The names of these saints are invariably associated with the creation of Slavic writing and other educational activities. However, they are revered not only for the translation of the texts of the Holy Scriptures and the creation of the alphabet, but also for the fact that they provide all kinds of help and patronage to the people who pray about it.
Who were these saints?
A prayer is offered to Cyril and Methodius, although the saints did not bear these names from birth. The brothers Michael and Konstantin were named. They were born in a noble family living in the Byzantine city of Thessaloniki. The head of the family, the father of future preachers and enlighteners, was in military service, and their grandfather was a nobleman at the imperial court in Constantinople. Accordingly, the brothers grew in abundance, did not feel the need and received a good education.
The city in which the childhood of the saints passed was bilingual. On its streets they spoke not only in Greek, but also in the Solunsky dialect, that is, in the language of the eastern and southern Slavic tribes. Thus, Slavic speech was familiar to future enlighteners from early childhood.
The brothers received the names of Cyril and Methodius, having received monastic tonsure. Michael became Methodius, and Constantine, respectively, Cyril. Saints are revered both in Western Christian tradition and in Eastern. The order of their names in the world is Cyril and Methodius, but during church service the order of mention changes. This is due to the fact that the dignity of Methodius was higher than that of his brother.
What are the saints praying for?
Prayer to Cyril and Methodius, as a rule, is related to the topic of education, knowledge or teaching. In other words, the saints pray:
- parents worried about the success of children in school;
- students who are poorly given a subject;
- teachers who have difficulties in their work.
This specificity is due to the lifetime activities of the brothers. Cyril and Methodius not only compiled the alphabet and translated many sacred texts into the Slavic language, thereby laying the foundation of church services not in the Greek dialect, they were also teachers.
How to pray for teaching help?
A prayer to Cyril and Methodius for help in mastering knowledge helps to cope with learning difficulties for several centuries. You can turn to saints in your own words, it is not at all necessary to memorize ready-made texts. However, one should not forget that prayer is not a set of magic words that can be uttered by uttering idleness. Praying helps organize yourself, calm down. In other words, knowledge does not appear in the head after prayer; turning to the saints only helps to master it.
A prayer to Cyril and Methodius that helps in the teaching may sound like this:
“The teachers are saints, Methodius and Cyril, equally apostles! I ask you for help in learning hard. I ask you to endow my mind with insight, strengthen my memory and cleanse my soul from excitement and vain desires. I ask you for help in achieving my goals, for they are good. Help me avoid the temptations of the worldly, do not let me get distracted by the insignificant, save from the vain. Amen"
How to pray for children?
Of course, the strongest prayer to Cyril and Methodius is recited by mothers worried about their children. Every difficulty a child faces, all his failures are very painfully perceived by parents, cause anxiety, confusion and excitement in their hearts. Prayer addressed to the holy mentors will help to cope with such a state and, of course, will contribute to the success of the child.
A prayer for the children of Cyril and Methodius can be this:
“The Enlighteners of God, Methodius and Cyril! Hear me, slave (proper name), console and help in the cares of the earth. I beseech you with humility in your heart and faith the mercy of our Lord, for whose glory you have brought teachings of light to people. I ask for your help and guidance for my child (name of the child). He cannot overpower (description of the problem). Direct, holy mentors, clear the mind of the superfluous and empty, endow the memory with strength, and the thought with clarity. Amen"
How to pray to a teacher?
Not only children and young people need help in the learning process. Teachers often experience much more stress than their students. This happens for various reasons. Some are lost in the rapidly changing requirements for education, a large number of teaching aids. Others cannot find a common language with their students, do not understand children and worry about their own inability to interest children in a school subject.
A prayer to Cyril and Methodius will help to cope with this. An example of her text:
“Blessed mentors, teachers Methodius and Cyril! I beg you for help in my work, for I have lost (a) self-confidence. I pray, direct me, indicate what I am mistaken in and why I can’t cope. I pray you, endow my thoughts with clarity, my mind with purity, and my words with intelligibility. I ask you, Methodius and Cyril, for help in the good work, not for your own sake, but for my disciples. Amen"