Apostolic Letter Egregiae Virtutis

1.

Men of outstanding virtue, Cyril and Methodius, rise again before the minds and hearts of all in this year, when two most remarkable anniversaries occur. It is one hundred years since the Encyclical Letter Grande Munus was promulgated, on September 30, 1880, by that great Pontiff Leo XIII, who, after recalling the memory of these men and their apostolic labor to the entire Church, instituted their liturgical celebration and ordered it to be entered in the calendar of the Catholic Church. At the same time, it is also the eleventh centenary of the Letter Industriae Tuae, given by Our Predecessor John VIII to Prince Svatopluk in June 880, which both commended and encouraged the use of the Slavonic language in the sacred liturgy, “so that in that same language the praises and works of our Lord Jesus Christ might be proclaimed.”

Cyril and Methodius, brothers of Greek origin, born in Thessalonica, the city where Saint Paul himself lived and labored, from the beginning of their vocation maintained close spiritual and intellectual ties with the Patriarchal Church of Constantinople, which at that time flourished in liberal studies and in missionary activity. They were formed in its higher schools of learning. Both embraced the monastic life, yet with the purpose and resolution that, together with the duties of religious profession, they would also unite zeal for the propagation of the faith. The proof of this zeal they gave in their mission among the Khazars, in the Chersonese of Thrace, after which followed their principal work — the sacred mission to Great Moravia, among the peoples who then inhabited the Balkan Peninsula and the Danubian regions. This they undertook at the request of Rostislav, Prince of Moravia, who had asked the Emperor and the Church of Constantinople to send missionaries.

In order to fulfill the needs of their apostolic task among these peoples, they translated the Holy Scriptures into their language, which they also used in the sacred liturgy and in instructing the people. Thus it came about that the foundations of human culture among these nations were laid in their own tongue. Rightly, therefore, are they regarded not only as Apostles of the Slavs, but also as fathers of the culture of all those peoples and nations, for whom indeed these first monuments of the Slavic language are the source and origin to which all later literature must look back.

Cyril and Methodius carried out their missionary ministry in such a way that they were in harmony both with the Church of Constantinople, which had sent them, and with the See of Peter in Rome, which confirmed them — as a sign of the unity of the Church, which at that time, despite serious tensions between Rome and Constantinople, had not yet experienced any division between East and West.

In Rome, Cyril and Methodius were honorably received by the Supreme Pontiff and by the Roman Church, which both approved and supported their apostolic work — even regarding the use of the Slavonic language in the sacred liturgy, which they had introduced despite some resistance in the West. In that city Cyril ended his life (on February 14, 869) and was buried there, in the church of Saint Clement. Methodius, however, was appointed Archbishop of the ancient See of Sirmium, and the Supreme Pontiff sent him back to Moravia to continue, with divine approval, the apostolic work begun there. This mission he pursued with great zeal and courage, together with his disciples, until his death (April 6, 885).

2.

A hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII, by his Encyclical Grande Munus, recalled to the memory of the entire Church the immortal merits of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the evangelization of the Slavs. Since this same year marks fifteen hundred years since the birth of Saint Benedict, whom Paul VI, Our venerable predecessor, in 1964 proclaimed Patron of Europe, it seems fitting to place this patronage of Europe in a clearer light by joining to the great work of that Patriarch of the West the distinguished merits of the brothers Cyril and Methodius.

Many reasons, both historical and theological, both ancient and recent, justify this — founded alike on the ecclesial and the cultural history of our European continent. Therefore, before this year dedicated to the renewal of Saint Benedict’s memory ends, and as the centenary of Leo XIII’s Encyclical approaches, We desire to magnify through this letter the above-mentioned reasons, by which Saints Cyril and Methodius are declared Co-Patrons of Europe.

3.

If one considers Europe as a whole, geographically and historically, two main Christian traditions have chiefly contributed to its formation, together with two forms of human culture — diverse indeed, yet mutually complementary. For if Saint Benedict, whose influence extended not only over Western and Central Europe but also, through Benedictine monasteries, into other regions of the world, was as it were the head of that culture which flowed from Rome, that is, from the See of Peter’s successors, then the holy brothers from Thessalonica first brought forth the ancient wisdom of the Greeks and also demonstrated the spiritual power of the Church of Constantinople and the Eastern tradition, deeply engraved in the piety and culture of the peoples of Eastern Europe.

Since today, after so many centuries of division between the Churches of East and West, between Rome and Constantinople, much progress has been made toward full communion, especially since the Second Vatican Council, the declaration of Saints Cyril and Methodius as Co-Patrons of Europe together with Saint Benedict seems particularly suited to the signs of our times — especially in this year, when both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have entered a new stage of dialogue, beginning on the island of Patmos, in memory of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist John. This declaration, therefore, also aims to make this period memorable for future generations.

Furthermore, this proclamation intends to remind our contemporaries of the supreme value of the Gospel message, entrusted by Christ Jesus to the Churches, for the spread of which these brothers, Apostles of the Slavs, labored so zealously. Indeed, the Gospel proclamation was both the path and the cause by which the various peoples of emerging Europe came to know one another and to unite, thereby forming a common heritage of faith and humanity — a heritage transmitted to modern Europe.

4.

Therefore, We fervently hope that, through the merciful goodness of the Most Holy Trinity and the intercession of the Mother of God and of all the Saints, all that divides Churches, peoples, and nations may disappear; and that the diversity of traditions and cultures may serve rather as a sign of mutual enrichment, bringing forth the shared spiritual treasures of all.

May awareness of these spiritual riches, which through different paths have become part of the heritage of the nations of Europe, lead our own age to persevere in respect for the just rights of all peoples and in the pursuit of peace — never ceasing to seek the common good of all and the welfare of future generations throughout the world.

Therefore, with full knowledge and mature deliberation, and by the plenitude of Our Apostolic authority, by the force and in perpetuity of these Letters, We constitute and declare Saints Cyril and Methodius to be Heavenly Co-Patrons before God of all Europe, together with all liturgical honors and privileges rightly belonging to the principal Patrons of regions.

Peace to men of good will!

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter’s, under the Fisherman’s Ring, on December 31, 1980, in the third year of Our Pontificate.

JOHN PAUL II, POPE

Translated from original Latin by ECerkva