Saints Cyril and Methodius, together with the Cyrillic alphabet.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Day is a holiday, usually celebrated on 24 May in countries which observe Eastern Orthodox tradition, and on 5 July in countries that observe Roman Catholic tradition. It commemorates the creation of the Slavic Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets by the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius. (There is evidence that the Cyrillic alphabet was not created by Cyril and Methodius but by their pupil, Clement of Ohrid, but the alphabet bears Cyril's name nonetheless.) The celebration also commemorates the introduction of literacy and the preaching of the gospels in the Slavonic language by the brothers. The Cyrillic alphabet (or azbuka, from the old name of the first two letters) is an alphabet used for several Slavic languages; (Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Rusyn, Serbian, and Ukrainian) and many other languages of the former Soviet Union, Asia and Eastern Europe. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... Pentecost is considered in Eastern Orthodoxy to be the birth of the Church. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Tablet inscribed with the Glagolitic alphabet The Glagolitic alphabet or Glagolitsa is the oldest known Slavonic alphabet. ... The Cyrillic alphabet (or azbuka, from the old name of the first letters) is an alphabet used to write six natural Slavic languages (Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian) and many other languages of the former Soviet Union, Asia and Eastern Europe. ... Saints Cyril and Methodius painted by Jan Matejko. ... Saint Clement of Ohrid Saint Clement of Ohrid (ca. ...

It is celebrated as a public holiday in these countries: The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries, with the exception of the United States where usage differs greatly. ...

• In Bulgaria it is celebrated on 24 May and is known as the Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Literature Day (Bulgarian: Ден на българската просвета и култура и на славянската писменост), a national holiday celebrating Bulgarian culture and literature as well as the alphabet. It is also known as Alphabet, Culture, and Education Day (Bulgarian: Ден на азбуката, културата и просвещението).

• In the Czech Republic it is celebrated on 5 July as Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius Day (Czech: Den slovanských věrozvěstů Cyrila a Metoděje).

• In Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, it is celebrated on 24 May and is known as the Macedonian Literature and Culture Day (Macedonian: Ден на македонската писменост и култура), celebrating Macedonian culture and literature as well as the alphabet. It is also known as the day of the "Salonica Brothers" (Macedonian: Солунски браќа).

• In Russia, it is celebrated on 24 May and is known as the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day (Russian: День славянской письменности и культуры), celebrating Slavonic culture and literature as well as the alphabet. Its celebration is ecclesiatical, and it is not a public holiday in Russia.

• In Slovakia it is celebrated on 5 July as St. Cyril and Metod Day. (Slovak: Sviatok svätého Cyrila a Metoda)

May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... Bulgarian culture is a mix mostly of Thracian, Slavic and Bulgar cultures, but there are Byzantine, Turkish, Greek and other influences. ... Bulgarian literature is literature written by Bulgarians or residents of Bulgaria, or written in the Bulgarian language; usually the latter is the defining feature. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... Macedonian Culture is the culture of the Slavic Macedonian population of the Balkan region was known in the 20th century as Vardar Macedonia, the current Republic of Macedonia). ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ...

External links

• Bulgarian Official Holidays, National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria: in English, in Bulgarian
• Bank holidays in the Czech Republic, Czech National Bank: in English, in Czech
• "Landmarks of Culture", Russian Federation Agency of Culture and Cinematography, in Russian
• US embassy in Bratislava's Embassy Holidays for 2006;
• British embassy in Bratislava's Embassy Holidays for 2006
• 24 May - The Day Of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture [1];