Message by Ambassador Alexandra Valkenburg on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the proclamation by Pope John Paul II of Saints Cyril and Methodius as co-patrons of Europe

Cyril and Methodius are among the patron saints proclaimed patrons of Europe by the Catholic Church over the years. Pope John Paul II regarded them as a spiritual bridge between the Eastern and the Western traditions, contributing significantly to the cultural growth of the Europe. Cyril and Methodius lived in the 9th century and they live on through the Cyrillic alphabet created by them. In December 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Holy See initiated a video project to mark the 40th anniversary of their proclamation as co-patron of Europe.