Implementation period: 2012 ÷ 2013 years. Value of the implemented project activities: EUR 10 978,93. Funded under the UNESCO 2012-2013 Program.
Saints Cyril and Methodius
The project aimed at increasing the involvement of the population – especially of children and youths, as regards the Bulgarian linguistic and cultural heritage, through celebration of the 1150th anniversary of the mission of Cyril and Methodius brothers in Great Moravia.
In the middle of 9th century, Byzantium was in a situation of political stabilization and exceptional cultural uplift. It carried out a form of cultural expansion directed not only towards the Slavs, but also towards Armenia, Georgia, Italy, and the Arab world. Missionary activity among other peoples was turned into an imperial policy, a major role in the realization of which was played by the brothers from Thessaloniki, Cyril and Methodius.
By taking up the significant cultural and historical role to enforce Christianity, Cyril and Methodius, Apostles of the Slavs and Patrons of Europe, became, with their notable literary work, one of the significant factors for a huge cultural turning point in the destiny of the Slavic people. They devised an alphabet adapted to the Slavic phonetics, which later turned into a complete Slavic alphabet. In their Great Moravian Mission, the two brothers founded the first school for Slavic writing and reading and were actively engaged in literary and translation activities. Cyril laid the foundations of the Slavonic liturgy by observing the canons of both the Byzantine and the Roman Church. The brothers strengthened democratic right of people to have their own language and their own writing, which coincides with the notion of UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions from 2005.
Bulgaria played an important role in preserving their work. It accepted Cyril and Methodius’s persecuted disciples – Clement, Naum, and Angelarius, and promoted the creation of religious literature, which was the first national literature in Cyrillic. With the active co-operation of Knyaz Boris I the Baptist (852 – 889) and Tsar Simeon the Great (893-927), two learning centres of historical importance were established, namely Preslav and Ohrid Literary Schools.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church assigned the name of St. Sedmochislenitsi to the group of Slavonic enlighteners, namely, St. Cyril and St. Methodius and their disciples: St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Naum of Ohrid, St. Sava, St. Gorazd, and St. Angelarius, and venerates them for their exceptional deeds to enlighten the nation.
Saints Sedmochislenitsi
Pope John Paul II has declared the two brothers Patrons of Europe, and emphasized their contribution to European unity and to strengthening the relations between the two cultures.
The project was funded under the UNESCO Participation Programme 2012-2013. The imeplemented project activities include:
- An educational seminar for seven students on the mission of the Saints Cyril and Methodius, Apostles of the Slavs and Patrons of Europe. The holy brothers’ contribution to the Christianization of the Slavonic peoples and the cultural emancipation of Slavs and Bulgarians. The students obtained certificates for successfuly completing the education course;
- Promotion of the activities by publications in mass media and relevant materials;
- A closing conference at the National Palace of Culture, Sofia. Informing the general public and mass media about project outcomes achieved.