The Cyrillic alphabet: Bulgaria’s gift to the world

About The Cyrillic alphabet: Bulgaria’s gift to the world

By the ULTIMATE Sofia Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The Cyrillic alphabet, used today from Bulgaria to Russia and Mongolia, was born in the First Bulgarian Empire. Bulgarians celebrate it every year on 24 May, the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature, with flowers, parades and students carrying the letters.

Cyril and Methodius

In the 860s, the Byzantine brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Glagolitic alphabet to bring Christian texts to the Slavs in their own language.

The Bulgarian schools

Their disciples found refuge in Bulgaria, where Tsar Boris I and his son Simeon welcomed them. In the literary schools of Preslav and Ohrid, at the end of the 9th century, a new alphabet based on Greek letters took shape: Cyrillic, named in honour of Cyril.

Cyrillic became the third official alphabet of the European Union when Bulgaria joined in 2007.

Cyrillic in Europe

When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, Cyrillic became the EU’s third official alphabet, after Latin and Greek, and it now appears on euro banknotes.

24 May

On 24 May, Sofia celebrates with a procession of students and flowers laid at the monument to Cyril and Methodius in front of the National Library.

Our advice: visit the statue of the two brothers in front of the National Library, near Sofia University, and learn a few Cyrillic letters before you come; street signs and menus will become much easier.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Cyrillic alphabet: Bulgaria’s gift to the world before you go.