The Orthodox Church commemorates Hieromartyr Mocius, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Enlighteners of the Slavs. The Church also commemorates the founding of Constantinople.
Saints Cyril and Methodius, who lived in the 9th century AD, were originally from Thessaloniki. Cyril, a student of Patriarch Photius, was a clergyman and professor of philosophy and theology in Constantinople. Methodius, known for his practical mind, served as a commander of a Slavic province and later as an abbot in Bithynia.
In 860 AD, the two brothers successfully completed a missionary expedition to the Khazars. When Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia requested missionaries who knew the Slavic language, Emperor Michael III and Patriarch decided to send Cyril and Methodius. Cyril even created the Cyrillic script to aid in teaching the Slavic language, which was previously only spoken.
This alphabet greatly assisted the Slavic peoples in learning about the Bible, Church life, and recording their history. Cyril and Methodius are known as the enlighteners of the Slavs and are revered as patrons and protectors of the Slavic Christian peoples.
The importance of worshipping in the mother tongue is emphasized by the example of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus also demonstrated this by supporting missionary work in East Africa, particularly in Kenya, 50 years ago under the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Source: Church of Cyprus