Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Den slovanských věrozvěstů Cyrila a Metoděje) on 5 July commemorates two Byzantine brothers whose ninth-century mission to Great Moravia had a lasting religious, linguistic and cultural influence on Central Europe.
The holiday can look less familiar to foreign visitors than Christmas, Easter or Czech Independence Day, but it reaches much further back in history. It connects modern Czechia with Great Moravia, the spread of Christianity among the Slavs and the development of a written Slavic liturgical tradition.
Who were Cyril and Methodius?
Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessaloniki in the Byzantine Empire. In 863, they came to Great Moravia after its ruler sought missionaries who could teach Christianity in a language understood by the local population.
Their mission is especially important because they did not rely only on Latin or Greek. Cyril devised the Glagolitic alphabet, and the brothers and their followers translated religious texts into a Slavic literary language commonly known today as Old Church Slavonic. Their work helped create a written religious culture accessible to Slavic-speaking communities.
Although Great Moravia eventually disappeared as a political entity, the cultural influence of the mission spread far beyond the Czech and Slovak lands.
Why is the holiday on 5 July?
The Czech public holiday is a symbolic commemoration of the missionaries and their legacy rather than the anniversary of a single precisely dated event. It forms a distinctive pair with Jan Hus Day on 6 July, giving Czechia two consecutive public holidays centred on religious and intellectual history.
When the dates create a long weekend, the combination can produce heavy summer travel, particularly because early July already falls in the main holiday season.
Velehrad: the centre of the celebrations
The best-known modern tradition is the pilgrimage to Velehrad in South Moravia. The basilica and surrounding area are closely associated with the legacy of Great Moravia and Saints Cyril and Methodius.
Around 4–5 July, Velehrad hosts the Days of People of Goodwill and major pilgrimage events. The programme typically combines religious services with concerts, charitable activities, exhibitions and family events. For believers, the pilgrimage is the central spiritual observance; for other visitors, it offers a way to encounter Czech religious and Moravian cultural traditions in a living setting.
Traditions and symbols
This is primarily a religious and historical holiday rather than a folk-custom day. You are more likely to encounter:
- pilgrimages and Catholic services;
- church concerts and cultural programmes;
- exhibitions about Great Moravia and early Christianity;
- references to Glagolitic script and Old Church Slavonic;
- events at archaeological and heritage sites connected with Great Moravia.
South Moravia is the most natural region to explore the theme, especially around Velehrad and the broader Slovácko area.
Food and drink
There is no single nationwide dish or sweet reserved specifically for Cyril and Methodius Day. At Velehrad and regional festivals, visitors will encounter normal Moravian festival food, bakery products, wine and other local specialities, but these belong to the region and event rather than to a fixed religious menu.
That can still make food part of the experience. A visit to South Moravia around the holiday can combine the pilgrimage or historical programme with local wine culture and regional cuisine.
What can visitors do?
Ideas include:
- attend the Velehrad celebrations;
- visit Great Moravian archaeological sites;
- explore museums dealing with early medieval Moravia;
- visit churches dedicated to Cyril and Methodius;
- combine the holiday with a South Moravian wine-country trip;
- learn to recognise the Glagolitic alphabet and its role in Slavic history.
Because 5 July is followed immediately by another public holiday, book accommodation early if the dates form a popular summer weekend.
Are shops open on 5 July?
The Czech large-store closure rule does not generally require major supermarkets and hypermarkets to close on 5 July. Retailers are therefore allowed to open, although local branches may use holiday schedules.
Check the retailer table on this page for the current chain-specific information.
Why this holiday matters
Cyril and Methodius Day highlights a strand of Czech history that predates the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia. It shows that the cultural foundations of the region include not only Western Latin Christianity but also the Byzantine missionary tradition and the early written culture of the Slavs.
For travellers, that makes 5 July an excellent gateway into Moravian history—especially if you visit Velehrad rather than treating the date simply as the first day of a two-day summer holiday.