PRÁVO Daily informs:

8. 1. 2013

This year, within the Cyrillo-Methodian jubilee, people will commemorate the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of the Slavic missionaries to Great Moravia. Which events have already taken place in this connection and which ones are still being prepared by the Zlín Region?

There are many activities that take place within the Cyrillo-Methodian anniversary year. E.g. exhibitions in the Museum of Southeastern Moravia "Footwear of Old Slavs" and "Cyrillo-Methodian Tradition in Valašsko" in the Museum of the Valašsko Region have taken place already. Since fall, a cycle of Christian authors' readings has been going on. These readings are organized by the František Bartoš Regional Library. Most activities in the following year will be organized, above all, by the Museum of Moravian Slovakia in Uherske Hradište, which is preparing an exhibition at Velehrad, covering the history of Veligrad and Velehrad, and also an exhibition of very precious jewelry from the period of Cyril and Methodius at the Great Moravia Monument at Staré Město. On 14th June 2013, a very interesting event called "Night with the Missionaries" will take place at the archaeological locality at Uherské Hradiště-Sady, which will be accompanied by a music performance of Hradišťan. There will also be a rich accompanying program, including multimedia visualizations. In fall, the museum will issue a three part publication about Saints Cyril and Methodius, one of which will be rather scientific; the second one will have a form of fiction and the third one will be in a form of comic for children, including a DVD. Moreoever, one of the international conferences organized by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic will take place at Velehrad and, of course, there will be the Days of the People of Goodwill, which are the peak of the celebrations on 4th and 5th July 2013.

What is, in your opinion, the meaning of the Cyrillo-Methodian anniversary and why is it important for contemporary Europe?

Because in 1980 John Paul II declared Saints Cyril and Methodius co-patrons of Europe, he emphasized their importance and legacy not only for the territory of the former Great Moravia but for the whole Europe. The meaning is double, namely political-diplomatic - Europe is founded on Christian roots and efforts at its unification should be built not only on economic interests but also on common moral values, mutual respect of cultures of the individual nations and on human dignity. The other meaning is diplomatic-spiritual - Cyril and Methodius through their interpretation of the mission as an attentive perception of what was good in our territory and what should be elevated by means of writing, so that others could learn about it, are a model for unity of the East with the West in their joint effort in gaining good for man in the social sphere, as well as in education and culture.

Last year, the idea of creating the first pilgrims' path which would follow the footsteps of Saints Cyril and Methodius and would have Velehrad as its destination, was discussed. The path was supposed to be created in cooperation with state as well as church representatives of a number of European countries. Has the realization of this plan made any progress?

This European cultural path of Saints Cyril and Methodius has been under intensive negotiation. Already on 3rd July 2012, there was an opening conference on this issue, which was attended by potential partners from abroad. Nowadays, we work on building a team that would consist of representatives of those nations who want to take part in the creation of this path, so that a common project could be written.

During last year's Days of Goodwill at Velehrad and the national pilgrimage, there were some voices saying there was a hope that Pope Benedict XVI could visit Velehrad 2013. Do you know anything more concrete?

The Zlín Region invited Benedict XVI to a pilgrimage to Velehrad on 11th November 2009 already. In the course of time, also the Czech Bishops' Conference invited the pope and on 21st May 2012 it was also Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Nečas, who invited him. The Holy See informs, by means of its ambassador, about pope's trips and if he can come. This is done usually half a year in advance. Therefore, at this moment, we still have hope that the Holy Father will find space for this pilgrimage in his program.

Source: Regional mutations| Právo - Central and Eastern Moravia, 5th January 2013 | Section: News | Page number: 10 | Author: Jiří Růžička