{ "book_metadata": { "book_name": "HISTORY OF THE MISSIONS", "book_author": "BERNARD DE VAULX", "publisher": "HAWTHORN BOOKS PUBLISHERS", "published_on": "2026" }, "chunks": [ { "chunk_index": 1, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Chapter V: Evangelization of Eastern Peoples", "chunk_data": "CHAPTER V EVANGELIZATION OF THE SLAVS, MAGYARS AND RUSSIANS", "time": { "start_year": null, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": null, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "Chapter heading" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [], "event": "The chapter introduces the evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Eastern Frontier Mission Field", "chunk_data": "At the beginning of the ninth century in the Frankish states, the bishoprics nearest the eastern frontier were Ratisbon, Passau and Salzburg. To the East stretched the Slav countries in which organized Christian communities were non-existent. Frankish priests and monks had visited them for many years previously, yet the first missions did not come from the Frankish empire.", "time": { "start_year": 800, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 825, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "Beginning of the 9th century" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Frankish priests and monks" ], "places": [ "Ratisbon", "Passau", "Salzburg", "Slav countries", "Frankish states" ], "event": "Frankish bishoprics bordered pagan Slav lands, where priests and monks had conducted earlier visits without establishing organized Christian communities.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Slavs" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Ratislav Appeals to Constantinople", "chunk_data": "In 862, Ratislav, prince of the Moravians, turned to Constantinople for help in countering a rapprochement between the Franks and the Bulgars which was causing him anxiety and he asked the Emperor Michael III (842-67) to send him missionaries who knew the Slavonic language.", "time": { "start_year": 862, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 862, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "862 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Ratislav", "Michael III" ], "places": [ "Moravia", "Constantinople", "Frankish empire", "Bulgaria" ], "event": "Ratislav requested Slavonic-speaking missionaries from Emperor Michael III to counter Frankish and Bulgar rapprochement.", "tags": [ "Politics", "Religion", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Constantine and Methodius Appointed", "chunk_data": "The civil and religious powers, the Emperor and the Patriarch, delighted to steal a march on Rome in the interests of the Byzantine Church, appointed Constantine and Methodius, two brothers whose learning and virtue were of the highest order.", "time": { "start_year": 862, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 863, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 862-863 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Constantine", "Methodius", "Michael III" ], "places": [ "Constantinople", "Rome" ], "event": "The Byzantine Emperor and Patriarch appointed Constantine and Methodius to undertake the mission to the Slavs.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Byzantine Empire" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Apostles Establish Slav Christianity", "chunk_data": "These two apostles, of course, remained outside these rivalries and played a decisive part in the establishment of Christianity among the Slavs.", "time": { "start_year": 863, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 869, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 863-869 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Constantine", "Methodius" ], "places": [ "Slav countries" ], "event": "Constantine and Methodius began establishing Christianity among the Slavs independently of Byzantine and Roman rivalry.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Slavs" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 48, 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00052-010edb5495c627b5f6da.webp", "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Brothers Prepare for Mission", "chunk_data": "They were Greeks by birth, sons of a high-grade civil servant of Thessalonica and had themselves held important civil offices. Constantine, known as the Philosopher, had taught philosophy at the imperial university.", "time": { "start_year": 850, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 862, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "Before 862 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Constantine", "Methodius" ], "places": [ "Thessalonica", "Constantinople" ], "event": "Constantine and Methodius, Greek brothers from Thessalonica, held civil offices, while Constantine taught philosophy at the imperial university.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Education", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Slavonic Language and Liturgy", "chunk_data": "THE SLAVS, MAGYARS AND RUSSIANS 49 philosophy at the imperial university. He had translated into Slavonic a collection of passages from the Gospels before they set out on their journey. Methodius also knew Slavonic. Their hearers were therefore pleasantly surprised to be instructed in Christianity through the medium of their own language and by apostles thoroughly informed about their culture and national spirit. After mature reflection, Constantine gave them a liturgy they could understand in the Slavonic tongue. This was a new departure and made his work distinctly easier.", "time": { "start_year": 862, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 865, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 862-865 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Constantine", "Methodius" ], "places": [ "Slav countries" ], "event": "Constantine translated Gospel passages into Slavonic, and he and Methodius instructed the Slavs in Christianity through their own language and developed a comprehensible Slavonic liturgy.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Language" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Rome Approves Slavonic Worship", "chunk_data": "The Holy See approved and a little later confirmed it when the Roman clergy tried to have it condemned. Adrian II gave a very favourable welcome to the two brothers in Rome. He supported them and in order to give more prominence to his decision, arranged for their disciples to be ordained by a distinguished member of the Roman party well known for his opposition to the two apostles. The latter had the joy of seeing the Slavonic liturgical books placed on the altar of Sancta Maria ad Praesepe and the Slavonic liturgy celebrated in the basilicas of St Peter, St Petronilla, St Andrew and St Paul.", "time": { "start_year": 867, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 869, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 867-869 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Adrian II", "Constantine", "Methodius" ], "places": [ "Rome", "Sancta Maria ad Praesepe", "St Peter", "St Petronilla", "St Andrew", "St Paul" ], "event": "The Holy See and Pope Adrian II approved the Slavonic liturgy, ordained the disciples of Constantine and Methodius, and permitted Slavonic worship in Roman basilicas.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Papacy", "Liturgy" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Constantine Becomes Cyril", "chunk_data": "Constantine, feeling that his end was near, withdrew to a monastery and took the monastic habit under the name of Cyril. On February 14th, 869, he died charging his brother and his disciples to continue the work that had been begun.", "time": { "start_year": 869, "start_month": 2, "start_date": 14, "end_year": 869, "end_month": 2, "end_date": 14, "time_display": "February 14, 869 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Constantine", "Cyril", "Methodius" ], "places": [ "Rome" ], "event": "Constantine entered a monastery as Cyril and died, entrusting Methodius and the disciples with continuing the Slav mission.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Monasticism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Methodius Faces Frankish Opposition", "chunk_data": "Methodius became bishop of Sirmium, archbishop of Pannonia and, finally, papal legate to the Slav peoples. This did not prevent the Frankish bishops from waging fierce war against him. They refused to recognize his authority, imprisoned him and only set him free when ordered to do so by John VIII, who commanded the archbishop of Salzburg personally to conduct him back to Moravia and to re-establish him in his see.", "time": { "start_year": 869, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 880, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 869-880 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Methodius", "John VIII", "archbishop of Salzburg" ], "places": [ "Sirmium", "Pannonia", "Moravia", "Salzburg" ], "event": "Methodius received successive ecclesiastical appointments, was imprisoned by Frankish bishops, and was restored to his Moravian see by papal command.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Politics", "Conflict" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49, 50 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp", "raw\\pages\\00054-c251e2f3863567ec4146.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Methodius Dies and Disciples Exiled", "chunk_data": "Methodius died on April 6th, 885. His death did not put an end to the opposition of the Frankish bishops, who succeeded in having the Slavonic liturgy banned and in driving several of Methodius' disciples from Moravia. These exiles went to Bulgaria and took with them the sacred books in Slavonic. Thus the work of the two brothers Cyril and Methodius came under the domination of the Byzantine Church and shared its subsequent fate.", "time": { "start_year": 885, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 6, "end_year": 885, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "April 6, 885 AD and afterward" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Methodius", "Cyril", "Frankish bishops", "Methodius' disciples" ], "places": [ "Moravia", "Bulgaria", "Byzantine Church" ], "event": "After Methodius died, Frankish bishops banned the Slavonic liturgy and expelled his disciples, who carried Slavonic sacred books to Bulgaria.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Byzantine Empire" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 49 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00053-59377768c199a1b275fe.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Footnote on Sancta Maria", "chunk_data": "1St Mary Major.", "time": { "start_year": 869, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 869, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "869 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "Sancta Maria ad Praesepe", "St Mary Major" ], "event": "The footnote identifies Sancta Maria ad Praesepe as St Mary Major.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Places" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 50 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00054-c251e2f3863567ec4146.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Magyar Christianity Begins", "chunk_data": "50 THE SLAVS, MAGYARS AND RUSSIANS went to Bulgaria and took with them the sacred books in Slavonic. Thus the work of the two brothers Cyril and Methodius came under the domination of the Byzantine Church and shared its subsequent fate. Meanwhile, the Magyars from the East had invaded Hungary. Their initiation into Christianity may have been begun by Byzantine priests during the first stage of their migration. It was continued by Frankish priests depending on the bishoprics of Passau and Ratisbon.", "time": { "start_year": 895, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 900, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "Late 9th century, c. 895-900 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Cyril", "Methodius", "Byzantine priests", "Frankish priests" ], "places": [ "Bulgaria", "Hungary", "Passau", "Ratisbon" ], "event": "The Magyars invaded Hungary and began receiving Christianity from Byzantine priests, with the mission later continued by Frankish clergy.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Hungary" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 14, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 50 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00054-c251e2f3863567ec4146.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Adalbert Evangelizes Hungary", "chunk_data": "Then the principal evangelist of the Hungarians appeared, St Adalbert, a Slav whose original name was Voytiekh. He was martyred by the Prussians near Danzig in 997. Adalbert had the good fortune to administer confirmation to the son of the Hungarian duke, Geiza. This convert became king under the name of Stephen and consecrated his kingdom to the Blessed Virgin. The pope gave him the title of \"apostolic king\" because he had made Hungary a Christian country.", "time": { "start_year": 995, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1000, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 995-1000 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "St Adalbert", "Voytiekh", "Geiza", "Stephen" ], "places": [ "Hungary", "Prussia", "Danzig" ], "event": "St Adalbert evangelized Hungary, confirmed Geiza's son Stephen, and helped establish Stephen's Christian kingship over Hungary.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Hungary" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 15, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 50 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00054-c251e2f3863567ec4146.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Princess Olga Encounters Christianity", "chunk_data": "Further east, the principality of Kiev was governed from 945 by Princess Olga, widow of Igor, who had been taught the principles of Christianity by Byzantine priests. The conversion of the princess provoked a violent reaction among the pagans and her son Sviatoslav placed himself at its head.", "time": { "start_year": 945, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 957, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "945-c. 957 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Princess Olga", "Igor", "Sviatoslav", "Byzantine priests" ], "places": [ "Kiev" ], "event": "Princess Olga governed Kiev, learned Christianity from Byzantine priests, and provoked pagan opposition led by her son Sviatoslav.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Politics", "Russia" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 16, "chapter_name": "Evangelization of the Slavs, Magyars and Russians", "page_numbers": [ 50 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00054-c251e2f3863567ec4146.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christianity Reaches Kievan Rus", "chunk_data": "The war which followed took the prince into Bulgaria where, as we have seen, some of Methodius' disciples had taken refuge. The stay made by these Kiev Russians in Bulgaria was to have fortunate results. Sviatoslav returned to Kiev unconverted, but a number of his soldiers while they were among the Bulgars had come to know Christianity in its Slavonic form, far more intelligible to them than in its Latin form. The first step along the right road had been taken. The Christian religion won the day in Russia and Olga's dream had come true.", "time": { "start_year": 968, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 988, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 968-988 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Sviatoslav", "Methodius' disciples", "Kiev Russians" ], "places": [ "Kiev", "Bulgaria", "Russia" ], "event": "Sviatoslav's campaign brought Kiev Russians into contact with Slavonic Christianity in Bulgaria, contributing to the eventual triumph of Christianity in Russia.", "tags": [ "Religion", "War", "Russia" ] } } ] }