The Foreigner's Guide to Slovakia

July 5 is a public holiday in Slovakia (and Czechia). It is Sviatok svätého Cyrila a Metoda, the day to commemorate Saints Cyril and Methodius. These two saints are significant in Slavic lands and indeed are called the “Apostles to the Slavs”. As far as I know, in Slovakia it’s not celebrated any specific way aside from the church that honors them. Still, they are vastly important.

Why are they so special to the Slavic people and what specific connection does Slovakia play?

In 863 A.D., Constantine (later called Cyril) and Methodius were dispatched from the Byzantine Empire to Great Moravia (an area that included western Slovakia in the ninth century and of which Nitra was an important principality). They were sent for by Rastislav, king of Great Moravia, who wanted to limit Frankish influence (the Franks were a Germanic people), and desired that his people be evangelized in their own Slavic language. Constantine and Methodius created the Glagolitic alphabet, which later became the basis for the Cyrillic alphabet, and translated several religious works, including the Bible into the ancient Slavonic language. Also importantly, the creation and use of the Glagolitic alphabet marked the beginning of when the Slavic people began to lay the foundations for their own culture.

Though it is uncertain whether Cyril and Methodius actually came and began their work from Nitra, many assume this was the case. To this day, a relic of St Cyril, the bone of his index finger, is kept in a small silver box in the old part of St. Emeram church where the Nitra Castle is located. I’ve seen it—the box, not the finger—and I have to say the fact that it’s there is pretty awesome. Saints Cyril and Methodius have got to be some of the most significant figures, if not the most significant figures in the history of the Slavic people. To me they are beyond just legendary; these two have super-star status. A relic from one of them, along with the location’s history, makes Nitra and Slovakia special.

Just recently before Slovakia switched from the crown currency to the euro, Saints Cyril and Methodius were featured on the 50 crown note. Now with the euro, one of the designs chosen for the Slovak contribution is the double-bar cross.

According to some stories, Saints Cyril and Methodius brought the symbol of the double-bar cross to Slovakia. The double-bar cross, which is featured prominently on the Slovak coat of arms and in the national flag, was once a symbol used by the Byzantine Empire. Today some people interpret the double-bar cross on Slovak emblems as a representation of Slovaks as guardians of the Christian tradition.

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