In modern Russia, the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture timed to commemorate the church of the saints - Cyril and Methodius.Traditional historiography closely links the first native Russian medieval letter with the names of these brothers.According caught on historical version, the Slavic alphabet was brought here by Christian missionaries in the second half of the IX century.Written documents of the Middle Ages show that in 863 the Byzantine Emperor Michael III arrived Moravian prince Rostislav with the request to send missionaries to his land, which would be able to convey to the western Slavs the word of God in the language they understand.While the German Catholics have tried to impose their version of Christianity exclusively in Latin.
Over time, this issue will be one of the main stumbling block between the faiths.However, even then between Western and Eastern Christianity hot fire burning theological disputes and political discord.Wanting to bring the Slavs in the bosom of his own church, Michael III to Moravia sent missionaries Cyril and Methodius.From that moment originates Slavic writing.
for successful strengthening of the religious in these lands, the Greeks had to convey to the masses their world, not only verbally but also in writing, in the form of books.It was also necessary to create a layer of local clergy.For these purposes, based on the Greek letters for Slavonic alphabet was adapted two: Cyrillic and Glagolitic.At the dawn of its existence, they differ only in the mark of some letters.Modern historians still argue which one is primary.However, most of the evidence points to the fact that the first was the Glagolitic.Cyrillic is created later, based on the Greek alphabet and Glagolitic.
Freshly Slavic alphabet significantly contributed to the establishment of Christianity Greek rite in Moravia, and later in Bulgaria.And from there it is a Balkan preachers got to Kievan Rus, which a century later became the state religion.In the same way our land and hit the Cyrillic alphabet, which became the basis for further development of Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian languages.But many Western Slavs could not keep the cultural gifts to the Greeks.In the same Moravia it was later approved by the Catholic Christianity, and the local population was forced to abandon in favor of the Glagolitic alphabet.
should also be mentioned that for quite a long time among historians and archaeologists have been discussions on the so-called Slavic runes.Some researchers believe that the emergence of Slavic Literature happened much earlier appearance of preachers Cyril and Methodius.And this point of view has some evidence.Indirectly Slavic alphabet mentioned by Arab travelers, some researchers see runic script on archaeological finds.However, no system of signs has not been revealed yet, but Arab sources related to the X century, might have in mind the Cyrillic alphabet.
