Our cruise down the Danube has taken us all the way to Bulgaria – someplace I never thought I’d visit. The forested Bulgarian landscape was nice, but the thing I’ll remember most about Bulgaria is the pervasive use of Cyrillic script.
When I ask Google Translate to give me “Travel Letter” in Cyrillic script, the result is what you see above. Whoa. So where did Cyrillic script come from, anyway? Let’s find out.
Way Back in the 9th Century
As you may recall from last time, way back in the 9th century, the king of Great Moravia wanted to bring religion to his people. He sent a request to the Pope in Rome.
The Pope sent back his reply – “Beat it, kid, yur botherin’ me.” Or words to that effect.
“OK,” the Moravian king said to himself, “No problem. I’ll ask Michael III, Emperor of Byzantium for help.”
So the king sent his emissary to Constantinople, asking for help. Constantinople was headquarters for the Orthodox Christian Church.
Michael III agreed to help. He called two of his sharpest priests to his chambers. Their names were Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers of the cloth – and – they were actually brothers.
Inside the Emperor’s Chambers
When the Emperor summons you, you drop everything and go, so they were there in a jiffy. Their conversation might have gone something like this…
Michael III: “Cyril! Methodius! It’s great to see you guys! But enough chit-chat already.” (Michael III was known for getting straight to the point). “How would you two like to go on a little trip?”
Cyril: “Sounds good. You know us… We’re always up for a road trip.”
Methodius: “Count me in!”
Michael III: “Great! I want you both to go to Moravia and teach people there the Bible and the ways of the Orthodox Christian Church.”
Methodius: “Uh… You want us to go where?”
Michael III: “To Moravia! It’s right between Silesia and Bohemia. I think. People there have never been exposed to Christianity, and now’s the right time to convert some souls.”
Cyril and Methodius looked at each other. Then they looked at Michael III and said in unison: “Ohhhhhh, okay. Why didn’t you say so?!”
(The two brothers were known for their wit, which could border on the sarcastic at times).
Michael III, unfazed by the brothers’ comical retort, said, “There’s just one problem… Folks up that way don’t have much in the way of a written language, so teaching them the Bible is going to be tricky.”
Cyril: “Not much in the way of written language? What are we supposed to do with that?”
Michael III: “You’ll think of something. I have FAITH in you!”
And so Cyril and Methodius packed their bags and started off for Moravia.
A 900-Mile Trek
It would be no easy trek – 900 miles through the wilds of 9th century eastern Europe. And my guess is that Cyril and Methodius weren’t the outdoorsy, adventurous types to begin with.
But the most challenging part of the task wouldn’t be getting there. The written language used in Moravia wasn’t complex enough to use for a translation of the Bible – and having a translation of the Bible was kinda important.
To be continued…
