The Managing Committee of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Took Place in Olomouc

On 14 May, the Congress Hall of the Olomouc Region provided the background for the meeting of the ECRSCM Managing Committee, which was chaired by its Chairwoman Dana Daňová. Participants from all Czech and Slovak member regiona met to discuss the issues and the future of the Route, as well as the challenges. One of them is recertification - i.e. the renewal of the status of an officially recognised Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. At the end of the meeting, the participants toured the Museum and the Basilica on Svatý Kopeček pilgrim site near Olomouc (Czechia). Link.

New Members of the Association Welcomed in Sofia: Metropolitan City of Rome, Aquileia and Supraska Academy

The General Assembly of the European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius took place on 23 May, thanks to the invitation of the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Centre of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the City of Sofia in the Bulgarian capital. The event was followed by the national celebrations of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The feast commemorates the fundamental importance of the brothers of Thessaloniki for the development of the culture of the Slavic peoples to this day.

The General Assembly and the subsequent celebrations, which are among the most popular in Bulgaria, were attended by the members of the ECRSCM association headed by the Chairman, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region Lubomir Traub, who said, "An important point of the meeting was the expansion of the association with other important European members - the Metropolitan City of Rome, the Municipality, the Foundation and the Basilica of Aquileia and the Supraska Academy from Poland."

The celebrations also included two exhibitions "About Cyril and Methodius, Now and Then", which tell about the places of Cyril and Methodius living heritage. The first was on display at the Serdica metro station near the Presidential Palace, and the second at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. There was also, for example, a video-mapping projection on the theme of writing at the National Library of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. The culmination of the celebrations was the traditional procession from the Presidential Palace to the National Library of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on 24 May, where the official celebrations were launched.

The Cyril and Methodius Route Discussed with Rome and Ambassadors to the Holy See

Representatives of the Zlín Region and the European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Association visited the Italian capital Rome in the week of 27 May. The four-day working programme included a meeting on cooperation between the Region and its Italian partners in the field of tourism, as well as an audience with Pope Francis and a presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route to representatives of ten European embassies to the Holy See (Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia). The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Holy See, Václav Kolaja, and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Italy, Jan Kohout, supported the meeting with their presence. The meeting was also attended by Mons. Maurizio Bravi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the World Tourism Organization, who is also responsible for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The agenda also included meetings at the Basilica of St. Praxedes (Santa Prassede), the Basilica of St. Clement (San Clemente) and the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). The Cyril and Methodius Route marker was also recently placed on the Basilica of St. Praxedes. In addition, information material on the Cyril and Methodius Route is available in the Basilica with a link to the web portal www.cyril-methodius.eu. At a meeting with representatives of the Metropolitan City of Rome, the possibility of marking other sites in Rome was opened.

Participants of the presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route in Rome. Photo archive of the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the Holy See.

The Creators of the Saint Olav Ways Explored the Cyril and Methodius Route

The creators of the St. Olav Ways leading to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, came on a study trip to explore the Cyril and Methodius Route during the week of 27 May. The aim was to deepen relations and cooperation between representatives of thematically similar cultural networks. In the region, they took part in a three-day programme full of learning about the key sites and actors in the development of the Cyril and Methodius Route. Both routes are certified by the Council of Europe.

From Trondheim, representatives of the Association for the Cultural Route St. Olav Ways, the National Pilgrim Centre Nidaros, the City of Trondheim and the regional destination organisation Explore Trøndelag visited the Zlín Region in the Czech Republic. The trip was financed thanks to a project of the East Moravian Tourist Authority (CZ) supported by Norwegian funds within the framework of bilateral cooperation.

Thessaloniki City Hall Offers to Greek Schools a Museum Kit Dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius

The museum kit "The Journey of Letters" was designed and implemented as part of the periodic exhibition "The Thessalonian Saints Cyril and Methodius, Byzantine Missionaries", which was co-organized by the Center for the Study of Cultural Heritage of Cyril and Methodius, the Center for Cyril and Methodian Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Sofia) and the Center for the History of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and was implemented at the Thessaloniki History Center in 2022.The museum kit will "travel" to schools and will be implemented through discovery learning and equal access. The museum kit is addressed to students of the 5th and 6th grade of primary school and aims to highlight the missionary journey of Saints Cyril and Methodius, as well as their decisive contribution to the evolution of European culture. For this reason, a board game was designed, through which students will be able to understand the life and work of the two Saints in an easy and concise way. The museum set will be loaned to schools for one week and free of charge. More information is provided by X. Koutrolikou (e-mail: kith@thessaloniki.gr).

Training Academy for Cultural Routes Managers Held in Brindisi

On 4-7 June, the 11th Cultural Routes Training Academy took place in Brindisi, Italy, organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and the European Association of Via Francigena (AEVF), the backbone network of Via Francigena (certified by the Council of Europe since 1994), with the support of the Region of Apulia and the City of Brindisi and in cooperation with the association Brindisi e le Antiche Strade. The theme of the 2024 Training Academy was European cooperation and sustainable development. The event was also attended by representatives of the Cyril and Methodius Route - project managers Martin Peterka (ECRSCM Association) and Elka Zlateva (Cyrillo-Methodian Research Centre of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences).

Successful Year of Trnava - Močenok - Nitra Cycling Pilgrimage

Cyclists set off on 8 May on the trail from Trnava to Nitra (78 km) in Slovakia, which is part of the Cyril and Methodius Route. The third year of the cycling pilgrimage was opened with a blessing of the pilgrims by the Archbishop of Trnava, Mons. Ján Orosch in the courtyard of the Archbishops Office in Trnava. Then the cyclists continued to Modranka, Sereď and Dolná Streda. Here the Holy Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Nitra, Mons. Viliam Judák, who was also a participant of the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was held in support of the repair of the precious 100-year-old organ in the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in the town of Šaľa, where another stop was made and several organ pieces were played. The sound of the repaired organ could be heard in the Church of St. Clement in Močenok, where the next stop of the pilgrimage was made. After a short break, the cyclists continued through the White Cross near the village of Cabaj - Čápor to Nitra Castle, where the pilgrimage ended. The pilgrimage was attended by 80 cyclists, students of the Gymnasium of St. Cyril and Methodius in Nitra, priests of the Nitra Diocese, the Trnava Archdiocese, scouts and other cycling enthusiasts. Thanks to the organizers of the bike ride from association Kreatívni ľudia (Creative People) and its chariman Peter Sýkora, who took care of the smooth running of the route, refreshments and technical support.

Detailed report and video: Cycling Pilgrimage Trnava – Nitra Dispersed the Clouds (kreativniludia.eu)

A Group of Bikers Went on a Pilgrimage to Rome with Proglas

At the end of May and the beginning of June, Slovak motorcyclists from the European Route C&M association set off on a pilgrimage from Nitra to Rome in the footsteps of Saints Cyril and Methodius. On Wednesday, June 5, they symbolically placed the translation of Proglas into Italian on the altar in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. "This is a parallel to the laying of the translation of the liturgical books translated into ancient Greek by the brothers of Thessaloniki in the 9th century," said Andrea Bakošová, organizer and chairwoman of the association. The event will also take place as part of the closing of the Year of Christian Culture in Slovakia. It highlights the antiquity of Christian culture in the Nitra region and its lively modern form.

Proglas was placed on the altar by Mons. Viliam Judák in the presence of all Slovak bishops and other pilgrims of the Cyril and Methodius Route in a live broadcast on Slovak Christian television. It was then handed over to the Holy Father during the Slovak bishops Ad limina apostolorum event. Several exhibitions, including one on the Cyril and Methodius Route, were presented at the Slovak Embassy to the Holy See. The pilgrims travelled approximately 3000 km along the cultural route of Saints Cyril and Methodius. TV report in Slovak

"Heavy Music" from Terchová Performed at the "Night with Methodius" in Uherské Hradiště

On Friday 14 June, the 10th edition of the "Night with Methodius" took place at the St. Methodius Heights in Uherské Hradiště (Czech Republic). The folklore group "Ťažká muzika" (Heavy Music) from Terchová (Slovakia) performed as part of the presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route as a network of trails, monuments and partners.

Tourists Walked the Cyril and Methodius Route in Chřiby Hills in the Footsteps of Great Moravia

On Sunday, 16th June, there was a wandering along the Cyril and Methodius trail in the Chřiby mountains (Czech Republic) with Pavel Zrna, an experienced "Chřiby guide". The participants visited, for example, the rock formations of the Kazatelna (Pulpit), Kozel (Goat) or Hroby (Graves), associated with the legends of the Slavic heralds.

Invitations to Cyrillo-Methodian Celebrations and Other Events

22. 6. Cyrillo-Methodian Historic Festivities in Devín, Slovakia Devín (kulturnecesty.sk)

4.-5. 7. Days of People of Good Will Velehrad, Czech Republic Velehrad (dnylididobrevule.cz)

5. 7. Cyrillo-Methodian Pilgrimage to Radhošť, Czech Republic Radhošť (matice-radhost.cz)

5.-7. 7. Cyrillo-Methodian Days Terchová, Slovakia Terchová (terchova.sk)

5.-7. 7. Pribina and Cyrillo-Methodian festivities "Nitra, Dear Nitra", Slovakia Nitra, Dear Nitra

6.7. Cyrillo-Methodian Festivities at the Bojná Fortress, Slovakia Cyrillo-Methodian Festivities Bojná

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European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, I.A.L.E.

J. A. Bati 5520, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic

Tel: +420 733 161 674

E-mail: info@cyril-methodius.eu

Web: www.cyril-methodius.eu

The European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is an interest association of legal entities based in the Czech Republic, founded in 2013. It promotes the living Cyrillo-Methodian legacy and values based on respect and dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths. As a cultural tourism product, the Cyril and Methodius Route was awarded the title of a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 2021. The European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is responsible for its management and marketing.