Distinguished Attendees,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your Eminence,
Rector,

Today, we have gathered here to mark again the great work of the two Slavic apostles, teachers and monks. We have gathered to recall the historical and monumental mission of the Thessalonica brothers, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, the great educators and co-patrons of Europe.

1150 years ago, the reason for the Moravian mission of Ss. Cyril and Methodius was the letter of the Moravian Prince Rastislav to the Byzantine Emperor Michael III. The Prince, intending to make its state independent and strong, since it was threatened by foreign clergy, was aware that his nation needs a vernacular service, literacy and culture. Therefore, he sought for preachers who would spread the teachings of Christ in Slavic language.

The great scholar Constantine the Philosopher or the monk Cyril and his brother Methodius accepted this task by the Emperor, but the temptations were huge. How can this be done when there is no alphabet to translate the most needed books for worship? It was decided to take as basis the language of the Slavs from their neighborhood. Thus, in 855, they have created the first Slavic alphabet, the Glagolitic alphabet, which contains 38 letters. There are 24 letters in the Glagolitic alphabet taken from the Greek alphabet, and the other 14 from the voice system of the Slavic language.

In 863, the Brothers arrived in Moravia, along with their students, including St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid. They opened many schools and churches there that spread enlightenment in Slavic language and many new teachers were enlightened and started their work. The Latin-German clergy began to blame them for spreading heresy, and the Pope invited them to his court in Rome. On the way to Rome, Constantine, Methodius and their disciples spent some time in Pannonia, where they laid the foundation of the Slavic literacy in this country.

History says that before they arrived in Rome, they briefly stayed in Venice where Constantine, known as a good philosopher and orator, challenged the three language dogma or the dogma of those who advocated spreading of Christ's teaching only in Greek, Hebrew and Latin language.

Apart from the few preserved quotes, we do not know what Constantine the Philosopher said in defense of the right of every people to speak its language. But we can assume that, among the other things, he was inspired by what was written in the Acts of the Apostles to mark the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem. That at Pentecost, every foreigner listened the apostles preach in their own native language. That the gathered foreigners in Jerusalem for the feast could hear the apostles talking about the great deeds of God in their own languages.
There is no clearer and voiced message than the one about the value of each language in the eyes of God. This, however, would make silent the three language dogma. Constantine successfully destroyed the accusations of heresy, saying that every nation has a right to its own language, believing in Christ.

In Rome in 869, Pope Hadrian accepted their explanation. He sanctified the Slavic books, meaning that the Roman Church officially recognized the Slavic literacy. It was a historic turning point in the European culture and civilization, because, at the same time, the diversity and the right of peoples to their own culture and identity were recognized. Shortly after the official recognition, Cyril became ill and died. The Basilica of San Clemente in Rome, where the remains of St. Cyril are buried, even today is a testament of the respect that the saints receive by the Slavic nations, European nations and the Macedonian people.

Following his death, Methodius continued the work, but he was repeatedly attacked and slandered by the German clergy and exhausted from fighting with them, from the imprisonment and persecution, he died in 885.

However, eleven centuries later, a great recognition for their work came on December 31st, 1980, when the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter EGRIGAE VIRTULIS declared them as co-patrons of Europe.

We have to make parallel between Constantine the Philosopher and one of the pillars of the early church - Apostle Paul. Although there are 8 centuries between them, they are both citizens of the same empire - Roman or Romaean. Both are highly educated. Both are polyglots. Both are apostles. One of the first church, and the other of the Slavic. But despite these similarities, there is a vital connecting link - the desire to enable people to see and learn about the teachings of Christ in their own languages.

Our and all other peoples who enjoy today the benefits of their civilization mission, with pride and admiration, remember their deeds. Each generation builds on the knowledge, sentiments and rights of the people, left as a legacy by the previous generations. It refers, too, to the well-known students, St. Clement and St. Naum, standing on the shoulders of their teachers, they could see farther than others, and to bring to us, the Macedonians, those feelings and consciousness.

Distinguished attendees,

As old manuscripts say, the language in which Cyril and Methodius then translated the Bible, is the foundation of the Slavic languages. In this period, the period of translation of the Bible, certainly, their mission and outcome have no ethnic or national character. They have civilization role. Therefore, of today's ethnic prism or national perspective we cannot analyze the events and the civilization mission that took place 12 centuries ago.

What the holy brothers have done is one of the first examples of in-culturation or intercultural transfer. They shared knowledge, not imposing their culture on other nations. Colonialism imposes culture and cares not of other nations' culture. In today's world of democracy and human rights, in-culturation is particularly topical. The ideas of democracy and human rights are universal, but their implementation is always determined by the culture of every nation.

Today, we want to send from this gathering a very important, civilization, message. A call for respect of human rights. A call for respect of freedom and dignity of all people. A call for respect of the right to own identity. Respect of language, literacy and culture. Respect of the name which indicates identity

Centuries have passed since in this region the languages, in different empires, were respected, cherished and developed, regardless whether they were written in Glagolitic, Cyrillic, Latin or Greek alphabet.

Nowadays, it is not understandable that, in the region where the basis for all Slavic languages is taken from, it is not allowed the languages derived from that basis to be used. That it is not allowed these languages to be learned as native languages.

Indeed, the 2008 Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Human Rights, Ms. Gay Mac Dugal, determines this in the most distinguished way. Let me quote an excerpt:

"Successive governments have persisted to the policy of denial of the Macedonian community and the Macedonian language ... The answer to the former Greek governments was to suppress any usage of the Macedonian language and cultural activities. Lately, fierce tactics have stopped, but those who identify themselves as ethnic Macedonians still report discrimination and intimidation. They consider that the respect for their ethnic identity and diversity is crucial to their continued existence. The Macedonian language is not recognized, it is not studied and it is not used for teaching in schools".

Esteemed Excellencies,

I invite you, once again, to recall the words of the great scholar, Constantine the Philosopher, one of the greatest linguists, theologians and enlightened people of his time, St. Cyril:

"Does the rain fall from God to all of us equally? Or does the sun shine for all of us the same? Are we all not breathing the air equally? Aren't you ashamed to recognize only three languages, and to consider all other peoples and tribes blind and deaf? Do you think God is so helpless not to be able to provide for this, or that he is envious, not willing to do so?"

Because all people are equal before God, the languages people pray in is equally dear to God. And our language and our Holy Apostolic Church existed and will exist. It will exist and evolve, regardless whether certain narrow circles, being filled with hatred and fear of diversity, in some states recognize this reality or not.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Even 1150 years after, these words warn and guide us. They teach and inspire us.

Macedonia protects and nurtures the work of the holy brothers. From medieval frescoes, by temples dedicated to them, to the name of our oldest university. Macedonia celebrates their civilization mission with freedom, with rights and with dignity and honor for each of its citizens. I urge you to take this message with you, in your friendly countries, near and far.

May we celebrate this holiday for many years!

Thank you.