenment brothers and all possible evidence - how else to preserve such a significant heritage? Nevertheless, if we discard ideology and fiction, we know catastrophically little about the lives of perhaps the most significant people in Russian history ...
Biography of the Enlightenment Brothers
Cyril (in the world Constantine) and Methodius (presumably Michael) were born in the 9th century in the Byzantine city of Thessaloniki - or Thessaloniki. There were seven sons in the family, with Methodius being the eldest and Cyril the youngest. Byzantium at that time was a multinational empire, so the Greeks and Bulgarians argue about which of the peoples the brothers come from. However, the number of people living in Byzantium played a positive role: in addition to Greek, Cyril and Methodius were fluent in the Slavic language.
Methodius followed in the footsteps of his father, an officer, began to build military career and even was awarded the title of commander in chief in one of the Byzantine provinces, but then took the monastic vows. The younger one was fascinated by science, having received the nickname Philosopher for his sharp mind and extraordinary thoughts. Excellent oratorical skills helped the young man to take an important post. Since Christianity played a serious political role in those days, diplomats in negotiations with non-Christians were always accompanied by a missionary, and that was our Philosopher. His bright and imaginative answers, if not to convince opponents, then at least aroused admiration.
In the 50s of the IX century, both brothers - a successful polemicist and the head of the province - retire from the world and lead an ascetic life. Cyril is soon sent on a missionary mission to the Khazar court. It was beneficial for Byzantium to cooperate with this medieval state, so it became necessary to paint colorfully the advantages of Christianity. After a successful trip, a group of students joined the enlightener, with whom he returned to the monastery. In the future, the brothers exercised their minds in prayers and translations of liturgical texts into Slavic languages.
Creating a new alphabet
Meanwhile, the Christian church was already moving towards a split. Patriarch Photius defended his religious and political convictions too zealously, which is why he constantly quarreled with the Roman throne. The princes of the Slavic lands watched what was happening from afar, periodically giving preference either to bishops from Rome or from Constantinople, depending on the benefits pursued. So, Prince Rostislav from Great Moravia (a Slavic state in the region of the Middle Danube) asked Slavic preachers to come to him. The choice fell on Cyril and Methodius, since the brothers, with the help of their students, managed to translate the main liturgical texts from Greek into Slavonic. Their mission in Moravia, and then in Bulgaria, ends with a grand success: in the process of teaching the subjects of the prince to read, write and worship, a new alphabet was created, called "Cyrillic" - in honor of his younger brother.
Mission Success
It became a kind of compromise: the Moravian nobility wanted to conduct worship in the local language, while the Greek clergy insisted on monopolizing the "sacred" language. Prior to this, the Slavs used the Glagolitic alphabet with letter styles that are difficult for a modern person. The inhabitants of Moravia did not have their own alphabet at all, and the arrival of the learned brothers was a gift from above for them. Bulgaria after the activities of the Moravian mission was baptized. Of course, some representatives of the clergy took the new liturgical language with hostility. So, Pope Nicholas I immediately accused the brothers of heresy and demanded to come to Rome, but died suddenly during their journey. The successor Andrian II turned out to be more loyal and welcomed Cyril and Methodius cordially, allowing them to serve in the new language in several churches in Rome. The disciples of the brothers-enlighteners became the priests in these temples.
Gratitude of descendants
Cyril fell ill during a trip to Rome and, upon arrival at home, found himself on his deathbed. He died on February 14, 869. By the way, there is a myth that the Catholic Church celebrates Valentine's Day on February 14 - this is not true. Western Christianity reveres the enlighteners as a symbol of the cultural self-determination of the Slavic peoples, and February 14 is clearly stated in the liturgical calendar: the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, according to the date of death of the youngest of the brothers. Methodius, until his death, continued to engage in translations and teaching, rising to the rank of archbishop. By joint work, the brothers translated the Bible, collections of teachings for church holidays, and even compiled the “Law Judgment for People” - the first legal document in the Slavic language. Cyril and Methodius were canonized for their activities. The Orthodox Church celebrates their memory according to the tradition established in Bulgaria - on May 24th. On the same date, the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture was established, which is celebrated in Russia, Bulgaria, Transnistria and Macedonia.
Kaluga region, Borovsky district, Petrovo village
On a live map of the territory of the ethnographic park-museum "ETNOMIR", Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are the closest neighbors, inextricably linked by a common culture, traditions, and long-standing historical relations. At the moment, there are museums, ethnic hotels, the Korchma restaurant, the Khlebnaya Izba bakery, and a soap-making workshop on the territory. There are excursions, educational programs, master classes.
Cyril and Methodius are the Slavic first teachers, the great preachers of Christianity, canonized not only by the Orthodox, but also by the Catholic Church.
The life and work of Cyril (Konstantin) and Methodius is reproduced in sufficient detail on the basis of various documentary and chronicle sources.
Cyril (826-869) received this name when he was tonsured into the schema 50 days before his death in Rome, he lived all his life with the name Konstantin (Konstantin the Philosopher). Methodius (814-885) - the monastic name of the monk, the secular name is unknown, presumably his name was Michael.
Cyril and Methodius are brothers. They were born in the city of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) in Macedonia (now the territory of Greece). Since childhood, they have mastered the Old Slavonic language - Old Bulgarian. From the emperor's words Michael III"Thessalonians" - all speak pure Slavic.
Both brothers lived mostly spiritual lives, striving for the embodiment of their beliefs and ideas, attaching no importance to sensual pleasures, or wealth, or career, or fame. The brothers never had wives or children, wandered all their lives without creating a home or permanent shelter, and even died in a foreign land.
Both brothers went through life, actively changing it in accordance with their views and beliefs. But as traces of their deeds, only the fruitful changes they made to the life of the people, and vague stories of lives, traditions, and legends, remained.
The brothers were born in the family of Leo-drungarius, a Byzantine commander of the middle rank from the city of Thessaloniki. The family had seven sons, with Methodius being the eldest, and Cyril being the youngest of them.
According to one version, they came from a pious Slavic family that lived in the Byzantine city of Thessalonica. From a large number historical sources, mainly from the "Short Life of Clement of Ohrid" it is known that Cyril and Methodius were Bulgarians. Since in the 9th century the First Bulgarian Kingdom was a multinational state, it is not completely possible to determine exactly whether they were Slavs or Proto-Bulgarians, or even had other roots. The Bulgarian kingdom consisted mainly of the ancient Bulgarians (Turks) and Slavs, who already formed a new ethnic group - the Slavic Bulgarians, who retained the old name of the ethnic group, but were already a Slavic-Turkic people. According to another version, Cyril and Methodius were of Greek origin. There is also an alternative theory of the ethnic origin of Cyril and Methodius, according to which they were not Slavs, but Bulgars (Proto-Bulgarians). This theory also refers to the assumptions of historians that the brothers created the so-called. Glagolitic - an alphabet that looks more like Old Bulgarian than Slavic.
Little is known about the first years of Methodius' life. Probably, there was nothing outstanding in the life of Methodius until she interbred with the life of his younger brother. Methodius entered the military service early and was soon appointed governor of one of the Slavic-Bulgarian regions subject to Byzantium. Methodius spent about ten years in this position. Then he left the military-administrative service alien to him and retired to a monastery. In the 860s, having renounced the rank of archbishop, he became abbot of the Polychron monastery on the Asian coast of the Sea of Marmara, near the city of Cyzicus. Here, in a quiet shelter on Mount Olympus, Constantine also moved for several years, in the interval between travels to the Saracens and the Khazars. The older brother, Methodius, walked through life on a straight, clear path. Only twice did he change its direction: the first time - by going to the monastery, and the second - again returning under the influence of his younger brother to active work and struggle.
Cyril was the youngest of the brothers, from infancy he showed extraordinary mental abilities, but he did not differ in health. The eldest, Mikhail, even in children's games defended the youngest, weak with a disproportionately large head, with small and short arms. He will protect his younger brother until his death - both in Moravia, and at the cathedral in Venice, and before the papal throne. And then he will continue his brotherly work in written wisdom. And, holding hands, they will go down in the history of world culture.
Cyril was educated in Constantinople at the Magnavrian school, the best educational institution Byzantium. Cyril's education was taken care of by the secretary of state Theoctist himself. Before reaching the age of 15, Cyril was already reading the works of the most thoughtful church father, Gregory the Theologian. A capable boy was taken to the court of Emperor Michael III, as a comrade in teaching to his son. Under the guidance of the best mentors - including Photius, the future famous Patriarch of Constantinople - Cyril studied ancient literature, rhetoric, grammar, dialectics, astronomy, music and other "Hellenic arts". The friendship of Cyril and Photius largely predetermined further fate Kirill. In 850, Cyril became a professor at the Magnavra school. Rejecting a profitable marriage and a brilliant career, Cyril accepted the priesthood, and after secretly leaving for a monastery, he began to teach philosophy (hence the nickname Konstantin - "Philosopher"). Proximity with Photius affected Cyril's struggle with the iconoclasts. He wins a brilliant victory over the experienced and ardent leader of the iconoclasts, which undoubtedly gives Constantine wide fame. The wisdom and strength of faith of the still very young Constantine were so great that he managed to defeat the leader of the heretic iconoclasts Annius in the debate. After this victory, Constantine was sent by the emperor to debate the Holy Trinity with the Saracens (Muslims) and also won. Returning, Saint Constantine withdrew to his brother Saint Methodius on Olympus, spending time in unceasing prayer and reading the works of the holy fathers.
The "Life" of the saint testifies that he knew Hebrew, Slavonic, Greek, Latin and Arabic languages well. Rejecting a profitable marriage, as well as the administrative career offered by the emperor, Cyril became the patriarchal librarian at Hagia Sophia. Soon he secretly retired to a monastery for six months, and upon his return he taught philosophy (external - Hellenic and internal - Christian) at the court school - the higher educational institution of Byzantium. Then he received the nickname "Philosopher", which remained with him forever. Constantine was called the Philosopher for a reason. Every now and then he broke out of the noisy Byzantium somewhere in solitude. I read and thought for a long time. And then, having accumulated another store of energy and thoughts, he generously squandered it in travels, disputes, debates, in scientific and literary creativity. Cyril's education was highly valued in the highest circles of Constantinople, he was often attracted to various diplomatic missions.
Cyril and Methodius had many students who became their true followers. Among them, I would especially like to mention Gorazd Ohrid and St. Naum.
Gorazd Ohridsky - a disciple of Methodius, the first Slavic archbishop - he was the archbishop of Mikulchitsa, the capital of Great Moravia. Revered by the Orthodox Church in the guise of saints, commemorated on July 27 (according to the Julian calendar) in the Cathedral of the Bulgarian Enlighteners. In 885-886, under Prince Svyatopolk I, a crisis broke out in the Moravian Church, Archbishop Gorazd entered into a dispute with the Latin clergy, headed by Vihtig, Bishop of Nitrava, against whom St. Methodius imposed an anathema. Wichtig, with the approval of the pope, expelled Gorazd from the diocese and 200 priests with him, and he himself took his place as archbishop. Then Clement of Ohrid also fled to Bulgaria. They took with them the works created in Moravia and settled in Bulgaria. Those who did not obey - according to the testimony - the Life of St. Clement of Ohrid - were sold into slavery to Jewish merchants, from whom they were ransomed by the ambassadors of Emperor Basil I in Venice and transported to Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, students created world-famous literary schools in Pliska, Ohrid and Preslavl, from where their works began to spread throughout Russia.
Naum is a Bulgarian saint, especially revered in modern Macedonia and Bulgaria. St. Naum, together with Cyril and Methodius, as well as with his ascetic Clement of Ohrid, is one of the founders of Bulgarian religious literature. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church includes St. Naum among the Seven. In 886-893. he lived in Preslav, becoming the organizer of the local literary school. After he created a school in Ohrid. In 905 he founded a monastery on the shores of Lake Ohrid, today named after him. His relics are also kept there.
Mount St. Naum on the island of Smolensk (Livingston) is also named after him.
In 858, Constantine, at the initiative of Photius, became the head of a mission to the Khazars. During the mission, Constantine replenishes his knowledge of the Hebrew language, which was used by the educated elite of the Khazars after their adoption of Judaism. On the way, during a stop in Chersonese (Korsun), Constantine discovered the remains of Clement, Pope of Rome (I-II centuries), who died, as they thought then, here in exile, and took some of them to Byzantium. The journey deep into Khazaria was filled with theological disputes with Mohammedans and Jews. The whole course of the dispute, Konstantin subsequently outlined on Greek to report to the patriarch; later this report, according to the legends, was translated by Methodius into the Slavic language, but, unfortunately, this work has not come down to us. At the end of 862, the prince of Great Moravia (the state of the Western Slavs), Rostislav, turned to the Byzantine emperor Michael with a request to send preachers to Moravia who could spread Christianity in the Slavic language (sermons in those parts were read in Latin, unfamiliar and incomprehensible people). The emperor called Saint Constantine and said to him: "You must go there, for no one can do it better than you." Saint Constantine, with fasting and prayer, embarked on a new feat. Constantine goes to Bulgaria, converts many Bulgarians to Christianity; according to some scholars, during this trip he begins his work on the creation of the Slavic alphabet. Constantine and Methodius arrived in Great Moravia, owning the southern Slavic dialect of Thessalonica (now - Thessaloniki), i.e. the center of that part of Macedonia, which from time immemorial and up to our time belonged to Northern Greece. In Moravia, the brothers taught literacy and involved in translation activities, and not just copying books, people who spoke, undoubtedly, some northwestern Slavic dialects. This is directly evidenced by lexical, word-building, phonetic and other linguistic discrepancies in the most ancient Slavic books that have come down to us (in the Gospel, the Apostle, the Psalter, the Menaions of the 10th-11th centuries). Indirect evidence is the later practice of Grand Duke Vladimir I Svyatoslavich, described in the Old Russian Chronicle, when in 988 he introduced Christianity in Russia as the state religion. It was the children of his “deliberate child” (i.e., the children of his courtiers and the feudal elite) that Vladimir attracted for “book learning”, sometimes even by force, since the Chronicle reports that their mothers wept for them as if they were dead.
After the completion of the translation, the holy brothers were received from great honor in Moravia, and began to teach worship in the Slavic language. This aroused the anger of the German bishops, who celebrated Divine Liturgy in Latin in the Moravian churches, and they rebelled against the holy brothers, arguing that Divine Liturgy could be celebrated only in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek or Latin. Saint Constantine answered them: “You recognize only three languages worthy of glorifying God in them. But David cries out: Sing to the Lord, all the earth; praise the Lord, all nations; let every breath praise the Lord! And in the Holy Gospel it is said: Go, teach all the languages...” The German bishops were put to shame, but became even more embittered and filed a complaint with Rome. The holy brothers were called to Rome to resolve this issue.
In order to be able to preach Christianity in the Slavic language, it was necessary to make a translation of the Holy Scripture into the Slavic language; however, the alphabet capable of conveying Slavic speech did not exist at that moment.
Constantine set about creating the Slavic alphabet. With the help of his brother Saint Methodius and the disciples of Gorazd, Clement, Savva, Naum and Angelyar, he compiled the Slavic alphabet and translated into Slavonic the books without which Divine services could not be performed: the Gospel, the Apostle, the Psalter and selected services. All these events date back to 863.
863 is considered the year of birth of the Slavic alphabet
In 863, the Slavic alphabet was created (the Slavic alphabet existed in two versions: the Glagolitic alphabet - from the verb - “speech” and the Cyrillic alphabet; scientists still do not have a consensus which of these two options was created by Cyril). With the help of Methodius, a number of liturgical books were translated from Greek into Slavonic. The Slavs got the opportunity to read and write in their own language. The Slavs not only had their own, Slavic, alphabet, but also the first Slavic literary language was born, many of whose words still live in Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian and other Slavic languages.
Cyril and Methodius were the founders of the literary and written language of the Slavs - the Old Slavonic language, which in turn was a kind of catalyst for the creation of the Old Russian literary language, Old Bulgarian and literary languages other Slavic peoples.
The younger brother wrote, the older one translated his works. The younger created the Slavic alphabet, Slavic writing and book business; the elder practically developed what the younger had created. The younger was a talented scientist, philosopher, brilliant dialectician and subtle philologist; the elder is a capable organizer and practical figure.
Konstantin, in the quiet of his refuge, was probably busy completing the work that was in connection with his not new plans for the conversion of pagan Slavs. He compiled a special alphabet for the Slavic language, the so-called "Glagolitic", and began the translation of the Holy Scripture into the ancient Bulgarian language. The brothers decided to return to their homeland and, in order to consolidate their business in Moravia, they took with them some of the students, Moravans, for enlightenment in the hierarchical ranks. On the way to Venice, which lay through Bulgaria, the brothers stayed for several months in the Pannonian principality of Kotsela, where, despite its ecclesiastical and political dependence, they did the same as in Moravia. Upon arrival in Venice, Constantine had a violent clash with the local clergy. Here, in Venice, unexpectedly for the local clergy, they are given a kind message from Pope Nicholas with an invitation to Rome. Having received a papal invitation, the brothers continued their journey with almost complete confidence in success. This was further facilitated by the sudden death of Nicholas and the accession to the papal throne of Adrian II.
Rome solemnly welcomed the brothers and the shrine they brought, part of the remains of Pope Clement. Adrian II approved not only the Slavic translation of the Holy Scriptures, but also the Slavic worship, consecrating the Slavic books brought by the brothers, allowing the Slavs to perform services in a number of Roman churches, and consecrate Methodius and three of his disciples as priests. The influential prelates of Rome also favorably reacted to the brothers and their cause.
All these successes went to the brothers, of course, not easily. A skilled dialectician and an experienced diplomat, Konstantin skillfully used for this both the struggle of Rome with Byzantium, and the fluctuations of the Bulgarian prince Boris between the Eastern and Western churches, and the hatred of Pope Nicholas for Photius, and the desire of Hadrian to strengthen his shaky authority by acquiring the remains of Clement. At the same time, Byzantium and Photius were still much closer to Constantine than Rome and the popes. But over the three and a half years of his life and struggle in Moravia, the main, only goal of Konstantin was the strengthening of the Slavic script he created, Slavic book publishing and culture.
For almost two years, surrounded by sugary flattery and praise, combined with hidden intrigues of temporarily quiet opponents of Slavic worship, Constantine and Methodius live in Rome. One of the reasons for their long delay was Constantine's deteriorating health.
Despite weakness and illness, Constantine makes two new literary works: "The acquisition of the relics of St. Clement" and a poetic hymn in honor of the same Clement.
A long and difficult journey to Rome, a tense struggle with the irreconcilable enemies of Slavic writing undermined the already poor health of Constantine. At the beginning of February 869, he went to bed, took the schema and the new monastic name Cyril, and on February 14 he died. Departing to God, Saint Cyril commanded his brother Saint Methodius to continue their common work - the enlightenment of the Slavic peoples with the light of the true faith.
Before his death, Cyril said to his brother: “You and I, like two oxen, led the same furrow. I am exhausted, but don’t you think to leave the work of teaching and retire to your mountain again.” Methodius outlived his brother by 16 years. Enduring hardships and reproach, he continued the great work - translating sacred books into the Slavic language, preaching the Orthodox faith, baptizing the Slavic people. Saint Methodius begged the Pope to allow the body of his brother to be taken away for burial in his native land, but the pope ordered the relics of Saint Cyril to be placed in the church of Saint Clement, where miracles began to be performed from them.
After the death of Saint Cyril, the pope, following the request of the Slavic prince Kocel, sent Saint Methodius to Pannonia, consecrating him to the rank of archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia, on the ancient throne of the holy Apostle Andronicus. After the death of Cyril (869), Methodius continued educational activities among the Slavs in Pannonia, where Slavic books also included features of local dialects. In the future, the Old Church Slavonic literary language was developed by the students of the Thessalonica brothers in the region of Lake Ohrid, then in Bulgaria proper.
With the death of a talented brother, for the humble, but selfless and honest Methodius, a painful, truly cross path begins, littered with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, dangers and failures. But the lonely Methodius stubbornly, in no way inferior to his enemies, goes this way to the very end.
True, on the threshold of this path, Methodius relatively easily achieves a new great success. But this success generates an even greater storm of anger and resistance in the camp of the enemies of Slavic writing and culture.
In the middle of 869, Adrian II, at the request of the Slavic princes, sent Methodius to Rostislav, his nephew Svyatopolk and Kotsel, and at the end of 869, when Methodius returned to Rome, elevated him to the rank of archbishop of Pannonia, allowing worship in the Slavic language. Inspired by this new success, Methodius returns to Kotsel. With the constant help of the prince, he, together with his students, unfolds a large and vigorous work to spread Slavic worship, writing and books in the Blaten principality and in neighboring Moravia.
In 870, Methodius was sentenced to prison, having received an accusation of violating the hierarchical rights to Pannonia.
He remained in prison, under the most difficult conditions, until 873, when the new Pope John VIII forced the Bavarian episcopate to release Methodius and return him to Moravia. Methodius is forbidden to worship Slavic worship.
He continues the work of the ecclesiastical organization of Moravia. Contrary to the prohibition of the pope, Methodius continues worship in the Slavic language in Moravia. In the circle of his activities, Methodius this time also involved other Slavic peoples neighboring Moravia.
All this prompted the German clergy to take new actions against Methodius. German priests turn Svyatopolk against Methodius. Svyatopolk writes to Rome a denunciation of his archbishop, accusing him of heresy, violating the canons of the Catholic Church and disobeying the pope. Methodius manages not only to justify himself, but even to persuade Pope John to his side. Pope John allows Methodius to worship in the Slavic language, but appoints him as bishop of Wiching, one of Methodius' most ardent opponents. Wiching began to spread rumors about the condemnation of Methodius by the pope, but was exposed.
Tired to the limit and exhausted by all these endless intrigues, forgeries and denunciations, feeling that his health was constantly weakening, Methodius went to rest in Byzantium. Methodius spent almost three years in his homeland. In the middle of 884 he returned to Moravia. Returning to Moravia, Methodius in 883. engaged in the translation into Slavic of the full text of the canonical books of Holy Scripture (except for the Maccabees). Having finished his hard work, Methodius weakened even more. IN last years During his life, Methodius' activities in Moravia proceeded in very difficult conditions. The Latin-German clergy in every way prevented the spread of the Slavic language as the language of the church. In the last years of his life, Saint Methodius, with the help of two disciple-priests, translated into Slavonic the entire Old Testament, except for the Maccabees, as well as the Nomocanon (Rules of the Holy Fathers) and the patristic books (Paterik).
Anticipating the approach of death, Saint Methodius pointed to one of his disciples, Gorazd, as a worthy successor to himself. The saint predicted the day of his death and died on April 6, 885 at the age of about 60 years. The funeral service for the saint was performed in three languages - Slavonic, Greek and Latin. He was buried in the cathedral church of Velegrad.
With the death of Methodius, his work in Moravia came close to ruin. With the arrival of Viching in Moravia, the persecution of the disciples of Constantine and Methodius began, the destruction of their Slavic church. Up to 200 clergy disciples of Methodius were expelled from Moravia. The Moravian people did not give them any support. Thus, the cause of Constantine and Methodius perished not only in Moravia, but among the Western Slavs in general. On the other hand, it received further life and flourishing from the southern Slavs, partly from the Croats, more from the Serbs, especially from the Bulgarians and, through the Bulgarians, from the Russians, the Eastern Slavs, who united their destinies with Byzantium. This happened thanks to the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, who were expelled from Moravia.
From the period of activity of Constantine, his brother Methodius and their closest students, no written monuments have come down to us, except for the relatively recently discovered inscriptions on the ruins of the church of Tsar Simeon in Preslav (Bulgaria). It turned out that these ancient inscriptions were made not by one, but by two graphic varieties of Old Slavonic writing. One of them received the conditional name "Cyrillic" (from the name Cyril, adopted by Constantine during his tonsure as a monk); the other received the name "Glagolitsy" (from the Old Slavonic "verb", which means "word").
Cyrillic and Glagolitic almost coincided in their alphabetical composition. Cyrillic, according to manuscripts of the 11th century that have come down to us. had 43 letters, and the Glagolitic had 40 letters. Of the 40 Glagolitic letters, 39 served to convey almost the same sounds as the letters of the Cyrillic alphabet. Like the letters of the Greek alphabet, the Glagolitic and Cyrillic letters had, in addition to the sound, also a numerical value, i.e. were used to denote not only speech sounds, but also numbers. At the same time, nine letters served to designate units, nine - for tens and nine - for hundreds. In Glagolitic, in addition, one of the letters meant a thousand; in Cyrillic, a special sign was used to denote thousands. In order to indicate that the letter denotes a number, and not a sound, the letter was usually highlighted on both sides with dots and a special horizontal line was put above it.
In Cyrillic, as a rule, only letters borrowed from the Greek alphabet had digital values: at the same time, each of the 24 such letters was assigned the same digital value that this letter had in the Greek digital system. The only exceptions were the numbers "6", "90" and "900".
Unlike the Cyrillic alphabet, the first 28 letters in a row received a numerical value in the Glagolitic, regardless of whether these letters corresponded to Greek or served to convey special sounds of Slavic speech. Therefore, the numerical value of most Glagolitic letters was different from both Greek and Cyrillic letters.
The names of the letters in Cyrillic and Glagolitic were exactly the same; however, the time of occurrence of these names is unclear. The arrangement of letters in the Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabets was almost the same. This order is established, firstly, on the basis of the numerical value of the Cyrillic and Glagolitic letters, secondly, on the basis of the acrostics of the 12th-13th centuries that have come down to us, and thirdly, on the basis of the order of letters in the Greek alphabet.
The Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabets differed greatly in the form of their letters. In Cyrillic, the shape of the letters was geometrically simple, clear and easy to write. Of the 43 Cyrillic letters, 24 were borrowed from the Byzantine charter, and the remaining 19 were built to a greater or lesser extent independently, but in compliance with the unified style of the Cyrillic alphabet. The shape of the Glagolitic letters, on the contrary, was extremely complex and intricate, with many curls, loops, etc. On the other hand, the Glagolitic letters were graphically more original than the Cyrillic ones, much less like the Greek ones.
Cyrillic is a very skillful, complex and creative reworking of the Greek (Byzantine) alphabet. As a result of careful consideration of the phonetic composition of the Old Slavonic language, the Cyrillic alphabet had all the letters necessary for the correct transmission of this language. The Cyrillic alphabet was also suitable for the exact transmission of the Russian language, in the 9th-10th centuries. the Russian language was already somewhat phonetically different from Old Church Slavonic. The correspondence of the Cyrillic alphabet to the Russian language is confirmed by the fact that for more than a thousand years it took only two new letters to be introduced into this alphabet; multi-letter combinations and superscript signs are not needed and almost never used in Russian writing. This is what determines the originality of the Cyrillic alphabet.
Thus, despite the fact that many letters of the Cyrillic alphabet coincide in form with the Greek letters, the Cyrillic alphabet (as well as the Glagolitic alphabet) should be recognized as one of the most independent, creatively and in a new way constructed alphabetic-sound systems.
The presence of two graphic varieties of Slavic writing still causes great controversy among scientists. After all, according to the unanimous testimony of all annalistic and documentary sources, Konstantin developed some one Slavic alphabet. Which of these alphabets was created by Constantine? Where and when did the second alphabet appear? Closely related to these questions are others, perhaps even more important ones. But didn’t the Slavs have some kind of writing before the introduction of the alphabet developed by Constantine? And if it existed, what was it?
Evidence of the existence of writing in the pre-Cyrilian period among the Slavs, in particular among the Eastern and Southern, was devoted to a number of works by Russian and Bulgarian scientists. As a result of these works, as well as in connection with the discovery of the most ancient monuments of Slavic writing, the question of the existence of a letter among the Slavs can hardly be in doubt. This is evidenced by many ancient literary sources: Slavic, Western European, Arabic. This is confirmed by the indications contained in the agreements between the Eastern and Southern Slavs with Byzantium, some archaeological data, as well as linguistic, historical and general socialist considerations.
Fewer materials are available to resolve the question of what the oldest Slavic writing was and how it arose. Pre-Cyrillic Slavic writing, apparently, could only be of three types. So, in the light of development general patterns development of writing, it seems almost certain that long before the formation of relations between the Slavs and Byzantium, they had various local varieties of the original primitive pictographic writing, such as the “features and cuts” mentioned by the Brave. The emergence of the Slavic writing of the type “devils and cuts” should probably be attributed to the first half of the 1st millennium AD. e. True, the oldest Slavic writing could only be a very primitive writing, including a small, unstable and different assortment of simple pictorial and conventional signs for different tribes. This letter could not turn into any developed and ordered logographic system.
The use of the original Slavic script was also limited. These were, apparently, the simplest counting signs in the form of dashes and notches, tribal and personal signs, signs of property, signs for divination, perhaps primitive route schemes, calendar signs that served to date the dates for the start of various agricultural works, pagan holidays, etc. P. In addition to sociological and linguistic considerations, the existence of such a script among the Slavs is confirmed by quite numerous literary sources of the 9th-10th centuries. and archaeological finds. Arising back in the first half of the 1st millennium AD, this letter was probably survived by the Slavs even after the creation of an ordered Slavic alphabet by Cyril.
The second, even more undoubted type of pre-Christian writing of the Eastern and Southern Slavs was a letter that can be conditionally called the letter "proto-Cyril". A letter of the “devils and cuts” type, suitable for marking calendar dates, for divination, counting, etc., was unsuitable for recording military and trade agreements, liturgical texts, historical chronicles and other complex documents. And the need for such records should have appeared among the Slavs simultaneously with the birth of the first Slavic states. For all these purposes, the Slavs, even before they adopted Christianity and before the introduction of the alphabet created by Cyril, undoubtedly used Greek letters in the east and south, and Greek and Latin letters in the west.
The Greek script, used by the Slavs for two or three centuries before they officially adopted Christianity, had to gradually adapt to the transmission of the peculiar phonetics of the Slavic language and, in particular, be replenished with new letters. This was necessary for the accurate recording of Slavic names in churches, in military lists, for recording Slavic geographical names etc. The Slavs have advanced far along the path of adapting Greek writing to a more accurate transmission of their speech. To do this, ligatures were formed from the corresponding Greek letters, Greek letters were supplemented with letters borrowed from other alphabets, in particular from the Hebrew alphabet, which was known to the Slavs through the Khazars. This is how the Slavic “proto-Cyrillic” writing was probably formed. The assumption of such a gradual formation of the Slavic “proto-Cyrillic” writing is also confirmed by the fact that the Cyrillic alphabet in its later version that has come down to us was so well adapted for the accurate transmission of Slavic speech that this could only be achieved as a result of its long development. These are the two undoubted varieties of pre-Christian Slavic writing.
The third, however, not certain, but only a possible variety of it can be called "proto-verbal" writing.
The process of formation of the alleged proto-verbal writing could take place in two ways. Firstly, this process could proceed under the complex influence of Greek, Jewish-Khazarian, and possibly also Georgian, Armenian and even runic Turkic writing. Under the influence of these writing systems, Slavic “features and cuts” could also gradually acquire an alpha-sound meaning, partially retaining their original form. Secondly, and some Greek letters could be graphically changed by the Slavs in relation to the usual forms of "features and cuts". Like the Cyrillic alphabet, the formation of proto-verbal writing could also begin among the Slavs no earlier than the 8th century. Since this letter was formed on the primitive basis of the ancient Slavic "features and cuts", insofar as by the middle of the 9th century. it had to remain even less precise and orderly than the proto-Cyrillic writing. In contrast to the proto-Cyrillic alphabet, the formation of which took place almost throughout the entire Slavic territory, which was under the influence of Byzantine culture, the proto-glagolic script, if it existed, was apparently first formed among the Eastern Slavs. In conditions of insufficient development in the second half of the 1st millennium AD. political and cultural ties between the Slavic tribes, the formation of each of the three alleged types of pre-Christian Slavic writing should have occurred in different tribes in different ways. Therefore, we can assume the coexistence among the Slavs not only of these three types of writing, but also of their local varieties. In the history of writing, cases of such coexistence were very frequent.
At present, the writing systems of all the peoples of Russia have been built on the basis of the Cyrillic alphabet. Writing systems built on the same basis are also used in Bulgaria, partly in Yugoslavia and Mongolia. The Cyrillic script is now used by peoples who speak more than 60 languages. Apparently, the Latin and Cyrillic groups of writing systems have the greatest vitality. This is confirmed by the fact that all new peoples are gradually moving to the Latin and Cyrillic basis of writing.
Thus, the foundations laid by Kontantinos and Methodius more than 1100 years ago continue to be continuously improved and successfully developed up to the present time. At the moment, most researchers believe that Cyril and Methodius created the Glagolitic alphabet, and the Cyrillic alphabet was created on the basis of the Greek alphabet by their students.
From the turn of X-XI centuries. major centers Kyiv, Novgorod, the centers of other ancient Russian principalities become Slavic writing. The oldest Slavic handwritten books that have come down to us, having the date of their writing, were created in Russia. These are the Ostromir Gospel of 1056-1057, the Izbornik of Svyatoslav of 1073, the Izbornik of 1076, the Arkhangelsk Gospel of 1092, and the Novgorod Menaions dated to the 90s. The largest and most valuable fund of ancient handwritten books dating back to the written heritage of Cyril and Methodius, as well as those named, is located in the ancient repositories of our country.
The unbending faith of two people in Christ and in their ascetic mission for the benefit of the Slavic peoples - that's what happened driving force penetration, in the end, writing to Ancient Russia. The exceptional intellect of one and the stoic courage of the other - the qualities of two people who lived a very long time before us, turned into what we now write in their letters, and add up our picture of the world according to their grammar and rules.
It is impossible to overestimate the introduction of writing into Slavic society. This is the greatest Byzantine contribution to the culture of the Slavic peoples. And he was created by Saints Cyril and Methodius. Only with the establishment of writing begins true story people, the history of their culture, the history of the development of their worldview, scientific knowledge, literature and art.
Cyril and Methodius never in their life collisions and wanderings fell into the lands Ancient Russia. They lived more than a hundred years before they officially baptized here and accepted their letters. It would seem that Cyril and Methodius belong to the history of other nations. But it was they who radically turned the life of the Russian people. They gave him the Cyrillic alphabet, which became the blood and flesh of his culture. And this is the greatest gift to the people of a human ascetic.
In addition to the invention of the Slavic alphabet, during the 40 months of their stay in Moravia, Konstantin and Methodius managed to solve two problems: some liturgical books were translated into Church Slavonic (Old Slavonic literary) language and people were trained who were able to serve on these books. However, this was not enough to spread the Slavic worship. Neither Constantine nor Methodius were bishops and could not ordain their disciples as priests. Cyril was a monk, Methodius was a simple priest, and the local bishop was an opponent of Slavic worship. To give their activities official status, the brothers and several of their students went to Rome. In Venice, Constantine entered into a discussion with opponents of worship in national languages. In Latin spiritual literature, the idea was popular that worship could only be performed in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The stay of the brothers in Rome was triumphant. Constantine and Methodius brought with them the relics of St. Clement, Pope, who, according to tradition, was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. The relics of Clement were a precious gift, and the Slavic translations of Constantine were blessed.
The disciples of Cyril and Methodius were ordained priests, while the Pope sent a message to the Moravian rulers, in which he officially allowed worship in the Slavic language: reason and true faith, so that he enlightens you, as you yourself asked, explaining to you in your language the Holy Scriptures, the entire liturgical rite and the holy mass, that is, services, including baptism, as the philosopher Constantine began to do with God's grace and according to the prayers of Saint Clement.
After the death of the brothers, their activities were continued by their students, who were expelled from Moravia in 886, in the South Slavic countries. (In the West, the Slavic alphabet and Slavic writing did not survive; Western Slavs - Poles, Czechs ... - still use the Latin alphabet). Slavic writing was firmly established in Bulgaria, from where it spread to the countries of the southern and eastern Slavs (IX century). Writing came to Russia in the X century (988 - the baptism of Russia). The creation of the Slavic alphabet was and still is of great importance for the development of Slavic writing, Slavic peoples, Slavic culture.
The merits of Cyril and Methodius in the history of culture are enormous. Cyril developed the first orderly Slavic alphabet and this marked the beginning of the widespread development of Slavic writing. Cyril and Methodius translated many books from Greek, which was the beginning of the formation of the Old Slavonic literary language and Slavic book business. Cyril and Methodius for many years carried out great educational work among the Western and Southern Slavs and greatly contributed to the spread of literacy among these peoples. There is evidence that Cyril created, in addition, original works. Cyril and Methodius for many years carried out great educational work among the Western and Southern Slavs and greatly contributed to the spread of literacy among these peoples. In the course of all their activities in Moravia and Panionia, Cyril and Methodius, in addition, waged an unceasing selfless struggle against the attempts of the German Catholic clergy to ban the Slavic alphabet and books.
Cyril and Methodius were the founders of the first literary and written language of the Slavs - the Old Slavonic language, which in turn was a kind of catalyst for the creation of the Old Russian literary language, Old Bulgarian and the literary languages of other Slavic peoples. The Old Church Slavonic language was able to fulfill this role primarily due to the fact that it initially did not represent something hard and stagnant: it itself was formed from several Slavic languages or dialects.
Finally, when evaluating the educational activities of the Thessalonica brothers, it should be borne in mind that they were not missionaries in the generally accepted sense of the word: they were not engaged in the Christianization of the population as such (although they contributed to it), because Moravia was already a Christian state by the time of their arrival.
Can you imagine life without electricity? Of course it's difficult! But it is known that earlier people read and write by candlelight and splinter. Imagine life without writing. Some of you will now think to yourself, well, well, that would be great: you don’t have to write dictations and essays. But then there will be no libraries, books, posters, letters, and even e-mail and text messages. Language, like a mirror, reflects the whole world, our whole life. And when reading written or printed texts, we seem to sit in a time machine and can be transported both to recent times and to the distant past.
But people have not always mastered the art of writing. This art has been developing for a long time, over many millennia. And do you know to whom we should be grateful for our written word, on which our favorite books are written? For our diploma, which we study at school? For our great Russian literature, which you get acquainted with and will continue to study in high school.
Cyril and Methodius lived in the world,
Two Byzantine monks and suddenly
(No, not a legend, not a myth, not a parody)
Some of them thought: “Friend!
How many Slavs without Christ are speechless!
It is necessary to create an alphabet for the Slavs ...
It was thanks to the work of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius that the Slavic alphabet was created.
The brothers were born in the Byzantine city of Thessalonica in the family of a military leader. Methodius was the eldest son, and, having chosen the path of a military man, he went to serve in one of the Slavic regions. His brother, Cyril, was born 7-10 years later than Methodius, and already in childhood, having passionately fallen in love with science, amazed teachers with his brilliant abilities. At the age of 14, his parents sent him to Constantinople, where he quickly studied grammar and geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and medicine, ancient art, mastered Slavic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin and Arabic. Rejecting the high administrative position offered to him, Cyril took the modest position of a librarian in the Patriarchal Library and at the same time taught philosophy at the university, for which he received the nickname "philosopher". His older brother Methodius entered the military early. For 10 years he was the ruler of one of the regions inhabited by Slavs. Being an honest and straightforward man, intolerant of injustice, he left with military service and retired to a monastery.
In 863, ambassadors from Moravia arrived in Constantinople to ask them to send preachers to their country and tell the population about Christianity. The emperor decided to send Cyril and Methodius to Moravia. Cyril, before setting off on his journey, asked if the Moravians had an alphabet for their language - “for the enlightenment of the people without the writing of their language is like trying to write on water,” Kirill explained. To which he received a negative answer. The Moravians did not have the alphabet, so the brothers began work. At their disposal were not years, but months. They worked from early morning, barely blossoming, and until late evening, when their eyes were already rippling from fatigue. In a short time, an alphabet for the Moravians was created. It was named after one of its creators - Cyril - Cyrillic.
With the help of the Slavic alphabet, Cyril and Methodius very quickly translated the main liturgical books from Greek into Slavonic. The first book written in Cyrillic was the “Ostromir Gospel”, the first words written using the Slavic alphabet were the phrase “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And now, for more than a thousand years, the Church Slavonic language has been used in Russian Orthodox Church during worship.
The Slavic alphabet existed in Russia unchanged for more than seven centuries. Its creators tried to make each letter of the first Russian alphabet simple and clear, easy to write. They remembered that the letters should also be beautiful, so that a person who barely saw them would immediately want to master the letter.
Each letter had its own name - "az" - A; "beeches" - B; "lead" - B; "verb" - G; "good" D.
This is where the catchphrases "Az and beeches - that's all the sciences", "" Who knows "Az" and "Beeches" book in hand." In addition, letters could also denote numbers. In total, there were 43 letters in the Cyrillic alphabet.
The Cyrillic alphabet existed in the Russian language without changes until Peter I, who removed the obsolete letters, without which it was quite possible to do - “yus big”, “yus small”, “omega”, “uk”. In 1918, 5 more letters left the Russian alphabet - “yat”, “fita”, “izhitsa”, “er”, “er”. For a thousand years, many letters have disappeared from our alphabet, and only two have appeared - “y” and “ё”. They were invented in the 17th century by the Russian writer and historian Karamzin. And finally, 33 letters remained in the modern alphabet.
And what do you think, where did the word "AZBUKA" come from - by the name of the first letters of the alphabet, "az" and "beeches"; in Russia, there were several more names for the alphabet - "abevega" and "letter letter".
Why is the alphabet called alphabet? The history of this word is interesting. Alphabet. It was born in ancient greece and consists of the names of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: "alpha" and "beta". Native speakers of Western languages call it “alphabete”. We pronounce it like the alphabet.
The Slavs were very happy: other peoples of Europe (Germans, Franks, Britons) did not have their own written language. The Slavs now had their own alphabet, and everyone could learn to read a book! “It was a wonderful moment!.. The deaf began to hear, and the dumb began to speak, for until that time the Slavs were like deaf and dumb,” is written in the annals of those times.
Not only children, but also adults began to learn. They wrote with sharp sticks on wooden boards coated with wax. The children fell in love with their teachers Cyril and Methodius. Little Slavs went to classes with joy, because the journey along the roads of Truth was so interesting!
With the advent of the Slavic alphabet, written culture began to develop rapidly. Books appeared in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Russia. And how they were designed! The first letter - the initial letter - began each new chapter. The initial letter is unusually beautiful: in the form of a beautiful bird or flower, it was painted with bright, often red flowers. That is why the term “red line” exists today. A Slavic handwritten book could be created within six or seven years and was very expensive. In a precious salary, with illustrations, today it is a real monument of art.
A long time ago, when the history of the great Russian state was just beginning, "she" was expensive. Her one could be exchanged for a herd of horses or a herd of cows, for sable fur coats. And the point here is not in the decorations in which the beautiful and clever girl was dressed up. And she walked only in expensive embossed leather, in pearls and precious stones! Gold and silver clasps adorned her outfit! Admiring her, people said: “Light, you are ours!” They worked on its creation for a long time, but its fate could have been very sad. During the invasion of enemies, she was taken prisoner along with people. She could have died in a fire or a flood. She was greatly valued: she inspired hope, returned strength of mind. What kind of curiosity is this. Yes, folks, this is Her Majesty the Book. She has preserved to us the Word of God and the traditions of distant years. The first books were handwritten. It took months and sometimes years to rewrite one book. The centers of book learning in Russia have always been monasteries. There, in fasting and prayer, industrious monks copied and decorated books. A collection of books in 500-1000 manuscripts was considered a rarity.
Life goes on and mid-sixteenth century, book printing appeared in Russia. The printing house in Moscow appeared under Ivan the Terrible. It was led by Ivan Fedorov, who is called the first book printer. Being a deacon and serving in the temple, he tried to realize his dream - to rewrite sacred books without scribes. And so, in 1563, he set about typesetting the first page of the first printed book, The Apostle. In total, he published 12 books in his life, among them was the complete Slavic Bible.
Slavic alphabet amazing and still considered one of the most convenient writing systems. And the names of Cyril and Methodius, "the first teachers of Slovenia", became a symbol of spiritual achievement. And every person who studies the Russian language should know and keep in his memory the holy names of the first Slavic enlighteners - the brothers Cyril and Methodius.
Across wide Russia - our mother
The bell ringing is spreading.
Now brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius
They are glorified for their work.
“Learning is light, and ignorance is darkness,” says a Russian proverb. Cyril and Methodius, brothers from Thessalonica, are Slovenian enlighteners, creators of the Slavic alphabet, preachers of Christianity. They are called holy teachers. Enlighteners are those who bring light and illuminate everyone with it. Without the alphabet, there is no writing, and without it there is no book that enlightens people, and therefore moves life forward. Monuments to the great enlighteners around the world remind us of the spiritual feat of Cyril and Methodius, who gave the world the Slavic alphabet.
In memory of the great feat of Cyril and Methodius, on May 24, the Day of Slavic Literature is celebrated all over the world. In the year of the millennium from the date of the creation of the Slavonic script in Russia, the Holy Synod adopted a resolution that established "every year, starting from this year 1863, on May 11 (24), the church celebration of St. Cyril and Methodius." Until 1917, a church holiday was celebrated in Russia, the Day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Brothers Cyril and Methodius. With coming Soviet power this great holiday was forgotten. In 1986 it was revived. This holiday began to be called the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture.
Quiz
1. Who created the Slavic alphabet? (Cyril and Methodius)
2. What year is considered the year of the emergence of Slavic writing and book business? (863)
3. Why are Cyril and Methodius called "Thessalonica brothers"? (Birthplace of the brothers-enlighteners the city of Thessalonica in Macedonia)
4. Who was the elder brother: Cyril or Methodius? (Methodius)
5. What was the name of the first book written in Cyrillic? (Ostromir Gospel)
6. Which of the brothers was a librarian, and who was a warrior? (Cyril is a librarian, Methodius is a military leader,)
7. What was Cyril called for his mind and diligence? (Philosopher)
8. In whose reign the Slavic alphabet was changed - simplified. (Peter 1)
9. How many letters were there in Cyrillic before Peter the Great? (43 letters)
10. How many letters have become in the modern alphabet? (33 letters)
11. Who was the first printer in Russia? (Ivan Fedorov)
12. What was the name of the first printed book? ("Apostle")
13. What words were first written in the Slavic language? (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God)
The alphabet is also a set of symbols used to convey written speech in a particular language, otherwise the alphabet; and a book for mastering the alphabet and the basics of written literacy.
Wikimedia Commons()
Therefore, answering the question, what was the name of the first Slavic alphabet, one should speak about both the symbolic corpus and the book.
Cyrillic or Glagolitic?
Traditionally, the Cyrillic alphabet is called the first Slavic alphabet. We use it to this day. Also, the official version says that the creators of the first Slavic alphabet were Methodius and Constantine (Cyril) Philosopher - Christian preachers from the Greek city of Thessaloniki.
In 863, presumably, they streamlined the Old Slavonic writing and, with the help of a new alphabet - Cyrillic (named after Cyril) - began to translate Greek religious texts into Slavic (Old Bulgarian). This activity of theirs led to a significant spread of Orthodoxy.
For a long time it was believed that the brothers created the alphabet, which became the basis for 108 modern languages- Russian, Montenegrin, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, a number of Caucasian, Turkic, Ural and others. However, now most scientists consider the Cyrillic alphabet a later formation, and its predecessor - the Glagolitic.
It was the Glagolitic alphabet that Cyril the Philosopher developed to translate religious texts (“books without which Divine services are not performed”) into Old Church Slavonic. There are several proofs for this:
- Glagolitic inscription of 893 (exact date) in the church of Preslavl; 
Wikimedia Commons / Lapot ()
- palimpsests - parchment manuscripts, on which the old - Glagolitic - text was scraped off, and the new one was already written in Cyrillic: parchments were very expensive, therefore, for the sake of economy, more important things were written down, scraping off records that had lost their relevance;
- the absence of palimpsests, on which the Cyrillic alphabet is the first layer;
- the presence of negative references to the Glagolitic alphabet in the context of the need to replace it with "Slavic pimens", in which there are "more holiness and honor", for example, in the work of Chernorizets Brave "On Writings".
In ancient Russian writing, Glagolitic was used extremely rarely as a later one, usually as a secret script or separate inclusions in Cyrillic texts.
Who is the author of the Cyrillic alphabet?
According to scientists, the creator of the Cyrillic alphabet is Clement Ohridsky, a student of Cyril the Philosopher, a resident of the Bulgarian city of Ohrid (now Macedonia). In 893, a popular council in Veliky Preslavl unanimously voted for the election of Clement "bishop of the Slavic language" - this is another evidence in favor of his authorship of the Cyrillic alphabet.
The first printed alphabet
The first printed alphabets, or primers, appeared in the 16th century. In 1574, the pioneer printer Ivan Fedorov published his "ABC" in Lvov, the addressee of the book is "beloved honest Christian Russian people." 
The circulation, together with the second building - Ostroh, amounted to about 2,000 copies. The second edition contained not only letters (symbols), but also exercises for practicing reading.
Only three books from the first ABCs of Fedorov have survived. One "ABC" of 1574 belonged to S. P. Diaghilev (1872 - 1929) - a Russian theatrical figure, organizer of the Parisian "Russian Seasons" and "Russian Ballet of Diaghilev". When the owner died, the relic became the property of the Harvard University Library.
Two other "ABCs" of 1578 are kept in the Copenhagen Royal Library and State Library in the Goths in Germany.
The "ABC" of Ivan Fedorov is built on the Roman and Greek subjunctive learning system. First, it contains an alphabet of 46 letters. Further - the reverse (from "izhitsa" to "az") alphabet, the alphabet in eight vertical columns. Behind him are syllables of two letters, syllables of three letters (possible combinations of all vowels with all consonants).
Such an arrangement of material in the book reflects the system of teaching literacy, in which images and names of symbols were first firmly memorized, then syllables, and only after that the student began to read texts taken from the Bible.
The texts were not just religious, but always instructive, educative. We must pay tribute to the first printer, the teachings were addressed not only to children, but also to parents, for example: do not irritate your children. Perhaps this to some extent determined the general direction of Russian literature to this day. 
Wikimedia Commons/Anntinomy()
In 1596, the first primer "Science to Reading ..." by Lavrenty Zizania was published in Vilna. In 1634, Vasily Burtsov published in Moscow "A Primer of the Slovenska Language". Since then, the printing of ABCs has become massive.
