July 7
Sts Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors
Tuesday of the 6th Week after Pentecost
Today, according to the traditional (1962) Roman calendar, the Church commemorates the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors, honored as the "Apostles to the Slavs." Born in Thessalonica in the 9th century, these two brothers were sent by the Byzantine Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople to evangelize the Slavic peoples of Great Moravia and the surrounding regions. Gifted with linguistic talents and zealous apostolic spirit, they translated the liturgical books into the language of the Slavs and devised the Glagolitic alphabet, thus making the Faith accessible to the people in their own tongue—an extraordinary achievement for the age. Their mission, at times met with hardship and political obstacles, marked a significant extension of both spiritual and cultural influence in Eastern Europe.
Cyril, originally named Constantine, would finish his days as a monk in Rome, where he died in 869. Methodius continued the missionary work, enduring imprisonment and hardship, before dying in 885. Their efforts laid the foundation for the later Christianization of the Slavic peoples and established the principle of using the vernacular in the liturgy, a practice officially recognized and defended especially by the Roman Pontiffs of their era. The traditional calendar celebrates their joint feast on July 7, acknowledging their pivotal role in the expansion of the Catholic faith and the establishment of a unique liturgical heritage for the Slavic world. Their title of "Confessors" refers to their public witness to the faith amidst adversity, and their rank as bishops underscores the ecclesial authority with which they carried out their work.
This celebration on the traditional calendar invites the faithful to honor these evangelists not only as national saints of the Slavs, but as universal missionaries and defenders of the unity of the Faith under the See of Peter. The Church thus remembers their enduring influence on her spiritual and cultural patrimony.
Permanent link
Ask a question about today’s feast
Questions about Sts Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitPs 131,9-10
Latin
Ps 131,9-10.
Sacerdótes tui, Dómine, índuant iustítiam, et sancti tui exsúltent: propter David servum tuum, non avértas fáciem Christi tui.
Ps 131:1
Meménto, Dómine, David: et omnis mansuetúdinis eius.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Sacerdótes tui, Dómine, índuant iustítiam, et sancti tui exsúltent: propter David servum tuum, non avértas fáciem Christi tui.
English
Ps 131:9-10
May Your priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice; let Your faithful ones shout merrily for joy. For the sake of David, Your servant, reject not the plea of Your anointed.
Ps 131:1
Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
May Your priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice; let Your faithful ones shout merrily for joy. For the sake of David, Your servant, reject not the plea of Your anointed.
Collect
Latin
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui Slavóniæ gentes per beátos Confessóris tuos atque Pontífices Cyríllum et Methódium ad agnitiónem tui nóminis veníre tribuísti: præsta; ut, quorum festivitáte (commemoratióne) gloriámur, eórum consórtio copulémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Almighty, eternal God, Who granted to the Slavonic people that they should come to the knowledge of your name through Your blessed Confessors and Bishops, Cyril and Methodius, grant that, as we glory in their festival, we may be joined with them in fellowship.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
LessonHebr 7:23-27
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Hebrǽos
Hebr 7:23-27
Fratres: Plures facti sunt sacerdótes, idcírco quod morte prohiberéntur permanére: Iesus autem, eo quod máneat in ætérnum, sempitérnum habet sacerdótium. Unde et salváre in perpétuum potest accedéntes per semetípsum ad Deum: semper vivens ad interpellándum pro nobis. Talis enim decébat, ut nobis esset póntifex, sanctus, ínnocens, impollútus, segregátus a peccatóribus, et excélsior cœlis factus: qui non habet necessitátem cotídie, quemádmodum sacerdótes, prius pro suis delíctis hóstias offérre, déinde pro pópuli: hoc enim fecit semel, seípsum offeréndo, Iesus Christus, Dóminus noster.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Jews
Heb 7:23-27
Brethren: The priests were numerous, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but Jesus, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood. Therefore He is able at all times to save those who come to God through Him, since He lives always to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and become higher than the heavens. He does not need to offer sacrifices daily - as the other priests did - first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people; for this latter He did once for all in offering up Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 131:16-17
Latin
Ps 131:16-17
Sacerdótes eius índuam salutári: et sancti eius exsultatióne exsultábunt.
℣. Illuc prodúcam cornu David: parávi lucérnam Christo meo. Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 109:4
Iurávit Dóminus, et non poenitébit eum: Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum, secúndum órdinem Melchísedech. Allelúia.
English
Ps 131:16-17
Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her faithful ones shall shout merrily for joy.
℣. In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for My anointed. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 109:4
The Lord has sworn, and He will not repent: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 10:1-9
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 10:1-9
In illo témpore: Designávit Dóminus et álios septuagínta duos: et misit illos binos ante fáciem suam in omnem civitátem et locum, quo erat ipse ventúrus. Et dicebat illis: Messis quidem multa, operárii autem pauci. Rogáte ergo Dóminum messis, ut mittat operários in messem suam. Ite: ecce, ego mitto vos sicut agnos inter lupos. Nolíte portáre sácculum neque peram neque calceaménta; et néminem per viam salutavéritis. In quamcúmque domum intravéritis, primum dícite: Pax huic dómui: et si ibi fúerit fílius pacis, requiéscet super illum pax vestra: sin autem, ad vos revertétur. In eádem autem domo manéte, edéntes et bibéntes quæ apud illos sunt: dignus est enim operárius mercéde sua. Nolíte transíre de domo in domum. Et in quamcúmque civitátem intravéritis, et suscéperint vos, manducáte quæ apponúntur vobis: et curáte infírmos, qui in illa sunt, et dícite illis: Appropinquávit in vos regnum Dei.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 10:1-9
At that time, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them forth two by two before Him into every town and place where He Himself was about to come. And He said to them, The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. Go. Behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither purse, nor wallet, nor sandals, and greet no one on the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a son of peace be there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they have; for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. And whatever town you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you, and cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
OffertoryPs 67:36
Latin
Ps 67:36
Mirábilis Deus in Sanctis suis: Deus Israël, ipse dabit virtútem et fortitúdinem plebi suæ: benedíctus Deus.
English
Ps 67:36
God is wonderful in His Saints; the God of Israel is He Who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God!.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionMatt 10:27
Latin
Matt 10:27
Quod dico vobis in ténebris, dícite in lúmine, dicit Dóminus: et quod in aure audítis, prædicáte super tecta.
English
Matt 10:27
What I tell you in darkness, speak it in the light, says the Lord; and what you hear whispered, preach it on the housetops.
Post Communion
Latin
Quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui nobis múnera dignáris præbére cœléstia, intercedéntibus sanctis tuis Cyríllo et Methódio, despícere terréna concédas.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
We beseech You, almighty God, Who mercifully dost bestow upon us these heavenly gifts, grant that we may despise all earthly things through the intercession of Your Saints, Cyril and Methodius.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium