Activitatea de trăducători şi creaţia originală a fraţilor Chiril şi Metodie
The activity of translators and the original creation of the brothers Cyril and Methodius

Summary/Abstract: Brothers Constantine, with monk name Cyril, and his older brother Michael, commonly known by his monk name Methodius, make a mark in the history of the Slavic peoples as the creators of the Slavic alphabet (the so-called Glagolitic alphabet with 38 letters) and the first Slavic literary language, called Old Church Slavonic. The brothers Cyril and Methodius became known also by their literary work (chiefly translations), which began at the initiative of the Prince Rostislav of Great Moravia and upon the instruction of the Byzantine Emperor Michael III. The two brothers are credited with taking part in the founding of a literary school in the territory of Great Moravia. The works written there are for the most part of religious character and they are of high theological and stylistic quality. Before coming to Great Moravia, Cyril translated the so-called Evangelion, the Gospel Book containing the texts of the Gospels read on Sundays and holidays. They include the first chapter of the Gospel according to John. He also translated the complete order of events observed during the service, based on the Byzantine liturgy. Methodius edited the translation of the Old and New Testament, without the Books of the Maccabees. The Books of the Gospel translated by Cyril and Methodius into the Slavic language were approved by the Pope Adrian II who placed them on the altar in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and sanctified them. Concurrently with the approval of the Slavic books, the first Liturgy in the Slavic language was served in Rome. According to the Czech Slavicist František Václav Mareš, the brothers Cyril and Methodius are the authors of 18 works, out of which 8 are original and 10 are translations, mainly of religious literature but also legal and administrative texts. The literary work (both translations and original works) of the brothers Cyril and Methodius is characterized by admirable content as well as high artistic and linguistic quality. It represents the cornerstone of the Slavic literature from which literature of other Slavic peoples has developed.

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