Saint Rostislav, Prince of Great Moravia
Equal to the Apostles
The Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince of Great Moravia, Rostislav, inherited the throne in 846. He accepted Christianity from Greek missionaries and sought to enlighten his people. Hesitant to engage with the Germans, he turned to Pope Nicholas I, requesting knowledgeable missionaries in the Slavic language, but received a refusal. He then appealed to Emperor Michael, and upon the advice of Patriarch Photius, the brothers Cyril and Methodius were sent to him. They translated the Bible and liturgical literature into the Slavic language, opened Christian schools, which contributed to the rapid spread of Christianity in the principality.
