May 24: Russia and Slavic Nations Celebrate the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture

Moscow. On May 24, Russia and many other countries celebrate the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture, a holiday honouring the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers and outstanding enlighteners of the Slavic peoples. They are regarded as the creators of the first Slavic alphabet, and their work laid the foundation for the development of Slavic writing, literature, and education, including Russian.

In Russia, the holiday was first widely celebrated in 1863, marking the millennium of Slavic literacy. That same year, the Holy Synod decreed that the memory of Cyril and Methodius should be commemorated annually. In the Soviet Union, the idea of reviving the celebration emerged in 1986, and in 1991, it was granted official state status.

Slavic languages have a rich history and are spoken across a vast geographic area. Today, more than 400 million people speak languages belonging to the Slavic group. Depending on the classification, the group includes between 10 and 18 languages, the largest and most widely spoken of which is Russian.

Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, during a briefing on May 21, 2026, remarked, “The uniqueness of this holiday lies in the fact that it plays a major role both in uniting Russian society and in strengthening its ties with Slavic peoples on the basis of shared historical and cultural traditions.”

This year, Moscow’s celebrations of the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture will take place on May 24 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, where a festive concert featuring leading figures of academic arts will be held. As is customary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will deliver a welcoming address.